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.

Daily Bath For Beauty

1902

A daily bath in cold or tepid water is an indispensable aid in keeping the skin of the body in good condition, says the London Standard.

The complexion, also, very often suffers from insufficient washing in pure water, or, for preference, in rain water. It is impossible for those of us who live in large towns to keep the complexion quite as blooming and healthy as the inhabitants of country districts, but more care might be frequently taken to wash off the smuts that help to clog the pores of the skin, or the fine dust that covers the epidermis like a mass after a long day out, or, in any case, before going to bed.

Use hot rain water if it is possible to secure it, with two or three spoonfuls of oatmeal thrown in to soften the water. Next proceed to thoroughly massage the face with some good soap and a firm sponge; then rinse the skin in another basin of cold water, into which has been poured a few drops of eau de cologne or alcohol, finally rubbing into the face and neck a little cold cream.

Lives On Five Cents a Day

1901

Indiana Laborer Thrives on Exclusive Diet of Oatmeal

William Hamlin, a laborer, of Mishawaka, Ind., employed in very active work, and who spent the summer as a laborer in digging sewers and laying water-mains, has subsisted throughout the summer and fall on five cents a day, and is still continuing the experiment. Mr. Hamlin selected oatmeal for his diet, paying two cents a pound therefor, and consuming two and a half pounds a day, or seventeen and one-half pounds a week of seven days, at a total cost of thirty-five cents.

Hamlin's daily bill of fare since last summer has consisted of the following menu: Breakfast, plenty of hot drinking water and three-quarters of a pound of oatmeal; dinner, plenty of drinking water and one pound of oatmeal. For supper he takes a hot or cold bath, sometimes only a foot bath, three-quarters of a pound of oatmeal and plenty of drinking water. Mr. Hamlin says that after eating supper he often feels frisky as a colt. Whenever his appetite becomes rebellious and his stomach seems to crave other food he simply lays the oatmeal away on the shelf until the appetite returns and the stomach becomes subjugated.

Several citizens of this place, acquainted with Mr. Hamlin's eccentricities, vouch for the accuracy as detailed, and assert that Mr. Hamlin is as well satisfied with his present physical and mental vigor that he is not desirous of returning to the old order of things.

Navajo Indians Take 'Bath' Without Water

1914

Through Necessity, They Have Adopted Unique Plan for Bodily Cleanliness

It has already been indicated that the great desideratum of the Navajo country is water. A perennial water famine is not conducive to habits of bodily cleanliness; and a real bath in real water is something that the average Navajo knows nothing of. Nevertheless, these Bedouins of the Southwest realize that a thorough cleansing of the body is necessary, and have invented a method of accomplishing that end that is well adapted to the land of thirst in which they dwell. This is the sweat bath.

A miniature hogan is built of sticks of wood, and banked up with earth until it is air-tight, with the exception of an opening large enough to admit the body. A fire is built outside, in which large stones are heated red hot. Then these are placed in the sweat house, in a position in which the "bather" will be unlikely to come in contact with them. Then the candidate for a bath crawls in, keeping his head in the open air. One or more heavy blankets are placed over the opening and tightly around the neck of the occupant of the sweat house, to prevent the escape of the heated air.

The Indians remain in the sweat house for several hours, perspiring with incredible freedom. When they emerge they dry themselves by rubbing with the hot sand of the desert. As a cleansing agent, the sweat bath would be hard to beat, although it is a rather heroic substitute for the tub bath of civilization. Nevertheless, it opens the pores of the skin, promotes circulation, and has much to recommend it in preference to the practice of the members of some other tribes, of never taking a bath at all. — Christian Herald.

Artwork -- Wool Soap For Toilet and Bath -- Advertisement

1896

Wool Soap
For Toilet and Bath

Wool Soap is the most modern of all high grade White Floating Soaps for the Toilet and Bath and for Washing Silks, Laces, Woolens and all fine fabrics.

MADE ONLY BY
Swift and Company,
CHICAGO

Use of Typewriter Still In Its Infancy, Will Definitely Grow

1901

WRITING BY MACHINE

EMPLOYMENT OF TYPEWRITER YET IN ITS INFANCY.

Use Will Increase Until Every Hotel Will Provide Them for Guests, and All Business Men Will Use Them Themselves, Not Depending Upon Others.

Bicycling was a fad, but typewriting is a fact. The typewriter it, he, or she — is in the same class as the telephone, telegraph, and linotype. As to usefulness and universality, typewriting is in its infancy. Thus far it is used only by those who cannot get along without it. The business man puts in a writing machine as a luxury, and regards it as expense. A young woman who learns to use a typewriter feels called upon to explain that she may have to earn her living, and she can equip herself more quickly in this way than in any other. A superintendent or principal who advocates the introduction of typewriting into the schools feels obliged to prove that it is due those who may have to earn a living.

The attitude of business men and school people toward typewriting must change entirely, and the time for such change is already here. Where one writing machine is used now there will be ten in use in the near future. The only trouble up to this time has been that business men, superintendents, and principals rarely use the machine personally and advantageously. The typewriter is a servant, a helper, doing what the proprietor would have it understood that he is above doing, whereas the difficulty is that he cannot do it.

As a Yankee, I venture the guess that in the not-distant future the ablest men and women in home and office, in hotel and train will use the machine. To-day, away from home, if one wishes typewriting, he pays a dollar an hour or more for the service, but soon every first-class hotel will have all the writing machines which their patronage requires in the writing room and free to all guests. Already every first-class new hotel has a long-distance telephone in each room and a man has its use at any hour of day or night at the same rate that he would pay if he went out and sought a "pay station." In the same way one will be able to say when he registers at any first-class hotel, "I would like a room with a writing machine." At first he might have to pay fifty cents a day extra, as he does for a room with bath and lavatory appointments, but that will soon pass away, as the extra charge for the bath is going. Already it is appreciated that a bath is as important as a washbowl, and so the necessity of the writing machine will be early acknowledged.

In a word, the future of typewriting is with the schools. Teach it as universally as you teach penmanship, not for the sake of the girls who are to be typewriters, but for the greater advantage of the boys and girls who are to be the leaders in social, business, and professional life; not for the purpose of helping a poor girl to be independent, but for making rich and poor alike independent. The time has come for a universal and emphatic demand for the writing machine in every upper grade of the grammar school, and in every high school, academy, seminary, college, and university. — A. E. Winship, in Normal Instructor.

Notes Around Town – Motion Pictures, Fobs, and Fish

Stevens Point, Wisconsin, May 29, 1907

A. W. Carle, proprietor and manager of the Ideal theatre, will give the usual program of moving pictures, illustrated songs and musical numbers on Sunday afternoons and evenings.

Benjamin Sias, of Sparta, who won the district declamatory contest in this city a couple of weeks ago, was named the best speaker at the state contest, held in Madison, last Friday evening.

Chas. U. Conlisk left for the Sacred Heart Sanitarium, Milwaukee, Monday morning, to take a course of treatment, he not having been feeling well of late. He will no doubt return in a short time fully recuperated.

The latest fad! Gold plated signet Normal and High school fobs. Call and see them at French, Campbell & Co.

The machine shop of F. A. Sustins, on North Third street, was entered through a window Friday night and a number of valuable tools stolen. A bar was pryed off a window after a pane of glass had been broken.

Mrs. E. I. Tozier, who resides just west of the city in the town of Linwood, has been afflicted with blood clots in the veins and tissues for the past few years, and will leave next week for the Sacred Heart Sanitarium, Milwaukee, to remain some weeks under the care of the able physicians and nurses there.

J. W. Moxon and son, Arnold, returned Monday morning on train No. 1 from Gills Landing, where they had spent Saturday night and part of Sunday on the Wolf river, catching bass. No bass offered to take their bait, but a huge rock sturgeon, weighing 47½ pounds was secured by Arnold. His father assisted in landing the big fish.

Judge Murat has ordered Willie Koslowski, of Junction City, to be committed to the Boys' Industrial school at Waukesha. The boy refused to obey his parents and was given into Sheriff Guyant's charge, Thursday, he being taken to that institution thereafter.

Jack Carkeek, who in years gone by was one of the best known wrestlers in this country, but who has spent the past few years across the ocean, has been renewing acquaintances in this city for a few days.

Geo. L. Rogers and John Martini left here Tuesday morning for Mt. Clemens, Mich., to remain about three weeks and enjoy the health-giving baths of that resort. Both gentlemen have been troubled with rheumatism for some time.

Rev. Russell Wilber, archdeacon of Fond du Lac, conducted services in the Episcopal church here Sunday morning and evening. The visiting clergyman made a fine impression, he being a speaker of unusual ability, with a pleasing manner and a convincing form of expression.

—The Gazette, Stevens Point, Wisconsin, May 29, 1907

Four Baths a Year

1916

Oshkosh, Wis., April 20 — Failure to take more than four baths a year is deemed sufficient grounds for divorce, Judge Burnell granting a decree to Elizabeth Ogden, who thus charged William Ogden. She says he was indolent and good for nothing. William was also accused to wearing and sleeping in his clothes for two months.


Thief Takes Law Mower From Porch

Charles Coleman of John street is bewailing the loss of a lawn mower that was appropriated by a sneak thief Wednesday night. The mower was taken from the back porch of the home.


Autoists Run Down Blooded Boston Pup

The fine blooded Boston bull pup recently purchased by Dr. Keenan was run over yesterday afternoon by a careless autoist who was speeding down Chestnut street. The hind leg of the dog was crushed in such a manner that it will probably be necessary to kill the canine. The doctor is not in a very good humor over the incident and may institute proceedings against the driver as his identity is known.

—Coshocton Daily Tribune, Coshocton, Ohio, April 22, 1916, page 1.

Boy Dies of Antrax; Woman Cutting Third Set of Teeth

1922

Illinois News Happenings

Harold Challacombe, six years old, is dead at Alton of anthrax. It is not known how the child contracted the disease.

A badger, the first found in years, was captured on a farm near Sterling. The animal weighed more than seventy-five pounds.

With the completion of the transferring of 343 square inches of skin from sixty-four persons to the body of Helen Hoage, sixteen-year-old explosion victim, Belvidere physicians declare that the most extensive skin grafting operation ever attempted in northern Illinois is a success.

Mrs. S. P. Leith, aged seventy, of Farina, is cutting her third set of teeth. A few days ago she had her teeth extracted, expecting to replace them with false ones. Soon after her gums healed she noticed they were swelling and a few days later she announced that some of her third set of teeth were breaking through her gums.

Every living thing in the Salt Fork river from Sidney east to Homer Park and for an equal distance west of Sidney has been killed by acid carried into the river from the Boneyard ranch in Champaign and Urbana, according to a statement made by C. E. Huff, state inspector of the department of agriculture, of which the game and fish division is a part.

Sudden deaths and misfortunes have beset the Van Duse family of St. Charles. Mrs. Leo Van Hove fell dead in her husband's arms a few days ago. Before the inquest her brother, Peter Van Duse, went in a taxicab to take another brother, Alphonse, to the proceedings. The taxicab turned over several miles from St. Charles. Peter was killed. Alphonse was probably fatally injured. Gus Alleman, the driver, was seriously hurt.

Now comes the bathtub, for hogs. It is advocated by the farm bureau of Jo Daviess county. The bureau says a bathtub for hogs is just as necessary as a similar modern improvement for human beings. The hog must be kept sanitary, and the only way to do it is to build it a tub and let it wash. "It has been found," says the bureau publication, "that a bathtub made of planks, eight feet long, four feet wide and one foot deep is a good size. Place it in the shade, fill it half full of water, add one pint of a coal-tar dip as a disinfectant and a tablespoonful of crude oil on top. This bath can be cleaned out and renewed frequently. A sanitary bath has been found to prevent hog troubles from progressing."

—The Pointer, Riverdale/Dolton, Illinois, July 28, 1922, page 8.

No More Wash Tub Baths for Kids, Showers at School

Hurley, Indiana, 1919--

NO WASH TUB BATHS FOR HURLEY KIDS

SHOWERS IN SCHOOL BASEMENT BECOME SO POPULAR CHILDREN PREFER THEM

Instead of being bathed before they come to school, the children attending the Hurley schools are bathed before they go home.

Last February a bathing plant was installed in the school. Last week it was re-opened for the winter months of the current season. The plant in the basement of the Lincoln school includes four showers for boys and five for girls.

Is Compulsory.

Roughly the course in bathing is compulsory, but some of the children whose parents object, may elect not to participate. Each woman teacher is responsible for the bathing of the girls. She takes them to the bathing plant in their turn and supervises the operation and preserves order during the process. She also sends the boys to the plant, but William Ostrander, manual training director, has charge. When the plan was first embarked upon, many persons doubted the wisdom of the policy. Suggesting parents might object if the school assumed the responsibility of bathing their children. In fact such was the case for a short time, until the children themselves took command. They told their parents quite flatly that they preferred standing under a warm shower to squatting in the family tub. Now the school bathing plant is so popular that very few children prefer the home bath to it.

Solves Problem

A bathing plant was the solution of a problem confronting teachers in every part of the country. The question is one of having all children physically clean and consequently healthy and active. In order to correct the condition the plant was opened with a wide enough program to kill the idea that it was exclusively for those who needed ministration from outside the home.

The school furnishes soap and towels. The towels, as may be expected, are carefully laundered and individual, soap is liquid. On their bath day, the children take with them, to school, a change of underwear and stockings to be put on when the bath is over.

--Ironwood Daily Globe, Ironwood, Michigan, November 20, 1919, page 7.


SAYS HUBBY WAS TIGHT

Chicago. -- According to Mrs. Mary Sebastian, 2030 Churchill street, her husband, Jacob, 4929 North Western avenue, cigar maker, is a penurious man. She explained in detail to Judge Sheridan E. Fry of the Court of Domestic Relations the manner in which she was forced to account to her husband for every cent she spent. Judge Fry ordered Sebastian to pay $9 a week for his child's support. Sebastian, although able to speak, is deaf, but could understand his wife's testimony through lip reading.

"My husband was holding three positions at one time," said Mrs. Sebastian, "and would give me only $20 each week to run our home. Each day he would ask for a detailed account of the money I used, and if I were unable to explain where 1 or 2 cents had been used, he would 'call me' for being extravagant."

--Ironwood Daily Globe, Ironwood, Michigan, November 20, 1919, page 7.