The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1920-05-15
BIG CHANGE NOTED
LIE in Country Today Compared
to Twenty Years Ago.


Have Accomplished.
Twenty years ago the inhabitants Of
entire villages. up In New York state
Il least. seemed to fear fresh air o.
nights and slept with their windows
closed. Night air was not healthful.
they said--and lot Of them lived TO
be nlnety-seven even on that theory.
The window sashes were nailed down
and stuffed with rags at the first sign
d snow and we slept under those con7
dltions.
In those days II anyone had prac-
tIced sleeping outdoors, even in sum
mer weather, It would have caused
sensation. Cracked, swami" the old
farmers would have said.
The change came gradually, presum-
ably because the sons and daughters
~ the old residents went to work In
dhe large centers where opened win
dOws were, II not the rule, surely not
the exception, remarks writer In the
New York Evening Sun. Now the COM
Esete change hits one fairly In the face
when ne returns to the once alrless
districts Of early youth.
Night and day now the windows are
wide open and sometimes even doors
are never closed; no one thinks OF Nv
ing without screens and mosquito net
ting. even the poor 10 hollows and by
lanes. The families frequently eat out
doors under the old apple tree, on red
and white table covers or oiIcloth or
bare scrubbed board. Like the omni-
present fivver that carries the clerk
and his family to pIcnics along the
roadside. the outdoor-eating habit has
done wonders for the health and hap
piness Of all, particularly the country
folk.
Out-of-doors sleeping is now well
nigh habit. Hardly porch In that
country nowadays is complete without
khaki swing couch, made-up cot or
one OF the old time hard. haircloth
-sOfes" with pillows and patchwork
quilt or two. ready for the sleeper.
Host Of these were hung with mosquito
net curtains, looped back by day.
Nowadays on these outdoor couches
are seen reclining In daytime the old
man Of the family. lying at full length
with his bare feet toasting in the sun.
Twenty years ago he would have slept
IN the darkened parIor behind closed
shutters: or. II very foolhardy, he
might have been caught by watchfui
eyes Of HIS family mapping under the
old apple tree.
Yes, the country has come oni
But outdoor sleeping by rural chill
dren has not yet arrived. Here the
farmers wife draws the line. 1t may
be all right for grandpap and herself
and husband. but she Is not yet sure
about the night air for little lungs. SO
children's cots are not seen upon the
porches. They still sleep within four
wnlls and ceiling.
The city and large towns have come
70 this airy regime through years Of
propaganda IN newspapers. In churches
and in social centers. The country abb
sorbed II through newspapers and mag
nzines.
But II there has been a notable
change In the attitude Of farm and VII
lage folk toward fresh air there has
been nm even greater change In their
social life. The small town Of twenty
years ago is not the small town Of to-
day. Then they had. church sociables.
They may still have them, but do not
know where. There used to be buggy,
rides and prayer meetings. and the
greatest dissipation Of the younger VII
Ingers was @going walking" with pos
sIble "sody" at the corner drug store.
Booth Harrington depicts these rural
scenes truthfully. but his pointed view
Is now out Of date.
The movies and Canned music have
recreated village life Even in those
families where there Is no automobile
life is a far pleasanter thing than It
was twenty years ago. The movies en-
terrain the whole family And In the
evenings, when the movies fail the avl
erage soda fountain draws not with
Ice-cream cones and candy alone but
with a roIlicking. jazzing mechanical
player. The drug store has become
largely a refreshment parlor; It is now
q social center. Young and old meet
there and strollIng and loafing have
gone into the discard.