St. Paul daily globe., 1891-06-07
A TURKISH BATH AT HOME.
An Old Chair, a Waterproof, AlcO-
hol and Ingenuity Form a Com
bination.


bination.
During the winter / do not have the
enthusiasm about bathing that do the
very first warm spring day." said girl
to friend of hers one pleasant day
his week, land then the baths cost so
much.
Yes, learned that to my sorrow last
year. The bath itself was always 81. a
bit of cracker and taste of wine was
half as much more, and then my bangs
were straight when | was through, butt
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 cent an hour.
For goodness sake where? l thought
you lived in flat.'
II have 1t in my room, where | can sit
and steam away all day if l chose with
out disturbance"
But doesn't it take up lots of room?"
"Oh, no. not at all.'
''Then just sit down and tell us all
about it.''
81 took a low-seated. high-backed
grandfather's char, which mother had
banished from the parlor, because you
know every one has one now, and nailed
narrow strips of wood in such manner
as to form canopy-like top to it. Then,
you know, like every one else, had
several old mackintosheS OF gosSamers
in the old eclothes closets, which, from
having sprung leak about the shoul-
der or like cause, had been thrown
aside. Cutting out the best parts of
these L 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 1 had left project
ing about one-half inch from the frame
work. These pieces can be buttOned on
and taken off in a 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 small
piece like little window cnt out of the
middle to breathe through.
This being finished, you want small
foot-tub placed in front of the chair and
hlled when you are ready to use it with
hot water.
Il think every one should have in her
room One-burner oil stove or a small
gas stove, by means of which one may
have water that is not only hot, but
boiling, at will.
with pan of hot water with which to
keep that in the foot-tub replenished. Ii
you have not shower bath, have ready
cold water for lightning sponge bath.
Place linen rag i'll a saucer and pour
on it teas poonful of alcohol. and set
beneath the chair.
''Oh, yes, l tried that once when l
had bad cold coming on and [ nearly
roasted myself.
''Oh, 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.
''It 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 evidences of it may
be disposed of afterwards. The pieces
buttonholed onto the nail-heads may be
taken off i'll 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. When
emptied the tub must be thoroughly
dried over the register; the bath towels
and wraps put away. A neat drapery
OF muslin or heavier stuff may be ar
ranged like a canopy about the chair
and dainty cushion and valance will
pieces of macintosh are laid, and the
whole may be slowed away beneath the
char.
1T is obvious that if the chair is not
available simple framework could be
made up by carpenter at low cost. or
bright girl with a large bedroom or bath
room at her command could utilize two
packing boxes for the same purpose
with better effect, if any. than the chair
bath, although the almost hopeless ugli-
ness OF two packing boxes is a draw
back.
And now for the bath.
"You disrobe as usual, and, lifting up
the curtain with the little window in it,
step into the warm foot-bath and sit
down in the chair. Tuck the quilted
laprobe about your knees, let down the
curtain and put one hand out and drop
lighted match into the teaspoonful of
alcohol in the saucer.
Draw your hand in and close every
creYlce 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
hot, 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 l have put prepara-
tion of gum benZoin, then with quick
rubbing with coarse towel jump into
my bath blanket and into bed for nap.
good looks after the bath. but she re-
memDered herself in time, and the party
separated with the usual round of kiss
ing.
Roo-A:P,I No. Ho4o