NATIONS AND SOAP.

Mataura Ensign, 24 July 1914, Page 2

NATIONS AND SOAP.

BPITAIN USPS MOST. I Are 21b of soap sufficient to keep a man clean for a ycarj* A lecenl return j shows that this is the amount per uiiiti consumed in Russia- (states the London correspondent of the '.New York Sun'), The list of fioap-u.-:iiig countries is headed by the United Kingdom, with 21 lb per incl'vitltinl; the United States cymes next; Russia is last. Even if the soap bill -is a true test ol people's liersonal e!ean!inc-s it is an invidious task to tabulate the dirtiest of nations, Louisa, in ''Man and Superman," says: "Every Jew considers in his heart that Kngl sh people are dirty in their habits." .. It will be a, fa.mil.ar fact to many readers that among the lower middle clauses, an dto some extent in the lower classes, soap is rcgauled as a sort cf charm. It is used on the face very much in the same way as the holystone on a ship's deck. A red and polished face is a proof that the holystone (or soapstonc) has been well and truly la:d. There need not bo much cleanliness about this method, and perhaps our large consumption of soap may be due to a wasteful use of it. It :s possible, moreover, that the soap bill .s not a tine test. It is difficult to keep away from the international aspect. As to Gorraixny, that great country Is well up in the list, rio is Spam. Mot so Italy or France. Holland -_s ouite high; .Sweden quite low. Cold or warm climate seem; to have little to do with the matter. The Brahmin's morning ablut.oils are.ft religious ceremony and hygiemcatly thorough. Tradit on often carries far. l'lluy, w'ki wrote the first oi all encyclopaedias, sa d that the German soap -wasi : : 'tier than the Gallic. Roth Greeks j a.»! Romans "washed often." j \ 5 stcrei-u'c I ', the philosopher of liu-j »• ••• lurl'its, say.s that man. HI--oil;.-, animals, i* ■■■ fiv •,id

v itit " ■■■ • i ;• . U'uiif*4k> ... -i - ,hmi .~;t\f- (if ' ■'i 1 ''■' ■:ra!lv ■■■ ■ ••titnii ' " I 1" ' ni I ' >' 1 > ' = : 1 1 :r tin' I'l-.imi":.' stii'il !,:yer, <■<! .. i - . .11 , h' but aiv h !iii t •. l.urii K:ui?rs v, iis lit l i list l V i-, iilc Jli'.ir ; ' I' aihi ' ' • f M .'.'.'.'iV.'n:'" and iaZv IV , -fulln i lie it umii'i'.-i : A j.n _ >.iy --ia liVi that ' ... >:ii'ans it'soif .'Mid t'mt : .t .. iidNSiLlc to overdo the wfa-hinj: habit. Besides ::oap and. Nature there are othoi' methods; hot water and soda is 11.7 bad detergent. Hut, notwithstanding thy increase of cleanliness among all clafso'., wo still'have anion? ir; "the "the great unwashed."