Year: 1879

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Londen sbectator.,


Strong exercise, forthose who can take


it, is. no doubt, the best remedy for. eisslli


ness /; but thousands suffer from this com.


plant to whom strong exercise is obtainable


once week, who do not enjoy it even


then, and who find that, although walking


produces an effect, it is one which does not


last half an hour after the exercise has
ceased. The chilliness recommences as


they pass through tfe hall of their own
houseassand in an hour they are suffering
almost as misssabiy as ever. Neserthe-
less, they have during the walk passed
through an experience which, il they would
only comprehend it, would protect them
from one-half of the misery they complain
of. They have not only walked, but they
have walked we'll clothed. The English
man, even if he lives in cities, understands
outdoor life; and if he walks out on a
frosty day, walks out in thick, close-ftting
boots, in hat which warns his head, and
in coat which, being half an inch thick
and made of wool, protects him as we'll as
nature protects most animals. 1t is when
he comes in doors that he dresses most
foolishly. He has still to guard against a
low thermometer, he loses the quickness Of
circulation produced by exercise, and ne is
exposed to draughts he does not feel
abroad but he uncovers his head, uncov-
covers his hands, partially uncovers his
feet, and divests himself entirely of his out
door fleece. A sheep or bear, which did
the same thing in its house or den, would
die naturally enough of pulmonary disease.
No inhabtanr of country where cold is
sharp enough or long continued enough to
impart self-defensive instinct, ever does
anything of the kind, but keeps on as
much of his outdoor clothing as will keep
up tho sense of Varmth. The Russian of
the North, if he cannot thoroughly warm
his house, keeps on his sheepskin, as the
Esquimaux wears his furs, as il it were the
clothing nature intended him to wear. The
many articles of dress that he feels chilly,
and then runs to the fire to warm his
hands and.feet Or to enjoy the high tenn
perature which fire in the CRATE diffuses
for about five feet from the fender. Warm
clothing in the house would protect him as
completely as out of the house but he
thinks 1t undignitled to wear it, and pre-
fers covering over fire to clothing HIM
self reasonably, and being accused imme-
diately of effeminacy or of coddling HIM
self. Women are exempt from this diff
Guilty, and being aware of the peculiar
beauty of shawls as drapery, wear when
chilly extra clothing within the house
without scruple but men, unless old or
able to plead weakness of the lungs, would
not put common silk skull cap--the most
effective of all projections against draughts
for the world, and regard the wearing of
= s-s-sTgaas doars eas praposternns atd
impossible. Yet the extra clothing would
warm them completely, and prevent all the
chills of which they stand in such habitual
dread. No defense against draughts is 30
perfect as common silk handkerchief
tied over the head, and silk dress, or one
of wash leather put on between the shirt
and waistcoat, will keep the body more
eanally warm than a good fre.-A Wadded
coat will enable the chilly man to sit and
work anywhere indoors, and SO will an ex-
ira suit of thin flannel worn during the
whole Of the active day. Just let any one
who doubts what we say try the very sim
pie expedient, when the chill becomes un-
bearable, Of putting on his dressing gown
over his ordisary clothing, and in five min
utes he will be perfectly comfortable and
ready for any work, while he will not suf-
fer as he fancies he will, when he goes our
of doors. The popular notion upon that
subject is a delusion. You are not strength
ened for out door life by shivering in doors,
but rather weakened; habitual warmth,
if not too great. being ono of the best pre-
servatlves of human strength. A chilly
man might as well refuse blankets in bed
because they would increase his sense Of
cold when he got up, as refuse warm
clothing in doors because out of doors he
would not be so sensible of his great coat.
The object is not to be sensible Of pleas
ant difference, but to be and to remain
moderately and BEAUTIFULLY warm-to be-
insenslble. in fact, to ordinary differences
of temperature.