The Sun.
London, England, 1852-04-12 00:00:00

SOAP AND WATER.

(From Eliza Cook's Journal.)
To the slang cry of " How are you off for soap," a
practical answer has been given by the Committee for
promoting the Establishment of Baths and Washhouses
for the Labouriug Classes. And really the answer
proves to be most satisfactory. We do not wish to dis-
parage any of the numerous efforts made in so many
different quarters to wash the Ethiop white; but certainly
we do feet a much more lively and practical interest in
tho philanthropic action of the above admirable associa-
tion on the social and domestic habits of our own people.
Soap and water may indeed seem to many a very unin-
teresting affair—a thing difficult to get up a display of
stump oratory about, except of the most soporiferous
kind. It is so disagreeable to get up an agitation about
dirt, and to wage war against foul living. There are
no drums beat and trumpets blown at the head of such a
movement, and as for banners, what could you hold up
as a fitting emblem on such an occasion except a foul
shirt? But, really, there is much more in this move-
ment than appears at first sight. For, see what grows
out of cleanly habits:— First, health and comfort ;
second, decency and self-respect; third, morality and
virtue; fourth, religion. No mean authority has pro-
nounced cleanliness to bo " next to godliness." It is a
too notorious fact, that the dirty classes are the dan-
gerous classes; that vice is invariably found to be most
prolific in the foulest and worst cleansed habitations.
The moral man is generally but a correct index of the
physical man;, for the moral grows out of the physical.
Clean a man's skin, and you do something towards
cleansing his mind. You may not thus educate his in-
telligence, but you prepare him for the reception of true
refinement and wisdom. The report of the committee
above referred to shows that the number of baths taken
at the Whitechapel Model Bath-house during the year
ending Christmas last, was 156,310; at St. afartin'l.e
hi
the Fields, 213,485; and at Marylebone, 173,157. The
number of washers at the first place, during the sam
period, was 43,462; at the second, 50,200; and at the
third, 24,718. The total receipts of these three ore
lishments for the year were 9,1551. 3s. Id. -.1.,
also the Westminster Baths and Washhoases,
ber
d in sptem
opened May last, and the Greenwich, op The total
opened in
where the results are
,equally satisfactory;
during the
P rof washers
647,242, and the
number of baths taken in these five
last year has been e
established in
ilia ue-omiosbee
132,251. Similar institutions have
,hich are those at
the country, the most importa and Bng.
Liverpool (two), Hull, Bristol, r
stablishments, three have
ham. Of these six country n"
Cc:town
e The income is satisfae-
been opened during the year.
reasonable interest on the
tory, and sufficient to_ payee
), issue of the ex the
expended; but the p
c is not the most notable fP
ea-
riment, though importan ,
oplo have been improved,
ture. The habits of the
Pe been increased,
their domestic comforts have
must not dis ui and
Eelf-
uraged. But svg3 . . h g se from our-
respect ence s a
that only a begintung a 3
se' yes the fact,
asabouses a yet been
made. The baths and w
without. The re'
erected and
maintained by help from_
..
and extend thorn In all districts.
take them up
. of a natural habit cleanliness is not the
cultivation
growth of a day. It requires_
carefully encouraged,
helped, and fostered; and this is what these public
baths and washhouses are now doing, The committee
say, in their report, that "
it is new satisfactorily proved
that baths and washhouses, with accommodation adapted
to different districts, according to the population, can be
erected at a coat of 2,020/., 4,0001., or 8,0001., exclusive
of the charge for land, —a suggestion which we trust
will have its effect upon philanthropic men throughout
the country, and set them to work. It is to be hoped
that the Legislature will contribute their mite towards
the same cause, by taking off the tax on soap during the
lresent session.-

11)--
Mr. Slnuiel Nall
Jon" is appointed coloni6l rut
poll At the Gold Vault,