Monday, April 29, 2013
A sort of door
Following on this. It's clear that the British approach to housing is drastically different from the American. We don't have nearly as many deaths from cold weather, even though we have more poverty and a whole lot more cold weather. When temperatures get just below freezing, Britain falls apart. Pipes burst and houses can't be heated. Most American housing, even in older cities, can stand 10F before systems start to fail.
While perusing an 1898 Meteorological Magazine, I encountered a stark word-picture of the difference in attitude in this account of a tornado in Este's Park.
Aside from the peculiar misspelling, note the Martian-style unfamiliarity with screen doors, which were perfectly common in America. "The outer door (a sort of door with wire gauze instead of panel) was ripped off its hinges, and is a mass of splinters."
The concept of protecting a house from bugs or weather doesn't seem to be part of the British mindset.
¶ 3:27 AM 
Aside from the peculiar misspelling, note the Martian-style unfamiliarity with screen doors, which were perfectly common in America. "The outer door (a sort of door with wire gauze instead of panel) was ripped off its hinges, and is a mass of splinters."
The concept of protecting a house from bugs or weather doesn't seem to be part of the British mindset.
¶ 3:27 AM
