Wisconsin herald, and Grant County advertiser. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1844-1845, 1845-08-30
BATHING.

luxury when the thermometer ranges at 95 de-
grees of Farenhei,i Just think of place
like Polosi, with its swarming population
Isweltering between the burning bluffs in one
of the most rabid of dog,days, destitute of that
fine siream-one of Natures own distlleres.
that brings TO every man, woman and child
along its banks constant supply of cold wa
ter TO drink-and an invigorating bath, free for
all, al all times Destitute of this source of
comfort and health. would Potosi be, as il now
is. full of health and activity To look a,
the innumerable rivers and rivulets tina, spread
like net work of veins over the whole face Of
Grant county, it seems as though Nature had
provided that we might all be clean in spite Of
ochre-and that il should be entirely our own
fault, it. stunning all these innumerable baths,
we would be dirty fellows. On the subject of
bathing, the Farmers Library says -
" This is NOT a mere matter of de-
ccncy. 1t is one Of the positive com.
mands arising from the constituted
order of things. BE it remembered,
that every thing that lives, vegetable or
animal, is wasting while life continues :;
and that all which is sent forth through
the millions Of openings by the skin,
has run its round, and is lifelcss and
that more than half Of all the food taken
comes forth in this manner. If perspi.
ration, sensible and inscnsiblc, be per-
mitted TO rest on the skin, and stop the
way of that which is coming, Nature
is offended, and will show that she is
so. Such neglect is one Of the causes
Of disease. This fact was probably
well known to Eastern nations, since
it was part OF their religious duty to
cleanse the skin. These nations were
ignorant of the modern comfort OF
wearing a garment next the skin which
can be frequently changed. The alb
scnce of this comfort was one Of the
causes of those dreadful diseases OF
which we read, and which are now
unknown among Christian nations.-
There arc classes Of laborers and me-
chanics, whose health would be pre-
served, and their lives prolonged, il
they knew how much depended on
periodical cleansing. IL may be said
that there is q conncxion between clean.
illness and moral feeling. Perhaps il
may be going too far to say, that those
who habitually disregard cleanliness,
and prefer TO be dirty, have no moral
perception: but it may be truly said,
that those who are morally sensitive
are the more so from respecting this
virtue. There is a close affinity be-
tween moral depravity and physical
degradation. The vicious poor arc
always shockingly filthy: the dcpraved
rich are visited by worse penalties :
they may have clean garments but
what can wash away the impurities
which vice has made part of them
selves IL is not for ones self only
that the virtue Of cleanliness commends
ITSELF Every one comes within the OBJ
scrvation of others. However uuclcan-
~ ono may be himself, he is not the less
offended at the like neglect in those
whom he observes. Now, il is every
ones duty TO himself TO recommend
himself to others, so far as he inno-
Gently and reasonably can, and to OBJ
tain their respect. Clean and costly
garments may fall very short of doing
this, if il be seen that they are COW
ering for the neglect Of this important
law. If there be lovely object TO the
human eye it is clean, clear faced,
healthy, innocent, ncatly-clad, happy
child. There are few children who
may not, If they viii, be neatly dressed,
/ for this does not depend on that OF
which the dress is made. There are
fewer who may not have clear skin,
and healthy look, if they are properly
fed, and sleep in pure air. There are
none who may not have a c.can skin ;
for we speak TO those who are old
enough to Judge for themselves. And
let it be added, for their inducement,
shat, in obeying the command to be
clean, they are performing a moral du-
ty in neglecting it they are inhicting
an evil on themselves in two ways
first, in diminishing their own comfort ;
second, in losing the esteem OF 9th
ers."
or 1t is an error to suppose that be-
cause man smiles on you he is your
friend, or because he covets your soci-
ote that he cares fp about you; smiles