To sit in one of those wonderful screened in large porches must have been the life back then.  This was the air- conditioned area.   Most houses and buildings in the Zone were built with these large screened in porches.  This is where the folks had a chance to socialize, relax, read a book or watch the rain fall.  Mosquitoes and sand fleas couldn't get them.  Note that good hard wood furniture.  Looking at this gentleman, I find it interesting that many men and women wore white clothing back then.    Considering Panama wasn't the cleanest place in the world in those days, the only thing I can surmise is that white reflects the heat.