“Starving her grade,” continued the doctor, “in the most important need of the human organism, air.”
“How do you reach that conclusion?”
“Evidence and experience. I remember in my college days that the winter term was considered to be the most difficult in every year. The curriculum didn’t seem to show it, but every professor and every undergraduate knew it. Bad air, that’s all. The recitation rooms were kept tightly closed. The human brain can’t burn carbon and get a bright flame of intelligence without a good draft, and the breathing is the draft. Now, on the evidence of Charley’s teacher, when winter comes percentages go down, although the lessons are the same. So I asked her about the ventilation and found that she had a superstitious dread of cold.”
“I remember Miss Benn’s room,” said Julia thoughtfully. “It used to get awful hot there. I never liked that grade anyway, and Bobs got such bad deportment marks.”
“Both of the twins had colds all the winter they were in that room,” contributed Grandma Sharpless.
Up went Dr. Strong’s hands, the long fingers doubled in, in a curious gesture which only stress of feeling ever drove him to use.
“‘When will the substitute mothers and fathers who run our schools learn about air!” he cried. “Air! It’s the first cry of the newly born baby. Air! It’s the last plea of the man with the death-rattle in his throat. It’s the one free boon, and we shut it out. If I’m here next winter, I think I’ll load up with stones and break some windows!”
“Lemme go with you!” cried Charley, with the eagerness of destruction proper to seven years. “On the whole, Charley,” replied the other, chuckling a little, “perhaps it’s better to smash traditions. Not easier, but better.”
“But you wouldn’t have them study with all the windows open on a zero day!” protested Mrs. Clyde.
“Wouldn’t I! Far rather than choke them in a close room! Why, in Chicago, the sickly children have special classes on the roof, or in the yards, all through the cold weather. They study in overcoats and mittens. And they learn. Not only that, but they thrive on it.”