El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-08-22
AsHINGTON, D. c., Aug. "a
AAE At a recent gathering of
wv laundry nrorriAtors snnaone

MAJ At a recent gathering OF
w laundry proprietors Someone
made the statement that the progress
of nation was demonstrated more
clearly by its laundry methods than
in any other way. The more pro-
gressive the nation, the more fully
equipped are its laundry plants. Since
America is the leading nation Of the
world it naturally follows. according
to this theory. that its laundries should
be finest in the world and it is gen
orally acknowledged that the United
States does set pace which 9th er
nations must follow.
The best American laundries not
only set an example for other nations
to initiate. but also place the means
of following within reach by supplying
first class laundry machinery. All OF
the best laundry machinery in the
world is exported from the United
States.
England In Second Place.
England stands next to the United
States in the equipment Of It's laun-
dries, many of which have all American
machinery and are almost, If not quite,
on a par with the best American es-
adjustments. The English laundry
men have paid special attention to
the chemical department Of laundry
work and in this respect, perhaps,
England is in the lead. Many OF the
best formulas used in American laun-
dries regarding the effect CT certain
chemicals upon fabrics have been i'm
ported from England, as have also
the methods now in vogue for wash
ing woolens-
In Germany, the steam laundry meth
DDS have not as yet found popular favor
They are used in public institutions
such as hospitals and barracks, but
as a public convenience they are not
in great demand, Many Germans are
opposing the use Of machines ana the
development Of public laundrieS upon
the ground that it takes away a Valu-
able industry from women who need
the income. To this end special eI-
fort is being made to teach girls mod
ern laundry methods as a part of their
education.
The continuation schools which are
so great a feature Of Germany's edu-
cational system are now beginning
to introduce some Of the simpler
American laundry machines and teach
the girls how to use them.
Wash Day In Germany.
The weekly wash day is not the in
stitution in Germany that it is in Eng
land and America. The German
mother prides herself upon having SUI
ficient clothing and linen for her fam
lily to make it unnecessary for her
to have the washing done every week
and in many families it is only done
three or four times a year 1t thus
becomes mighty task calling for
several days work and usually the en-
ployment Of extra labor. The sanitary
disadvantage of keeping so large an
accumulation of sotled clothing in the
room has not yet become apparent to |
the German public.
In France, the laundry methods for |
the bulk OF the population are still I
primitive. The French hand laundresses, |
like the German, are exceedingly loath /
to see American machinery introduced, |
although il is being done in increas-
ing quantities each year The first /
American laundry equipment intro !
duced in France was attached to the
county building at Nanteere where II
was highly recommended by those who
inspected it. According to the official
report, the average amount of linen
washed during the first year OF its op-
Grafton averaged in cost about IS cents
for every ESQ pounds avoirdupois.
cost of hand labor. In addition. the
officials estimated a further saving in
the wear and tear of material han
died equivalent to twelve and a half
percent over the old method. While
the French laundry methods were at
one time considered the best in the
world, il has been the fad for several
years among fashionable people to
send their clothing to London to be
Numbered. When the French learn to
use American machinery as the Lon
don laundries do, this work will be
done at home.
Washing Done with the Feet.
In the more primitive countries the /
washing is largely done with the
feet In Japan. the washwoman does /
her work out Of doors She rubs the
garments with Japanese soap and
packs them into a tiny wash tub. .
about six inches deep and about the /
size or an ordinary American dishpan- {
She covers them with water, lets them !
stand a few minutes. and then proceeds Z
to tread the dirt out with her feet, Z
sometimes making a sort of dance step /
to music, which is really graceful and (
attractive to the watching tourist
The Japanese rip their clothing apart (
to wash. which explains why every gen ]
uine japanese kimono is made with Z
such long basting-ike stitches. After I
the clothes have been washed by this /
foot process and given the necessary (
rinsing waters, the Japanese laundress (
spreads them smooth upon board /
which she stands up against the side /
of the house. The sun does the iron 4
ing for her and sometimes 1t produces (
a lustre which those who have watched /
the process are at loss to understand. !
The Chinese girls wash their clothes /
after practically the same method.
Primitive Methods in Korea.
In Korea. the women wash their /
clothes by pounding them IN water 4
with a paddle. They prefer to use run l
ming water but when this is not /
available they use large vessels some /
times followed out Of a tree and sob
times made of coarse, heavy pottery !
The men of Korea wear baggy panta- I
looms which come up to their necks I
after the fashion of an American (
clown and the women make them 4
clustering white, the paddle motion /
imparting sort of gloss to the ma |
terial similar to that which the pound /
ing process gives to linen.
In China few men do any washing. /
It is only in foreign LANDS that John /
is willing to ''washee washee" for the |
public.
In Egypt most OF the washing is /
done by men The Egyptian washer !
man stands upon the banks of the /
Nile and washes the clothes while wet 1
by Shaping them with his hands, max /
ing a noise almost equal to pistol !
shots. The Hindu women wash in l
much the same way. except that they I,
remove the dirt from the clothes by /
striking them while wet against the |
smooth stones of the stream and then 4
rinsing them clean.
Guatemala Sets Example.
Guatamala has set an example to 4
many more progressive cities in the /
way it provides laundry facilities for I
its people. At frequent intervals. even J