Hazards of the Air 203 



to many of our theatres, are evidences of 

 the high temperature, increasing moisture, 

 and bad air which we are usually forced to 

 breathe there; but the more subtle dangers 

 here, as. elsewhere, lurk in the dust which 

 equally with the bad air is forced upon us. 



No adequate means exist in most theatres 

 for ridding the air of the dust. The best of 

 them indeed are swept and " dusted" system- 

 atically and the larger particles of dirt 

 collected and removed. But the floating 

 dust is simply stirred up, and after settling 

 is stirred again by the so-called duster, and 

 so partially removed from the seats, but 

 it settles again on the floors, to be again set 

 in motion by the entering and retiring 

 audience. It would be safe to say that 

 the most effective method of removal of 

 the floating dust from many of our popular 

 theatres and churches is by its lodgment in 

 the throats and lungs or on the clothing of 

 the people who visit them. 



Some of the newer and better theatres are 

 furnished with improved and sufficient venti- 

 lating apparatus, some even have vacuum 



