do not mind anything so long as they can inhale the
pernicious tobacco fumes.

It is a common practice, I fear, to keep the windows of the bedroom
closed, except in hot weather. I have often suggested to friends that,
for the sake of their health, they should at least keep one of the
windows, if not more, open during the night, but they have pooh-poohed
the idea on account of that bugaboo--a draught. It is one of the
mysteries of the age that people should be willing to breathe
second-hand air when there is so much pure, fresh air out of doors to
be had for nothing; after inhaling and exhaling the same air over and
over again all through the night it is not strange that they rise in
the morning languid and dull instead of being refreshed and in high
spirits. No one who is deprived of a sufficiency of fresh air can long
remain efficient. Health is the cornerstone of success. I hear many
nowadays talking of Eugenics. Eugenics was founded ten years ago by
Sir Francis Galton, who defined it thus: "The study of agencies under
control that may improve or impair the racial qualities of future
generations, either physically or mentally." The University of London
has adopted this definition, where a chair of Eugenics has been
founded. This science is undoubtedly of the first importance, but what
advantage is good birth if afterward life is poisoned with foul air? A
dust-laden atmosphere is a germ-laden atmosphere, therefore physicians
prescribe for tubercular convalescents conditions in which the air is
90% free from dust. However, the air of the city has been
scientifically proven to be as pure as the air of the country. All
that is necessary to secure proper lung food is plenty of it,--houses
so constructed that the air inside shall be free to go out and the air
outside to come in. Air in a closed cage must be mischievous, and what
are ill-ventilated rooms but vicious air cages, in which mischiefs of
all sorts breed?

America professes to believe in publicity, and what is "publicity" but
the open window and the open door? Practise this philosophy and it
will be easy to keep on the sunny side of the street and to discourage
the glooms. The joys fly in at open windows.

[1] I have never been a smoker and have always eschewed tobacco,
cigarettes, etc.; though for a short while to oblige friends I
occasionally accepted a cigarette, now I firmly refuse everything of
the sort.

[2] Since writing the above, I h