The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-02-26
TO WOMEN OF the TIMES.
Cleanliness Akin to Godliness-Some
Hints.

Hints.
/ am authoritatvely told that Patti.
the adorable, never washes her face; vet
this charming woman is respectable
member Of society. a church member.
possibly; certeinly a lover and student Of
divine music and poetry. II is hard 10
believe / do wish she would contradict
Il II it is not true. II grieyes me TO think
that 50 sweet woman is not a dlscipls
Of the gospel of cleanliness. Perhaps
she is descended from the old woman
who used TO brag that she hadn't mad
water all over her for Lieh twenty years.
Some of US inherit the love Of water first,
an, some inherit the cat-like anupathy to
1t. Have you ever noticed some babies
how violently they Will squan and Kick
and object TO the sponge and water basin
as they sprawl IN the nurses or mothers
lap? Then again how some youngsters
will enjoy the bath as II II were the es-
sence Of luxury. 81 as babies our tastes
so differ 1t IS not strange that we differ
In our ideal Of bathing and the use Of
water as we become men and women
IL we desire to open the valves Of the
pores. keep out cold. and promote ae-
tivity OF mind aud body by day, and
sweet, refreshing sleep by night. let him
or her let cut the sewerage Of the system
by bathing and a lavish use OF pure
water The tepid bath Is attended with
greatest advantages, the skin Is thus
easily freed from dirt. which Will collect
on the cleanest of US; tha pores Of the
skin being free. the natural perspiratlon
is promoted, the limbs are rendered supple
and any stiffness which may have been
caused by ever eXertion or fatigue Is
cured. We all know that our bodies
absorb quantity OF water The proof
or this Is that a bath allays thirst To
w0llen and children a tepid bath is best
adapted for cleanliness and health.
Nothing Is so absurd as the common
practice among women of bathing them
selves and their children, no matter how
sickly or unwell. with cold water. under
the mistaken idea OF htacing the constl-
tuition. Any physician who is not afraid
Of water himf ELF will tel you that human
life is not only made more agreeable.
but also prolonged By the proper and
constant use OF the bath
But II the word "unWashed" had long
been applied 10 Americas mulutudes
heretofore. what Will De- the word that
will henceforth designate Rlchmand's
populace IL we are 10 have the Hater-
meter system and have water doled out
20 us by n sttngy hand When our fore
ldAhrlS otittlfu the site OF tulS dear Oh
town, on the banks Of the noble river OF
pure water. they knew fun well that a
bounteous supply OF water was he very
most important factor in building up
city.
IL would be almost rs fair for the city
fathers TO put an air gauge on each iIdi-
viduai citizen and make him or her pay
per pound for the oxygen he consumed per
day as 10 put on us a water gauge and
make us pay per quart for the water We
use. Oh. what a cry went up about
waste water this winter! The water is
not wasted that Pushes the pipes and
sewers OF our constantly growing city.
That rushing water sweeps away all the
germs OF transmittibe disease and keeps
us free from many or the Ills that flesh IL
heir to. Do you tell me that those folk
who want 70 be clean VIII be willing to
have their water charges slightly In
creased? / tell you that our poor folk
and many others not so poor are not
adequately civilized 10 appreciate the
advantage OF water and II called on
10 pay more for It will regard II as \
luxury that can very we'll be done with
out. What do the estimable men who
manage our city finance mean by putting
millions of money into city han ana
then threaten US with less city water ana
more money for It?
We women must not drag our skirts
into the publicity or Nth Of any political
questions. but II we have risen to the
dignity OF personal cleanliness we must
rise as one man and say we must have
water and plenty of It. not doied out TO
us IN reluctant drops as though one Of
Gods best gifts was as scarce ana ex-
pensive as ottar OF roses. Water Is Rich
mond's life blood-a scarcity Of II. big
price put upon II. brings thousand evils,
An increased death rate from diseases
which are preventabe only by cleanliness.
II we would not have pestiience give us
an adequate water supply and make II
as near free as possible. and In return
get the thanks and good will Of the great
and growing population Of Richmond ana
make her known throughout the worid as
the healthiest and eleanest city win me
smallest death rate for her size. instead
OF as was lately shown by statistics.
that she has for her size the second OF
third highest death rate.