The Washington herald., 1910-03-23
SLEEPING ROOM
ON THE ROOF

a lecture on tho prevention Of consump-
ton at a schoolhouse IN Brooklyn. laid
special emphasis on the fact that by ini-
tiating early measures TO bring about a
cure in suspected OF incipient cases no
time was lost, inasmuch as all means
intended TO build up the body vigor were
OF benefit In any event. In particular
dwelt upon the need OF plenty OF fresh
air. says writer in the Baltimore Sun.
After the lecture several in the audi
enos stopped to discuss various phases
of the subject. and one gentleman asked
II kept the windows OF my bedroom
wide open all night
II CHANGED to be bitterly cold weather.
and I answered jestingly that one was
tempted TO keep them closed on such
night. Then" he replied, ''it is case
or do as say and not do as do" AS
matter Of fact. my bedroom windows
we're regularly open AT night and fur
nished with awnings for use in stormy
weather, but this chance remark led me
70 reflect whether a better plan could
not be devised.
Some time later. in renovsting my
house, I embraced the opportunity 10
build a camp OF sIeeping-room on the
roof-up among the chimney pots, as
Sam Weller would say.
whole Cost Was 500.
The roof-house is twelve feet square
and consists OF g steel framework COW
cred with freproof materials, to comply
with the building code. Across the front
extends a series OF doors, so that this
while side can be thrown open The walls
are double, and the interspace has open
ings top and bottom, thus providing free
circulation of air. and the roof also is
double, with ventilation through a small
cupola- The effect Of this cellular con-
struction is 20 prevent the apartment
from becoming overheated when the
suns rays play upon It throughout the
long summer days. The whole cost was
less than 800.
The sleeping-room Is reached by a steep
stair from the top floor OF the house, the
combing OF the scutteway having been
carried up into the room and the stairs
guarded by hand rail. The room con-
tains two iron cots, a couple OF chairs,
shelves for extra bedding. a candle Ian
tern. and a few other appurtenances- AS
this sleeping apartment is shut of from
the rest OF the house by a door at the
foot of the stairs, the atmosphere In Il Is
always that OF the outside air. Hence
there is no sensation Of a close, confined
space. such as one finds in a garnet.
Moreover, there IS no such disadvan-
tage as attaches to sleeping in an attic
room, for the reason that one can dress
and battle in the well-warmed top floor,
and even in winter time the exposure is
only momentary. At night Il takes g
vrey brief time to reach the blankets
and in the morning ones movements are
accelerated by contact with the cold air.
OF course. in cold weather il is neees-
sary to have an ample supply Of warm
covering. but when one has settled for
the night in a tunnel OF blankets there is
very pleasing sensation OF coZiness-
| In hot weather the atmosphere in the
sleeping-room is never oppressive, and
even on close summer nights a refresh
| ing movement of air is ordinarily found
High Winds Are Annoying.
Sometimes high winds are rather an
noying, especially when it blows great
guns during a winter gale. Rain on the
roof is soothing rather than unpleasant.
although thunderstorms in the night are
occasionally disturbing. All Of the series
/ OF doors inclosing the front Of the roof
house are commonly left open at night,
even in stormy weather. Rain and snow
may beat in, but that is a matter of no
/ consequence. as the house is carried on
| iron Orders about two feet above the
| roof of the main house, and melted snow
or rain drains through the floor without
harm. The morning of the day President
Taft was inaugurated several bushels OF
SLOW found their way in around the beds,
causing, however. no particular incon-
venience.
/ I have found that sleep in the open air
is quieter and deeper than indoors. One
| may be sleepy when the alarm sounds in
the morning. but rises refreshed and in
MIGRATED In fact. this urban open-air
| life has a number Of pleasant features.
There is a sense of remoteness. of be-
ing away from the noise and movement
| of the city. Looking out over the roofs.
the scene is often one Of great beauty.
The electric light streaming upward on
| the tall buildings OF the nelghborhood is
very striking. and further on can be seen
/ the Palisades with their brilliant arc
Igths and the dark river beneath. In
winter time moonlight glistening on the
surrounding snoW-elad roofs forms a very
attractive picture.
Experience shows that sleeping in the
/ open air renders one less liable to 'catch
cold" and that an incipient coryza usu-
/ ally disappears over night. The appetite
/ Is markedly increased; not Unfortunately.
but three good meals day are very ac-
lceptable. This increase Of appetite has
a.. 60 -,..-a