The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-12-16

psli in,s Ds,aesude Dariss ths riia-
n. Aee--Ths nsman nssh.-- syash
na.Ins u raises--ssns Drslfrn Iasa<
Untii about the year 1850 all the bar
bers In France and most other coun-
tries Of Europe practiced the art Of
surgery. In dark and dirty shops
they shaved and bied. cut hair and
applied cupping glasses, opened tu-
mors and performed surgical opera
tons still more difficult and danger
Gus. 1883 -
They were despised as laborers, as
every one was despised who made
q practical application Of his knowl-
edge In the form Of trade regularly
followed.
Louis XIII. first ordered the sepa-
ration of the two professions, direct
ing that the BARRIERS should confine
themselves TO tho hair and beard and
operations incidental thereto, but the
shavers and hair cutters appealing 70
Parliament the matter dragged on
Tor nearly forty years. and was not
definitely decided until the issue Of
an edict by Louis XIV, 1878.
Al d French writer remarks, this
was none too soon. Il being absolutely
necessary that there should DO trade
whose business Il should be TO care
for the general neatness Of tho public.
At this epoch the Parlsians, and
much more the inhabitants Of the
other cities Of France. had almost lost
the habit Of cleansing the face and
hands with water, to say nothing OF
other parts OF the body. In the dark
ages Il had not been quite 40 bad,
there remaining In Gaul something Of
the Roman custom Of bathing, which
gradually disappeared, owing TO the
opposition Of the monks and clergy.
In 1902 there were twenty-six public
baths In Paris, then small city.
They were arranged for steam or
hot water, q person being able 10 take
one or both kinds rs he desired. They
were expensive for the period, com.
plete bath costing four francs, which
restricted their use TO persons In easy
circumstances. They were not opened
till daylight, the streets not being
safe before that hour.
To prevent promiscuity 1t was or
dered that the men should 90 In the
morning and the women In the oven.
ing. but the rule does not seem to
have been very we'll observed, since
Ia the course Of time they acquired
very bad reputation and fell into dis
use. 1850
When they were heated In the morn
ing the fact was announced after the
manner Of the period-by criers who
made the rounds Of the city. Bath
tubs were common In private houses
at the Same epoch, made usually In
the form Of a half-hogshead, the use
Of metals for tho purpose being I'M
known.
Wash basins were also familiar OBJ
iects In tho palaces OF kings and in
the castles OF the nobility. Charles
v. OF France had twenty-four OF the
latter, all solid gold. besides others Of
silver. As among tho Romans, II was
customary to battle before meals, and
to offer the luxury OF o bath to ones,
guest, who passed directly from tho
bathroom into the banquet hall.
Various instances are related OF
baths magnificently arranged offered
to kings Of France when subjects
happened to entertain them, to Louis
XI. among others, this king includ-
ing an affectation OF neatness In his
brief list Of virtues.
There were bathtubsat the BARRIERS
shops, used unfortunately, as 1t
would appear, by the well and sick, a
circumstance that helped to render
neatness unpopular and keep the
people from visiting them.
Therefore, the public baths being
discontinued for want Of patronage,
and those at the BARRIERS shops feared
for sanitary reasons, the practice Of
bathing common to q certain class in
the dark and the early part Of tho
middle ages disappeared.
Having ceased to battle the person
the hands and face became equally.
neglected, the application OF water
once a week being considered sufil-
cient among the nobility and once a
month, or not at all, among the bur.
gesses and the common people.
When society had arrived at such a
degree Of refinement that 1t seemed
desirable to wash the face almost
every day, it began to see that 1t was
not very sensible thing to be shaved
or have the hair dressed by barber
who performed common acts Of sur
gerry.
SO the BARRIERS duties became a
trade apart and the surgeons duties
O nobler profession. For generations
after 1t became sort OF habit to
wash the hands and face water was
rather tolerated than loved, and was
used sparingly. Most people con-
fined themselves to the use for the
morning toilet Of perfumed alcohol,
applied to the face with cotton ball
or sponge.
Throughout the middle ages and
down to a date not long preceding
the French revolution, neatness was
supposed to be a virtue appealing
only tolthe eyes.
II the principal garments and shoes
were reasonably clean, one did not
trouble himself greatly about what
they might conceal. A manual OF POI
likeness published In the seventeenth
century says one should keep the
head, teeth, eyes and hands clean.
and the feet sufficiently 30 not to
"faire NAL au cHur a eeux avec nous
conversions"
The Parisians, who preferred cold
baths 100 years ago, or at the COM
mencement OF this century, took them
In the Seine without paving serious