The Invercargill Times. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1864.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 40, 8 February 1864, Page 2

The Invercargill Times. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1864.

Cleajtllivess, we are told, is next to godliness, and like it does not much, trouble a large portion of mankind. In the East it is an absolute necessity ; " wash or die," is the fiat pronounced by the climate. M.vhomet, while making a religion, wisely threw in a few commandments, having reference to the ablutionary exercises of his followers. Ambitious of founding a | nation* he was anxious that every | precaution should be taken to preserve the health of his followers ; so he made them wash, considering that the best preventive against disease. The first thing a traveller does in the East, after having gone through the substitute for our conventional handshaking, "how do, fine day," is to take a bath. Not merely wash his feet, or his face and hands, as some of us occasionally indulge in under similar circumstances ; but a good wash all over, teeth included ; and not till then does he think of eating. The ancients were also particular in this respect. Not only were there private, but large public baths. Every Greek town of any importance had its gymnasium, and places of exercise for the young, with baths and other conveniences for philosophers and all persons who sought such amusement. These were fashionable lounges. Here Philosophy mused on human nature amidst the busy throng of men, or poured forth the honeyed stores of knowledge ; youth listened to the teachings of wisdom, or talked the scandal of the day, — all which were doubtless materially assisted by the possession of clean skins. The Romans — particularly in the latter days of their magnificence and degradation — had sumptuous public baths ; — the more refined and luxurious they grew, the more they turned their attention to soap and water. The Rome of the Emperors presented, we fancy, a contrast /to the Rome of the present day, as much in cleanliness as anything else, the Italian of the nineteenth, century not seeming to care so much about a dirty exterior, as his forefathers "di&T This, however, might; be the: 'result of the different appliances' at his command. There are now no' magnificent baths built at the ,pU|blic cost, ..inviting him to^invigorate his, system, v 'and render presentable his -^pWson! --* -The importance of J such, for sanitary purposes, .must have been deeply impressed on some of the Emperors to have induced them to have gone to so considerable an expense in i this matter. I In Europe, as civilization gradually ' extended, cleanliness of person became a distinguishing mark "of birth and rank. Norman chivalry bestowed great care onitsp'ersonyihe bath'beeame an institution amongst the wealthy and highborn. -The' eream of 'the nobility indulged in .this luxury more than .once a;day, adding perfumes as a sort of fillip to the enjoyment. Step by step the importance of baths for the people has foreed itself on^ the 'attention of municipal corporations as well as those, phil&nfchropically, inclined. In rail large towns, at home much, attention. Jias been paid to this subject. Science says it is one of the best doctors a man can have. --To keep r open the'pores.of the skin/ to assist- the* circulation by .rubbing, are of great assistance to keep a man' in health, and prolong his exist-. ~ance: " s The English look upon themselv.es as the most cleanly of all nations. Take them as -a, mass, probably they are. The English peasant is better clothed, feel, and housed, than his compeer in any other country ; he has habits of cleanliness inculcated -in early life, which induce Mm to seek bathing as a plea-

sure, could he but gratify his wish. It, in the duty of municipal bodies to cultivate this feeling — to find means for its gratification. ' Most of us have heard of the remark made on a Pole, whose .finger v nails showed evident signs of linacquaihtance with soap and water ; that he loved his country so well, that in exile he j carried its soil about with him. Englishmen too have their peculiarities. ' "We once heard of a blacksmith, whose ideas of a good wash consisted of thoroughly cleaning his nose, and this I only on state occasions. The proboscis j was a prominent one, the effect pro- ' duced by the contrast to the rest of , his face peculiar. His whole energies being directed to this one feature, when cleaned, it was well cleaned; and suggested the idea, that it would be an advantage were all noses perambulating the streets, well washed also. Like all of his trade, he was a great politician; and it was on occasions of political agitation, that his nose shone out with ' peculiar lustre ; it was the standard round which his party gathered; the sight of it infused courage and confidence in his supporters. Doubtless, could he have without much trouble immersed his whole body, the distinctive feature, wouldhavelost much of the prominence it derived from its grimy background;; :but alas, he lived in a place as deficient in the means of obtaining a bath as; ourselves. . „If the. Town Board, instead , of squabbling amongst themselves, were to turn their attention to sanitory measures, . < and amon gst ; the, , rest, th e establishment of • public Vbaths, ithey would confer a great boon,; and entitle themselves, to the gratitude of .th e community. , " ■. ' ._ .','.-. Want of funds will of course be adduced as an agamst.their incurring this expenditure.. It would have been better- had they, insteadvof double ' grating * the back- streets, spent some of the money in building public baths. Besides, the speculation would have been a paying one; itiis 'doubtful whethei;; the other is.; Now, however, they might encourage private speculation, by letting at a nominal rental one of the municipal sections ■for this purpose. In Otago there are bath-houses all over the Province. At Queenstown lately one has been erected, — yet Tnvercargill, the capital of a Province, has not got a single place where her inhabitants can enjoy the luxury, of a thorough wash even once a week. "We are convinced that, as a private speculation, baths would pay well. There are at present several suitable buildings vacant in the town. One or two of the hotels, the owners of which have succumbed to unforseen contingencies, might be re-opeued as bathing establishments, with a much better chance of succeeding than in the overdone business of a publican. We trust that some steps will shortly be taken in the matter, more particularly as there is no creek or river within miles of the town in which one could have a dip.