Litchfield enquirer., 1832-06-28

washing of the hands and feer, and aspsl-
sion or sprinkling. 49,
But 1t is not our intention 10 give the
history Of bathing. What we desire at
tins time is, to call theattention of our fell
low.citizens to haneccssily for their
health and comfort, ofhaving public baths
I established in all the cities, towns, aud viii
lagos, ofthe country, and also. having them
attached to every asylum and charitable in-
sututlon whatever. On this point, we are
behind both the Jews of old and the Ma
hometans Of the present day. We have
examples from the ancient Greek and Ro-
mans. and.the modern semi-barbaran Turk
and Russian, Persian, Hindoo, and Egyp-
tlan, OF attention to personal cleanliness,
by regular and frequent bathing, which
ought to shame us, with all our pretended
public spirit and refinement. ar
The Greeks Joined their public baths to
the Gymnasia. SO that athletic sports should
DO succeeded by bathing. nd these again
alternate with conversation on literature and
morals. while the people were sitting os
slowly walking under their long and finely
scu!ptured porticoes. a@..,
Within the vast precincts Of the Ro-
man baths were temples, palestraae for the
sports drumming, wrestling, boxing, pitch
ing the QUOT, and throwing the javelin;
and also extensive libraries. The water
required for such lavish use as took place
in the eight hundred public baths OF Rome
was brought by aqueducls from the
springs and streams OF the hills, many miles
distant from the city. So numerous were
these aqucducts, that at one time, it was
supposed they furnished no less quantity
Of water than half a million Of hogsheads
in the twenty-fouF hours. At tho presen,
day. although many have been destroyed,
there remains enough, not only for every
domestic purpose, but also for the supply
OF those numerous aud beautiful fountains
in which modern Rome excels all other
cities.
The Roman baths were both warm and
cold. and also Of dry and moist vapour:
| aud they were open to all classes at stated
hours, each individual paying sum no,
more than equal to half cent Of our cur
rency. They were placed under the di.
rcction Of the ediles, who regulated their
temperature, and enforced cleanliness, in
the establishments themselves, and order
and decorum in the visitors. e,&.
Tho nations of the great Scythian or
Tartaric family are .l'eysamong whom va
pour baths are in mos, genera! use. OF
these, the Russians and Finlanders, Turks
and Persians. nre conspicuous for their
iondness for apractice, the origin and con-
tinuance Of which can hardly be referred
to climate, when we find It under ATTITUDES
SO remote from each other as the North
Cape and the Gulf Of Persia nor to reli-
gion, since it is participated in by the im-
n.euss population Of the Greek church, as
we'll as by the hordes protesting the Ma
hometan faith. There IL this difference,
however, that the people Of the north are
most partial To the moist, those Of the
south, to the dry vapour bath. a''''
Baths are generally metwith in all north
ern Europe, viz. Finland, Lapland, Swe
den, and Norway, attached 10, or forming
part of, the houses OF all classes. s
The Turkish baths consist of two. ant
sometimes three apsrtments---one for 90
dressing and reclining after the bath, which
Is in the second room, or rather in the Sc.
cond room itself, heated by fues. Here
the visitor reclines on an estrada, Is well
rubbed and kneaded, and washed with .
lather Of perfumed soap. Every Turkish
village has its bath house, TO which oil per-
sons, without distinction, are admitted in
the orderin which they present themselves
The baths Of Egypt, India, and Persia
differ little from the Turkish ones. Shall
il be- said Of the FREQ citizens Of these Unit,
ed States, that they are less attentive L
personal cleanliness and comfort, and &C
knowledge greater artificial distinction be-
tween man and man than semi-barbarians--
; 1.-The crowd Of whom are, in al other matters
tyrannized over by the few? Shall III
mawkish sensibiliiy ofthe wealthy and pro
fessional among US, render them averse 4
an industrious mechanic an honest plough
man visiting the baths of q public estab
lishment al tho same time with themselves
After ell, individual privacy is not incom
. patible with an assemblage under the SAM
roof. Ought our ladies 70 be ashamed 4
, have il known that they practice REGULAR.
that which is security for the preservation
: and just setting of Of their charmsa L. }
. time that public spirited citizens IN ever!
quarter Of the country, shoald take ihi
7 matter into serious consideration. Tav
: erDs arc being shut up-let baths supply
: their place. Let opportunity be adcrdet
h 80 ,ha h.rd .vnrk;uC iOt,rnavman and an