Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-24

posed to shiver their way to health.
That many OF them did offers fur
ther conclusive evidence Of the powers
Of some human beings to stand any
thing.
Today. we believe, serious respira-
the heroic method. While the value
of fresh air is appreciated, it is realized
that warm air may be as fresh as cold
air, If 1t Is. Mostly 1t Is factual queS-
ton.
The mind, however, plays a part in
the fresh-air question. Just how large
part will depend upon the individual.
Undoubtedly some persons fret too
much about lack of it. Often they are
perfectly right. as we have no doubt
our correspondent Is.
The question is difficult one Of So
luton, because of the very factors
which bring it about. If seated passen-
gers only were allowed in our public
vehicles, the air would be much less
polluted. If more perfect overhead
ventilators could be installed, we would
fear less the coughings and sneezings
OF fellow passengers.
The air of buses Is further con-
taminated by the influx of gas fumes.
All these factors together make such a
bad situation that the District Health
Office is now investigating the matter.
The method Of investigation was to
be the pouring Of sterile water from q
test tube to an empty tube, the trans
fer to gather up obnoxious gases, to
show up in analysis. But the human
nose, we believe, would be much
simpler sampler. Amy one with ordi-
nary senses can tell when the air of q
crowded place seems evil to him.
Nor are carbon rnOO0Yida and ort0Y1
dioxide the only inimical factors in bad
air. EmanationS from human lungs, and
even skins, tend to gum up the air
pretty badly. And sometimes when q
passenger insists on chewing odorous
gum, insult Is added to injury When
he persists in sneezing without an at
tempt to cover up his mouth, by rights
he should De elected from the vehicle.
Women perhaps are dressed better to
stand air entering q car or bus window
than men, who commonly seem to
shiver at the least touch Of a breeze
under such circumstances, but who, as
our correspondent AYERS, will walk along
the street blithely enough.
Air may still be free, but it Is, alas.
no longer fresh, either in public vehicles
or the streets, thanks to the gas fumes
which are given OF by the thousands
Va OoAo WAA4CAA AOdul Lie highways.
Yet no doubt this somewhat con-
taninated air is better than the per
fectly stagnant atmosphere complained
about, with which every one who has
ever ridden street car or bus during
rush hours is acquainted.
The two best solutions, undoubtedly.
are to operate ones own car or to walk.
The former solution has its drawbacks,
including the parking problem, and as
Tor the latter, when one does not feel
like walking. it becomes a boresome and
hence questionable exercise.
The complete solution of the prob
lem will never come, we fear, before the
millennium, in that perfect day when
no man coughs sneezes, or has halitosis,
and when engines produce no nelson's
fumes, and public vehicles have In
stalled perfect systems Of -ventfia-
ton, and companies no longer permit
any one to stand in the aisles.
For the present we imagine that those
who do not like the feel" of fresh air
around their necks will continue to
glare at the lady who prizes I'D q win
dow with nail file or scissors.
She, in her turn, must be content
with her inventive genius, with return
ing the glares of the passengers who
are afraid of fresh air, and with finally
taking to that best Of constitutional
exercises, walking