THE ORDER OF THE COLD BATH

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 251, 16 February 1917, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE ORDER OF THE COLD BATH

A FEMININE II IT UAL. By A WOMAN". Tli.i cold bath is a nisuter cf much self-questioning to women these sluv.ry mornings (fa\s an Englishwoman in tlio " London i>aily Mail.") The cold hath, be it kn nvn, is an essentially British institution. It is in nc-cord with all that is best of British tradition. It is part and par.el (f the sportsman's outfit; an i, since the British uoman lias donned ;o many of the <;arments csential to tl:e proper'equipment of the spoitsman-spirit, she considers it iiumnbcnt upon her to put on also desire for the <o'd bath. . There are t»o important fe::tu es ar sing from the l.en?ficiail enjoyment of this almost exclusive masculine rrorninng sport: one is the exhilarating a I tor-efforts, immediate 110 less than remote, upon body and mind, and the other is tho high moral gain which fo'lows its systematic practice. The fact that our women are taking part in the truly British lite is yet another factor of significance in tie national upheaval. It was ratther fun during the summer season for t' e femlnine neophytes; the coolness of the w;it r was grateful; but now that the water Ins taken on a d cidrd'.y s'inking quality, which grows more prouorncvd v. itli eery sunn e. the ea>e b.'tonrs something mire than a joke. Tho question arises, is such exercise suited to tho fan mine constitute nl" And perhaps the less earnest decide in the negative without more ado. Grit is necessary to the continuance of tho strenuous habit.

To bo sure, some of tlTo liolder souls j have, yea: s ago, dared in this also to ; imitate the.r hanker brothers; they have shivered upon the brink, shivered j in tho icy sluice, shivered the whole i day after* and have vowed they would j henceforth take told baths no more. j And no wonder, it is not lack of 1 courage; they have merely n.t be n ' brought rp to the habit; knowledge of j tho ordf ;• of th© cold b.ith has not been can ulered pari of the feminine education or equipment. i Sc nia well-informed souls, classed bv tlieir owp s.x and by iho rtlici' «as fad- j dists. hygicni.-ts, " new women," 'arinns . and 'ists of many kinds, have learned | its order in tne literature of their ilk : and have tried propaganda upon their softer si-t.'is.. But they have had few cclive: tj. * * • One i'.cr little person, r6 stiunch and trio a sportswoman as human lie- j in -j; can bo, with ability, so hi r brothers , vi.wed, to keep any number of secrets, J took Id i ohl water among other things in imitation of them. Valiantly she siilas! cd about every morning, st' iving tlio whi'o io lo.ik [eeisant. Her brothers ch-lfed her s> much about it that she determined not to yivT' in. She hal already learned, as the Hiiton has it, tf. "vti k it." At length the doctor had to lo called in, and he "wormed out oF l ei all about her ciiiilv. earlyli orning fic( i![).ition. Ho elicited the cruesomc fait that >be gainou absolutely no eiijoym: ut from its p act ice, but she stated at the same tine her intention to pei-overe with it 1.-ecsius' she had discovered it did her jzood; whether physically, c-cntuily, nr morally she du" not .-.pecify. At this the medical man so'eun'f.v warned her rli ;t if did not dc>i»fj future di.'iclopmc-nts would p.» irii'idty compel her to do s■, and she let hi-. pre>en o w tli biootHng. d -ati-fiel counti n uie ■. But mi t ie d"b in t out. sid" "be dalioi ii a taraiue to lor pure joy, f r tho doctor's liat had relieved i her ct n.->c tn of n- incubus: she < oultl ! (jivo up the daily pcnaiiM- without 10-< jol f-re?].e t. I \\ hat a ! ity the medital man did nnt. i eli'it tin' fompairoii fact that she was whollv ignorant oi t!;e foivict order of t'ie ho r tc. and ensure t l- at she was htn t'lo fi in>tru t'd ill toad of auio ratically pr. nounciiig her »y--tein on lilt'd to wit h-t in 1 tl.e >' o It. I.iinht, e>c~. eleir complexion, sat n skin. In no'iralilo -.'u it; tin so ar ■ soim j of the -lit- the habit e ft' ob tli'ooni I di w; fi"in ile i old plung's in the • arly innriii >g. O wmei ain at. las'. di~".>ici"li4 what 11 H-y h'l'.e hit bo: t' > mi-s"d ',y a'ji't Oiirj; t»le the -oft r v<-' 5 - M'l 'ii water b ibiis. * * * If to ally r.-ader . old-iub l.iiowledgo. 1 sti I lurks 1 e'.'nd t' e veil ef i(_'iio:' .m e, l'en« are the ru'es a-, pi aetisi d b\ a i er. ta:n i l.arii'ing war-;.oi k. r every morn. in" at 0.30. >he i'linpi from let* en t!:o toy Mankei-. at ihe to m iiatioii of 111 ' alarm to k's ie rifio ' I iinour. I" in in i 'ii !:«>.• i'r. vii r -:o'ii and w lUin r into ' Ie r Iij >i ioj's -hf >eeo,|, io ll o I at' r> m. Vv'ii lo the bath h!l> 11 -in. or loin, o"

depth she gives hers?it a \iLorous scrub ( do .mi with tho dry bat l brmh. Dry, p!ea'o note. It ensures a glowing circulation before the plunge. Towels of th? linen, Turkish type, dry and scrubby, aro tvoso at hand. Now for a face w'a>b, cold to remove til.' (obwe'is ot i sleep from eyes and mind; warm water and soap belong to the evening s tleans- > in? ablutions. One, two, three sponge- j fids as she leans over the lath-id.', then j the same numocr over neck and tliroit, j and henceforth she may |io fr.rless, even | collarkss. throughout tho cold, to d, winter-time. | \\ ith a inoio or dry sponge she rapidly wipe; off tho superfluous drops ; and ste'-s foirlesslv into tlio i li m iting j 1 :i.,uiu called coid water. Crouching j down she throws over her satiny back i and nhottltlcrs more spongefuls ot the lev water, three or four on each sale, iieter more however valiant she may I I t el. v ! Invariablv she muimurs, "ion may i think I like it. but I don't," and gasps punctuato her words. ! Then up .sho inpriiijcs like n i iack-m-a-box; one rapid wipe over with | tho spenge to culled the crystal drojis, i i and she steps with alacrity to the bath j mat; tlim. hey, presto! tuveloped in a ' towel as saft a L i a piece of <o onut mat- ' 1 ting she smiles with a fla.v ing of many ! wldte, strong troth, and ejaculates, , i " It's lovely.'-' The unfailing first re- ! ward of the true »old plunger is already ; j I.ers. | i After such all experience :s it pns»i- ■ i- Mo to "'grouse at" the breakfast pro- -, i viucd? Is it prob'.ib'e t!:at this whole- | I some small j.erson's talk wi.l be of her j friends' ladings .nd -liort ■oiningß? : cidedl v no. I ' !