Transactions Northeast Coast Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders, vol. 6, 1889-90, p. 253.
THE LITTLE HOUSE
By M.M.
One of the highest medical authorities is credited with the statement that "nine-tenths of the diseases that afflict humanity are caused by neglect to answer the calls of Nature."
This state of affairs is generally admitted, but is usually attributed to individual indolence. That, doubtless, has a great deal to do with it, but should not part of the blame be laid upon the often unpleasant environments, which make us shrink as from the performance of a painful duty?
In social life, unless from absolute necessity or charity, people of refined habits do not call on those whose surroundings shock their sense of decency; but when they go to pay the calls of Nature, they are often compelled to visit her in the meanest and most offensive of abodes; built for her by men's hands; for Nature herself makes no such mistakes in conducting her operations. She does not always surround herself with the pomp and pride of life, but she invariably hedges herself in with the thousand decencies and the pomp of privacy.
But what do we often do? We build what is sometimes aptly termed "an out-house," because it is placed so that the delicate minded among its frequenters may be made keenly alive to the fact that they can be plainly seen by every passer-by and by every idle neighbor on the lookout. This tiny building is seldom weatherproof; In consequence, keen cold winds from above, below, and all around find ready entrance, chill the uncovered person, frequently check the motions, and make the strong as well as the weak, the young as well as the old, very sorry indeed that they are so often uselessly obliged to answer the calls of Nature. It is true, the floor is sometimes carpeted with snow, but the feet feel that to be but cold comfort, though the door may enjoy rattling its broken hasp and creaking its loose hinges.