Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-05-28
CHEAP TURKISH BATHS,
A CLEVER GIRLS SCHEME FOR
STEAM BATHING AT HOME,

During the winter do not have the
enthusiasm about bathing that do the
very first warm spring day." said girl
10 a friend of hers one pleasant day;
and then the baths cost so much"
Yes, have learned that to my sor-
row The bath itself is always one dol
lar, bit of cracker and a taste of wine
is half as much more, and then my bangs
are straight when | am through. but |
have solved the problem now"
How? So it won't cost so much? Oh
do tell us all
oh, have rugged up Turkish bath
which only costs a cent an hour"
For goodness sake where? | thought
you lived in a fat.
Il have it in my room where | can sit
and steam away all day, if choose, with
out disturbance"
But doesn't it take up lots of roomT
oh, no, not at all.
Then just sit down and tell us all
about it..
Il took a low seated. high backed
grandfather's chair which mother had
banished from the parlor, because you
know every one has one now, and nailed
narrow strips Of wood in such a manner
as to form a canopy-ike top to it. Then,
you know. like every one else, had sew
eral old mackintoshes or gossalners in
the old clothes closet. which from hav-
ing sprung a leak about the shoulder or
like cause had been thrown aside
HOW SHE MANAGES.
Cutting out the best parts of these,
bound the edges of several pieces had
fitted to the frame with tape. and in the
corners and at intervals along the edges
made strong button holes and fastened
the whole by means of these to nail
heads had left projecting about one
half inch from the framework: These
pieces can be buttOned on and taken off
in few moments. When on the back
and sides of the chair and top, being
covered squarely and neatly, look like
high box. In front another piece falls
down to the seat, with a small piece like
little window cut out of the middle to
breathe through
This being finished, you want small
foot tub placed in front Of the chair and
filed, when you are ready to use it, with
hot water
Il think every one should have in her
room one burner oil stove or small
gas stove, by means of which one may
have water that is not only hot, but boil
ing, at will
place such one on chair at hand,
with pan of hot water with which 20
keep that in the foot tub replenished. If
you have not a shower bath, have ready
cold water for lightning sponge bath.
Place linen rag in a saucer and pour
on it teaspoonful of alcohol and set be-
meath the chair"
oh, yes; tried that once when | had
a bad cold coming on and nearly roasted
myself"
ooh, but if you just tack piece of
cardboard on the front of the chair, just
wide enough to protect the limbs from
the blaze and have the seat of wood, or
else well padded, you will have no
trouble
1t is bother to get all these things
together, but once having done So it is
best to put them away in such manner
as to be easily accessible.
Notice how all evidence of it may be
disposed of afterward. The pieces but
toned on to the nail heads may be taken
off in a moment, the steam wiped off
the waterproof surface, and they may
be aired at the window while you are
picking up the other things.
1T TAKES UP LITTLE ROOM
When emptied the tub must be thor
oughly dried over the register, the bath
towels and wraps put away. A neat
drapery Of muslin or heavier stuff may
be arranged like canopy about the
chair, and dainty cushion and valance
will conceal the tub in which the folded
pieces of macintosh are laid, and the
whole may be slowed away beneath the
chair.
1t is obvious that if the chair is not
available d simple framework could be
made up by a carpenter at low cost, or
a bright girl with large bedroom or
bathroom at command could utilize two
packing boxes for the same purpose with
better effect, if any, than the chair bath,
although the almost hopeless ugliness of
two packing boxes is drawback
And now for the bath.
You disrobe as usual, and lifting up
the curtain with the little window in it,
step into the warm footbath and sit
down in the chair. Tuck the quilted lap
robe about your knees, let down the cur
tain and put one hand out and drop
a lighted match into the teaspoonful of
alcohol in the saucer.
Draw your hand in and close every
crevice to keep the hot air in. If you
can stand it put more of the alcohol in
the saucer at intervals, but don't try
more than one teaspoonful at once The
not. dry air at first makes you feel faint,
but when the perspiration breaks out
you can just sit and sizzle in comfort
After fifteen minutes | generally take
the bath mitten and plenty of soap and
water and scrub off the perspiration.
Then | burn another teaspoonful of
alcohol and when get well warmed up
in the hot air take a quick bath in cold
water, into which have put prepare
ton of gum benzoin, then with quick
rubbing with a coarse towel Jump into
my bath blanket and into bed for nap.