The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-01
A CHANCE TO KEEP CLEAN.
Free Public Baths Are Necessary Aids to
Health and Good Citizenship.

To THE EDITOR OF THE NEWS,
SIR-Those concerned in the moral,
physical and political welfare Of the peo-
pie are much interested in the efforts be-
ing made in many communities, especial
ly those OF Boston and Providence, to es-
tablish and maintain cheap and free pub
lie baths. lavatories and laundry conven-
fences.
i send you this communication as a por-
ttoD OF my share in the service required
TO bring about a favorab result, by
causing further study and investigation
of subject vital to the best interests of
every community, especially of cities and
large towns
The matter of pL bile sanitation is one
of municipal administration.
The health of the people is the wealth
OF the State. This may be sordid and
mercenary way of looking at the ques-
tion, but 1t is the way which has enabled
reformers to convince mankind of the
necessity OF public sanitary measures.
There Is great loss in money and
productive labor in consequence of pre-
yentable causes of illness and death.
Ii has become more and more evident
that the great work of moral, social.
physical and political reforms of the fu-
ture, is to consist not so much in aims
-
TO strengthen their characters, to lift
them up physically, and mentally and
morally.
A fundamental part OF this uplifting
must be an improvement in the sanitary
conditions, connected with personal
cleanliness, as we'll as in the relation to
the tenement house problem" and do
nestle hygiene.
1t is well known fact that sanitary de-
feots, although for time do not appear
TO injure the health OF those exposed to
them, become standing menace to
health upon the approach of certain cpl
demic diseases.
When diphtheria prevails in a certain
tenement house, many school children
are in danger. and the most strict obser-
vance OF sanitary laws In household
affords but little protection against the
entrance of this disease, after 1t is pre-
vailing in the vicinity. Typbus and
smallpox do not confine their ravages to
the vicious and foul after they have ac-
quired malignancy amongst them.
There Is no one way In which the peo-
pie can be more readily elevated than by
the desire for cleanliness. To make an ha-
bitually dirty man clean, is TO create in
his inomst soul, even but temporarily,
desire TO rise out of the squalor and NTH
in which he may be ordinarily encom-
passed. 1t is only the true public bath
that can be made serviceable to this end.
The houses of the poor have not anc can
not well have the benefits of properly tit
ted baths; and though it is usual to find
the homes OF the lower middle class pro-
yided with excellent bathing arrange
ments, the rank and file of the work ing
classes have few. 1t Is this vast mass of
humanity that can only be reached by in
ducements held out by the cheap baths
of public bathing places.
1t is necessary that places should be pro-
-.
in the year by both sexes, either gratu-
itously or at nominal charge OF few
cents for towels and soap. While ii is
understood that charge may be made,
tickets ought to be given TO all charitab BILE
institutions, SO that the baths can be
made practically free to all who are entitl-
ed to use them.
These baths should be provided with
the most approved sanitary plans and de-
vices in use. The reception room should
have separate entrances and apartments
for males and females, as well as the
bathbouse. One department should be re-
served exclusively for those willing to pay
a moderate fee. swimming bath should
also be provided. Ample lavatories. with
set bowls, soap and towels, should be pro-
vided, not only for the bathhouse, but
for other places In which they could be
located.
Modern sanitary science has rendered
unnecessary the use of the clumsy, expen-
siye and uncleau bath tubs, SO liable to
cause disease from contagion and other
wise. The healthy, more refreshing rain
or spray bath is taking its place, which,
beside having the advantages air eady
mentioned, can be furnished at much less
cost compared with that of the old sys
tenn. The cost of the fixtures for spray
bath Is said not to exceed 30, as against
$50 for n moderate priced bath tub and
hxtures Likewise the same disproportion
i'm the quantity of water is maintained.
The ratio of the water necessary Is as
one TO seven: in other woros, to prop
erty bathe person by the spray
method only three gallons of water are
necessary, while to NIL bath tub with
sufficient water to cover the body requires
az the very least n gallons. Thus seven
persons might be bathed by the former
method as against one by the latter
method. This difference becomes more
important when the cost of raising the
wafer from an average temperature
throughout the year oi 40 degrees to the
temperature OF the body is considered.
Tn bather soaps himself, and turns on
the cold or warm water, which falls upon
him as n spary douche, the mechanical
tion OF which spray douche, aided by
his own efforts, rapidly cleanses the body,
and the water fioNs away over the latticed
floor into a receptacle which conveys IT
tion OF water, and attendance are thus re.
duced TO n minimum, and cleanliness of
the. .bathipg room IL rapidly obtained.
The natural consequence os the public
bath is the pubic laundry. The habit of
bodily cleanliness necessitates clean cloth
ing, and conversely, wearing clean linen
is art 10 give rise to desire for the bath.
As a moral agent, therefore, the public
laundry seems TO be an indispcns "a BILE
auxiliary of the bath, and incontestab bly,
IL is needed almost as much by those who
live i'm crowded tenements where meagre
facilities for washing clothes are infre-