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109
2nd. They concern themselves with a multitude
of small details it would be impossible for any local
authority to enforce. By Section 34 every lodger is
required to cause every window of every sleeping
apartment to be kept fully open for two hours every
day; and by Section 21 he is required to cause the
floor of every room, which shall be let to him, to be
thoroughly swept at least once in every day, and
thoroughly washed at least once in every week. It
is at least as desirable that he should wash himself
from head to foot every day, and that his clothing
should be frequently changed and cleansed; but for
these desiderata no provision has been made. Now,
no one will doubt the importance of domestic
cleanliness, and the desirability of having the above
regulations, and like regulations contained in other
sections, carried out. But it is surely obvious that,
though a Vestry might recommend, it could never
enforce, such enactments as these.
3rd. The apportionment of duties between the
different persons concerned in lodging houses is faulty
and unworkable. The persons who are made responsible
for the performance of duties prescribed
in the regulations are the landlord and the lodger.
But the term "landlord" is so defined as to mean
solely the person letting lodgings, or the person on