Sarah Bernhardt's Bath

1901

The youthfulness and vivacity of the famous French actress, Sarah Bernhardt, have been the wonder and admiration of the public for many years. There is probably no woman before the American public today who takes greater care of herself than Mme. Bernhardt.

Writing in The Ledger Monthly, Stella Stuart says that a sponge bath which affords exquisite refreshment to tired muscles and jaded spirits and is an excellent preparation for the evening toilet is used regularly by the talented French actress and is said to be a potent auxiliary in preserving her apparently perennial charm.

It consists of ½ pint of alcohol, 2 ounces spirits of camphor, 2 ounces spirits of ammonia, 2 ounces sea salt, and boiling water to make one quart. The directions called for agitating this mixture thoroughly and rubbing it into the skin with the bare hands. It was considered excellent for one to bathe the neck and shoulders before donning an evening dress.