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indiscriminate use of heat been of advantage； either mentally or physically；
to the nation？
The incubus of caloric that sits on our gasping country is particularly
painful at this season； when nature undertakes to do her own heating。
In other less…favored lands； the first spring days； the exquisite
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awakening of the world after a long winter； bring to the inhabitants a
sensation of joy and renewed vitality。 We； however； have discounted that
enjoyment。 Delicate gradations of temperature are lost on people who
have been stewing for six months in a mixture of steam and twice…
breathed air。
What pleasure can an early April day afford the man who has slept in
an over…heated flat and is hurrying to an office where eighty degrees is the
average all the year round？ Or the pale shop…girl； who complains if a
breath of morning air strays into the suburban train where she is seated？
As people who habitually use such 〃relishes〃 as Chutney and
Worcestershire are incapable of appreciating delicately prepared food； so
the 〃soft〃 mortals who have accustomed themselves to a perpetual August
are insensible to fine shadings of temperature。
The other day I went with a friend to inspect some rooms he had been
decorating in one of our public schools。 The morning had been frosty； but
by eleven o'clock the sun warmed the air uncomfortably。 On entering the
school we were met by a blast of heated air that was positively staggering。
In the recitation rooms； where； as in all New York schoolrooms； the
children were packed like dominoes in a box； the temperature could not
have been under eighty…five。
The pale； spectacled spinster in charge； to whom we complained of
this； was astonished and offended at what she considered our interference；
and answered that 〃the children liked it warm；〃 as for herself she 〃had a
cold and could not think of opening a window。〃 If the rooms were too
warm it was the janitor's fault； and he had gone out！
Twelve o'clock struck before we had finished our tour of inspection。 It
is to be doubted if anywhere else in the world could there be found such a
procession of pasty…faced； dull… eyed youngsters as trooped past us down
the stairs。 Their appearance was the natural result of compelling children
dressed for winter weather to sit many hours each day in hothouses； more
suited to tropical plants than to growing human beings。
A gentleman with us remarked with a sigh； 〃I have been in almost
every school in the city and find the same condition everywhere。 It is
terrible； but there doesn't seem to be any remedy for it。〃 The taste for
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living in a red…hot atmosphere is growing on our people； even public
vehicles have to be heated now to please the patrons。
When tiresome old Benjamin Franklin made stoves popular he struck a
terrible blow at the health of his compatriots； the introduction of steam
heat and consequent suppression of all health…giving ventilation did the
rest； the rosy cheeks of American children went up the chimney with the
last whiff of wood smoke； and have never returned。 Much of our home life
followed； no family can be expected to gather in cheerful converse around
a 〃radiator。〃
How can this horror of fresh air among us be explained？ If people
really enjoy living in overheated rooms with little or no ventilation； why is
it that we hear so much complaining； when during the summer months the
thermometer runs up into the familiar nineties？ Why are children hurried
out of town； and why do wives consider it a necessity to desert their
husbands？
It's rather inconsistent； to say the least； for not one of those deserters
but would 〃kick〃 if the theatre or church they attend fell below that
temperature in December。
It is impossible to go into our banks and offices and not realize that the
air has been breathed again and again； heated and cooled； but never
changed； … doors and windows fit too tightly for that。
The pallor and dazed expression of the employees tell the same tale。 I
spoke to a youth the other day in an office about his appearance and asked
if he was ill。 〃Yes；〃 he answered； 〃I have had a succession of colds all
winter。 You see； my desk here is next to the radiator； so I am in a perpetual
perspiration and catch cold as soon as I go out。 Last winter I passed three
months in a farmhouse； where the water froze in my room at night； and we
had to wear overcoats to our meals。 Yet I never had a cold there； and
gained in weight and strength。〃
Twenty years ago no 〃palatial private residence〃 was considered
complete unless there was a stationary washstand （forming a direct
connection with the sewer） in each bedroom。 We looked pityingly on
foreigners who did not enjoy these advantages； until one day we realized
that the latter were in the right； and straightway stationary washstands
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disappeared。
How much time must pass and how many victims be sacrificed before
we come to our senses on the great radiator question？
As a result of our population living in a furnace； it happens now that
when you rebel on being forced to take an impromptu Turkish bath at a
theatre； the usher answers your complaint with 〃It can't be as warm as you
think； for a lady over there has just told me she felt chilly and asked for
more heat！〃
Another invention of the enemy is the 〃revolving door。〃 By this
ingenious contrivance the little fresh air that formerly crept into a building
is now excluded。 Which explains why on entering our larger hotels one is
taken by the throat； as it were； by a sickening long…dead atmosphere … in
which the souvenir of past meals and decaying flowers floats like a regret
… such as explorers must find on opening an Egyptian tomb。
Absurd as it may seem； it has become a distinction to have cool rooms。
Alas； they are rare！ Those blessed households where one has the delicious
sensation of