The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-09-02
WHAT HAVE MAPS TO DO
WITH HEALTH?

Not that the lawn bowling-T
mean long suffering conductor Of
this health column minds in the
least all Of the captious communica-
tins readers send in, In fact he gets
q good chuckle out Of some of them
which are evidently written with
tongue in cheek by people who are
not memorable. But, in anticipation
Of the many requests people will
make for some explanation for the
astonishing profusion of colored
maps on the walls of the main rooms
Of Odd House. What have maps to
do with health?
Listen, my children, and you shall
hear. Suppose you had to remain
confined to bed or confined to your
tedious disability. Would you prefer
room for twenty weeks with some
blank walls, dreary cnventionalized
wall decorations Of curlicues, green
flowers or saffrn cattle grazing in q
field Of azure to gaze at and dream
about? Or q line Of whachama-
callems chasing each other round
and round In harmony with your
biliousness?
\ Well, sir, we have pondered the
question long and carefully and the
answer, for Odd House, is maps,
large dated maps, some colored,
either drawn and painted or frescoed
on the walls, or perhaps glued or
pasted on and vanished over for
preservation.
An imaginary protrait or land
scape or even q Photographic etch-
Ing or Autograph may hold ones in
terest and provide something to think
or talk about, in vague imprac-
teal way. It isn't likely to hold the
younger members Of the household
long, for they demand something
more tangible, something which they
can perceive Is more or less associ-
ated with what goes on today.
Maps will hold them, especially
maps which are made easy to study,
In fact pleasant to study at any
moment the eye rests on them. Maps
in place Of fanciful wall decorations
insure many. many more hours at
home for the young folk, at home
where health Is, as against various
places we need not mention where
youth is so likely to stray from the
path Of good health and happiness.
Indeed I am afraid there may be
bone Of contention in Odd House
over the very question of the pro-
portion Of wall space to be used for
map and the proportion to be used
for windows and bookshelves. There
Is just one rule to be followed in
flexibly in settling this question,
namely, that If the view from the
proposed window would not be
pleasant there shall be no window
there, light and air being admitted
either through skylight or floor in
let and perhaps some glass brick
In the upper portion of the wall
One quaint idea Is absolutely out Of
the picture-no wall space shall be
reserved merely to serve as back
ground for articles Of furniture.
Not So Fast
Occasionally when I gain a few
pounds I 60 on a three-day orange
juice diet. My mother feels that this
may injure my health, but whenever
I 60 on this diet I feel much better
and have more pep than before.
(Miss L. W.
Answer-If you are over eighteen
and overweight 1t Is all right.
Orange Juice has approximately the
nutritive value of skim milk or half
that of sweet milk.
Water In Ears
Husband has otosclerosis, as have
other members Of his family. Should
I keep our eight year old son out
Of the water? Is there any way of
keeping water out of the ears when
swimming or diving. ID. r.
Answer-Water may be kept out