The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1916-10-19

Many persons in the United States
are now passing through d bier NAL
period of trial and struggle and self
questioning. They are faced by a
problem containing incalculaole lac
tors-one which they can not decide for
themselves, and upon which they are
restrained from seeking advice by pride
and false modesty. Yet it is q matter
which Intimately concerns their well
being, and in which an error may mean
weeks or months of suffering and loss.
These persons, in word, are unable to
decide whether or not to put On their
winter underwear.
This is really matter OF prime i'm
portance. The common occurrence of
colds in spring and fall is due chisfiy 10
this change from cotton to wool, which
Is usually made too early and often
necessitates a change back.
The correct procedure in this matter
is thing which each Individual must
work out for himself; but the officials
of the United States Public Health
Service have word to say about the
theory of underwear. They emphasize
the fact that underwear should not be
worn for warmth. Overcoats, muffiers,
spats, leggings, ear pads, foot -warmers,
laprobes, sweaters, and other wraps
should protect the body from chilling
and freezing when it is exposed to out
door air. The function of the under
wear is merely to form a covering next
to the body which may be conveniently
changed and washed. If this covering
is made heavy enough to keep the body
warm when exposed to the air, it will
inevitably mean over-heating at times,
and chilling at others, The correct
underwear, therefore, is the very light
est you can stand. The ponderous,
fleeced-lined "fannels" which were
almost universally worn in winter a
generation ago belong in the limbo of
sanitary discards along with pie for
breakfast and featherbeds. Many
modern doctors recommend the wear
ing of one light weight of underclothing
all the year around. Many robust
persons do this, and nearly always are
exceptionally free from colds. If you
do not feel equal to abolishing the
biennial change entirely, at least post
pone the fall event until the weather
has turned cold TO stay cold, and use
always the lightest possible weight Of
underwear. Get over the idea that
there is anything prudent or conserva-
tive about swathing your person in
wool tor the winte4
Having decided this question, the
next one, say the national health Off
GERS, is to consider what zone of the
earth you are gong to live ID this win
ter. You have been stewing and com
planning IN the heat all summer, now
are you going to follow the American
custom and rest and doze all winter?
There is no doubt but that Americans
live in vastly overheated houses all
winter, that they spend money to
maintain the very temperatures which
in summer sent them scurrying to
mountains and beaches. A tempera-
ture of So degrees is by no means un-
common either in American homes or
school rooms
1t would be interesting to trace the
origin of this fondness for heat. In
Europe, no such temperatures are main
tanned. Houses are seldom kept at more
than sixty-five or seventy degrees in
England, and American visitors almost
find them uncomfortably chilly. 1t is
probable that the great abundance of
fuel in this country has much to do
with it. The early American generally
lived in house or cabin that was some
what draughty, and depended upon an
immense open fire of logs to keep him
warm. The wood pile became the chief
source of comfort. and in rural districts