The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1911-10-20
At WAR OVER BATHS.
Water Commissioner Would Fix
Limit at One a Week.
Question Has Become Burning One
Throughout State of Massachus-
etts-Head of Board OF
Health Approves.

Boston.-How many baths doeS =
person require in a week?
The above question is being asked
bv about every one of Lynn's 400 600
population. and the answers are va
rfed ones Some people claim only
one is necessary. thereby upho!dlng
Water Commissioner Thomas Camp
bell, who. has decreed that one bath
every seven days is enough.
Discussion of the subject Is not con-
fined to Lynn, as the question has be-
come a burning issue throughout
state.
The water supply at Lynn became
low recently. and Water Commission
er Campbell. seeking to are for the
city's interests. asked that the citizens
content themselves with n bath a
week The outburst of indignation
which resulted fairly overwhelmed the
water commissioner. and he increased
the bathing privilege to twice weekly.
He did SO g~rudgingly, however, and
still insists that n bath a week
would be ~suficient-of course, taking
into consideration the condition that
exists.
Chairman Michael Ward of the
board of health said he approved Of
the suggestion. He felt that the COM
paratively few who had become accus-
toned to the luxury OF a daily bath
should sacrifice their wishes for the
good of the many. Their abregation
would be fer a good purpose, he said.
and rebound to their credit.
Chairman Ward went a bit farther
and expressed the belief that many OF
the politicians at the city hall should
practice the s%elf-denial asked for. He
said that they were d%evotees OF the
daily bath and declared that nov was
the time for the city fathers n other
public officials to show their mettle
by putting aside their custom Of bath
ing daily and restraining themselves
for the welfare of the public.
Chairman Ward was asked point
blank If he bathed daily, but he would
not reply. He is, however, the most
outspoken OF the city department
heads and believes that the citizens
should battle infrequently for a while.
Street Commissioner McPhetras was
the rea brave man In city hall. He
was a boomer of the twice a week
plan and freely stated his conviction
that experience would never d%isprove
that twice a week would be too in
frequent bathing for any man. A lot
of people have been wondering just
what he meant. but his ~phraseology
was so lawlike they still remain puz-
Zled.
Chief Thomas Harris of the fire de-
partment raised a dissenting voice
in the general chorus Of approving &C
clamaticn of the plan. He asserted
vigorously that neither he nor the
other members of the fire department
ought to be included In In restric-
tons prescribing a weekly bath or a
biweekly bath.
He said that firemen had to battle
after every fire and ought to be allow
ed the privilege "or should l say
right" he continued. AS for himself,
he said that on his tours Of the city
in his automobile he became covered
with dust every day and that a bath
had become mot a luxury, out a neces-
sity."
The discussion still RACES and 1t
looks as if the twice-a-week plan would
be adopted. 1t is said to be a decided
advantage, viewed either from a SAM
tary, health, or even moral standpoint.