THE BEAUTIFYING BATH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XX, Issue XXIII, 4 June 1898, Page 718

THE BEAUTIFYING BATH.

It is not infrequently said that a daily bath is weakening. This is such a great mistake that it is difficult to understand how it is ever made. A daily bath is just as necessary- to bodily purity as daily- prayers are to soul purity and it should be as conscientiously taken. In some place, and at some time that cannot be recalled, this observation has come to my notice, and its truth made its impression a lasting one: ‘A lady bathes not to get clean, but to stay elean.’ It is true that remaining too long in the bath may be weakening, but a quick bath in either very warm or even hot water, followed by a cold dash, has only- good effects. A refreshing and practical bath is one in moderately hot water with a little sea salt in it—sea salt is practical and cheap—pure white soap, a sponge and a cheesecloth washrag. Cheesecloth is both practical and el eap. and at the same time sufficiently rough to remove all dirt and not rough enough to scratch. The sponge must serve as the shower bath, and after the body is thoroughly- dryrubbing corn meal or bran over it makes the skin soft and velvety. I'he use of a bag of bran instead of a washrag is much favoured by the French women for the softening effect it has upon the water and its tendency to make the skin delicately white and smooth. But no bath is perfect in its results unless followed by a brisk and vigorous friction of the hands or rubbing with a coarse towel.—Katherine Eggleston Junkerir.aan in March ‘Woman's Home Companion.’