IMPROVEMENTS IN THEATER SANITATION. 95 



creases the safety of human life in theaters and other places of 

 amusement, its use is in many city or building ordinances made 

 imperative — at least on the stage and in the main body of the 

 auditorium. Stairs, corridors, entrances, etc., may, as a matter of 

 precaution, be lighted by a different system, by means of either 

 gas or auxiliary vegetable oil or candle lamps, protected by glass 

 inclosures against smoke or draught, and provided with special inlet 

 and outlet flues for air. 



Passing to other desirable internal improvements of theaters, 

 I would mention first the floors of the auditorium. The cover- 

 ing of the floor by carpets is objectionable — in theaters more 

 so even than in dwelling houses. Night after night the carpet 

 comes in contact with thousands of feet, which necessarily bring 

 in a good deal of street dirt and dust. The latter falls on the 

 carpets and attaches to them, and as it is not feasible to take the 

 carpets up except during the summer closing, a vast accumulation 

 of dirt and organic matter results, some of the dirt falling through 

 the crevices between the floor boards. Many theater-goers are not 

 tidy in their habits regarding expectoration, and as there must 

 be in every large audience some persons afflicted with tuberculosis, 

 the danger is ever present of the germs of the disease drying on 

 the carpet, and becoming again detached to float in the air which 

 we are obliged to breathe in a theater. 



As a remedy I would propose abolishing carpets entirely, and 

 using instead a floor covering of linoleum, or thin polished par- 

 quetry oak floors, varnished floors of hard wood, painted and 

 stained floors, interlocked rubber-tile floors, or, at least for the 

 aisles, encaustic or mosaic tiling. Between the rows of seats, as 

 well as in the aisles, long rugs or mattings may be laid down loose, 

 for these can be taken up without much trouble. They should be 

 frequently shaken, beaten, and cleaned. 



Regarding the walls, ceilings, and cornices, the surfaces should 

 be of a material which can be readily cleaned and which is non- 

 absorbent. Stucco finish is unobjectionable, but should be kept flat, 

 so as not to offer dust-catching projections. Oil painting of walls is 

 preferable to a covering with rough wall papers, which hold large 

 quantities of dust. The so-called " sanitary " or varnished wall 

 papers have a smooth, non-absorbent, easily cleaned surface, and 

 are therefore unobjectionable. All heavy decorations, draperies, 

 and hangings in the boxes, and plush covers for railings, are to 

 be avoided. 



The theater furniture should be of a material which does not 

 catch or hold dust. Upholstered plush-covered chairs and seats 

 retain a large amount of.it, and are not readily cleaned. Leather- 



