Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-02
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEwELL.

Mercury 90 degrees In the shade, +"
wrote Ralph waldo Emerson, In his
journal, under date of June 10, 1888.
"Riyers of heat, yea, a circumambient
sea. Welcome as truly as finer ana
eoarser influences to this mystic, sou
tary purple island that I am! cele-
brate the holy hour at church amid
these fine creative deluges OF light and
heat which evoke 50 many gentle traits
gentle and bold-in man and woman.
Man III Summer is man interstate"
That is the way philosopher looked
at hot weather. Because he was a
PHILOSOPHER he used the word Gin
tensate," which is marked In the mod
ern dictionary as rare" 1t is good
word, however, and one must thank
Emerson for bringing 1t to ones atten-
ton.
Most of us, not being philosophers,
probably will not use such large words
In describing the effects of hot day
upon our cuticle. Yes, 1t is the skin sur
face which suffers in hot weather.
Whether the heat forms a cir
eunanahient sea" or not, the human
skin is what feels" the heat. It is true
that this, In turn, may have some effect
on the internal organs, but, In the
main, Ii is the large area OF skin sur
face which makes Summer disagreeable
to so many persons.
The best way, then, to circumvent the
effects of hot weather is to wear as lit
tie clothing as possible, especially at
night. There is inherent in Americans
a large streak of native modesty, which
prevents them from entirely divesting
themselves of clothing, even while sleep
ing.
hot weather. When the official thermom-
eters register around 80 degrees, the
difference between interior blood hea:
and the outside air heat is reduced to a
minimum. The chief function of cloth
ing, therefore, is done away with. One
needs no clothes to prevent the dissipa-
ton of bodily heat indeed, one should
wear as little clothing as possible, IL
order that the inner heat may be sent
forth Is rapidly as possible.
Even slight layer Of clothing, such
as a nightgoWn or pajamas, will cause
an unnecessary and very much I'M
surface of the skin. In hot weather the
only hygienic way Of sleep Is in the
nude. Those who have not tried 1t, held
back by old-fashioned ideas Of mod
esty, will be amazed at the relief it gives
on a real Summer night, when the air
is warm and dull. and one experiences
difficulty in breathing.
Children. especially, should be di-
vested of all night clothes, and per-
mitted to sleep entirely free. This
method permits large areas of the
skin surface to be exposed to the air at
a time, thus rapidly dissipating the heat
from the interior. The happy freedom
which children have gained in the day.
time, with the universal adoption of the
"sun suit" should be extended to the
night, except that then the "sun suit"
should be q veritahle birthday suit" or
moon suit.
All tight restrictions, such as collars,
carriers and so on, should be loosened
during hot weather 1t is amazing how
many men go around complaining of
the heat, when all the time they choke
themselves at the neck, where some of
the most important arteries and blood
vessels eongregate for important serv-
ices to the brain and all way stations.
The American small boy does better
by himself, In this important respect,
than his dad, who still goes around
with tight-fltting collar. Junior either
wears his collar open, with no necktie
at ell, or he has the latter tied so
loosely that he has practically the same
freedom.
Every one at this time of the year
should keep well In mind the difference
between the ultra violet, or tanning,
rays of the sun and the infra-red, or
heat, rays. The former are invisible.
The heat rays are now at their maxi
mum, and one who courts the invisible
rays should beware Of an overdose of
the visible. This danger he may lessen