The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-05-12
From The philadelphia Lcger.
PUBLIC BATHS.

Whoever is acquainted, either from reading or
observation, with the customs of the East, knows
that bathing is an universal practice there, among
people Of all conditions. The practice Is not Of
modern origin for il is mentioned BY the very ear-
est writer's, common among all the people on the
shores OF the Mediterranean, European, Asiaiic or
African. According TO the Old Testament which
merely for historical records or moral trealises, is
the most comprehensive book in existence, bathing
was a religious ceremony among the Jews; and ac-
cording to heather writers, Greek or Roman, il pre-
ceded accompanied the religious exercises OF all
believers in the heather mythology. Mahomet, who
made up his Koran from the Old and New Tesla
men and the supersitions common among The illite-
rate Christians pagans of Arabia and Egypt, and
who had sagacily enough 10 interfere with no exist
ing customs, enjoined bathing upon his followers
religious rite and Riley relates that the Arabs on
the borders OF the Desert of Zahara, and who are
rigid Mahomeans when unable TO find water, always
rub themselves with sand, substitute, before their
deyotions.
Among all these nations every person who could
afford the expense, had bath in his own house for
the use of the family; and for those who could not
afford i, ample provision was made In public baths
q. the public expense, Thus we find in Roman his
tory, that a common practice of the Europeans was
to seek popularity by founding public baths of great
magnitude; and the ruins of some of these magnif-
cent structures yet remain. When Alexandria was
taken by the Saracens or Arabans it contained 1000
public baths, for the of one and halt million of
people, besides the private baths, Of which every
family sudicientyp puent had one initsowndweiDg
Mr.. Buckingham, in his last lecture upon Egypt i'm
forms us that all the cities and towns in that country
are abundanty supplied with them, and that in Cairo
they accessible TO the irhote population at prices
ranging from cent and half to five six dollars
and that the former, accessible 10 the very poorest
are abundantly supplied with pure water, soap
towels and every thing necessary 10 the process of
thorough washing
In this lecture, Mr.. Buckingham offered some very
JudiciouS remarks upon this practice, in which he
placed the Orientals in very advantageous contrast
with the Americans and Western Europeans He
suggested the utility of establishing public baths at
the public expense, for the benefit of the poor and
enforced the suggestion with some very pertinent re-
marks upon bathing, as a promoter of health and
morals. We will venture 10 say that the suggestion
new TO ninety nine of every hundred among
his auditors and will add, in reply to those anony-
nous earpers of whom we exhibited one on Thurs
day last that had he said nothing else, be would not
depart without leaving one track of utility behind
him. and that II will repay us for all the doars that
he will carry of, If we have sense enough to profit
by the suggestion II is needless for us to enlarge
uponthe utility of bathing to health, and we have
always believed, with Mr.. Buckingham that person
al cleanliness is favorable TO that purity Of mind
which must be the foundation of good morals
Among ourselves, portion who can afford it, can
obtain baths for city contains several excellent
public bathing houses. But to large portion Of our
population, whose occupations render bathing essen
tial, the expense OF these establishments renders
them inaccessible. To remove this serious inconve-
nience how could we better appropriate money than
by building and maintaining, at the public expense
baths for the accommodation of the poor. The in
come, at prices within the reach of the poorest
would probably be sufficient TO defray the annual
pense for if poor man, or any one Of his family
could ob.ain good bath for four five cents, the
practice among them would become universal If
any of our wealthy citizens wish to acquire fame
among poserity BY useful institutions, we would ad
wise him 10 found public baths and we insist that
MIR. Grard would have done more good by this,
than by all his donations for other purposes except
ing that of his college; and even more than will
probably be effected by that, when we consider the
exravagant expenditure upon it, for mere ornament,
so contrary from his testmentary injunctions.