Norwich bulletin., 1919-07-04
One Way to Keep Cool.

, why not cool it in summer?"
 This idea occurred to Dr. Alexander Graham Bell when the Washington weather became extremely sizzling.
 Former President Taft. when he was in the White House, had a re- frigerating device put in the offices which since has fallen into disuse, but Dr. Bell believes he procured better re- suits by his nome made'' cooling ar engagement in his Connecticut avenue residence.
 In a communication to the National Geographic Society Dr. Bell describes how he tricked the thermometer out of some 35 degrees-and you can try this out on your own home. if you are handy" about the house:
 We go up to the Arctic regions and heat our houses and live" he explains "We go down to the tropics and die the construction of our houses that absolutely precludes the possibility of cooling them to any great degree. You will readily understand the difficulty when you remember that cold air is heavier than warm air. You take a bucket of cold air, for example. and carry it about in the summer time and not spill a drop; but if you make a then, of course. the cold air will all run out.
 T began to think that it might be possible to apply the bucket principle at least one room Tn my washing ton home, and thus secure a place of retreat in the summer time. It seem ed to be advisable to close up all open ings near the bottom of the room to prevent the escape of cold air and open the windows at the top to let out the heated air of the room.
 Now, it so happens that l have in the basement of my house swim ming tank, and it occurred to me that since this tank holds water, it should iRaIx- IaaI6 aiv I f1IF- a6 I1a water out to study the situation. The tank seemed to be damp and the sides felt wet and sliny.
 'I reflected, however. that the con denSation of moisture resulted from the fact that the sides of the tank were cooler than the air admitted. Water vapor will not condense on any thing that is warmer than itself, and it occurred to me that if 1 introduced air that was very much colder than wanted to use. then it would be warming up in the tank and becoming dryer all the time. It would not de- posit moisture on the sides and would actually absorb the moisture there.
 T therefore provided a refrigera- tor, in which were placed large blocks of ice covered with salt. This was placed in another room at a higher covered with asbestos paper Was em ployed to lead the cold air into the tank.
 The first effect was the drying of .hc walls, and then I felt the level of he cold air gradually rising. At last t came over my head. The tank was ,uil, and I found myself immersed in ,ool air. I felt so cool and comfort ible that it seemed difficult to believe hat Washington stood sizzling out side. I climbed up the ladder in the ;wimming tank until my head was lbove the surface. and then found my ieIf breathing a hot. damp. muggy at nosphere 1 therefore speedily re- reated into the tank, where 1 was perfectly cool and comfortable.
 Guided by this experience, 1 tried mother experiment in my house. ,ut the refrigerator in the attic and 1 ed the cof6 air downward through | pipe covered with asbestos into one of he rooms of the house. The doors were kept shut and the windows were i .pened at the top. The tempera ture II that room was perfectly comfort bIe, about 65 degrees. .--
 Some time ago the papers were peaking of an ice plant that had been installed in the White House and con- ra tulated the president. then MT. aft upon d temperature of only so egrees when the thermometer show d 100 degrees outside. Under similar onditions I enjoyed in my house a of 65 degrees (the ideal with a delicious feeling f freshness in the air.