It may be hard for some of you to believe...but, there was a time in the US where only very rich families, and commercial businesses had AC!
In the small town in the SW (Pop: 35,000) where I lived as a child, the majority of the people were only was exposed to cool air when they attended a movie or entered one of the banks, plus one or two other businesses.
Many families slept outside on blankets or a mattress with the hope that there might be a breeze to cool off the heat. Of course, the bugs had a feast! My grandparents wet sheets and laid them on their bed to cool off!
Maybe that's the reason I think that the inventor of home size AC's should be a Saint!
I've never believed that there was any thing noble about laying sweating all night, when cool air was available. I did my share of sweating in a tent when in the Marines, but, that was not a choice!
Bill