Comments on: How To Take a Bath, Circa 1884 http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/how-to-take-a-bath-circa-1884/ About finding balance in your life, connecting with who you are, and creating a lifestyle where you wake up each morning eagerly anticipating the day ahead. Sun, 14 Mar 2010 01:20:50 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Mary http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/how-to-take-a-bath-circa-1884/comment-page-1/#comment-22494 Mary Sun, 17 Jan 2010 18:50:37 +0000 http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/how-to-take-a-bath-circa-1884/#comment-22494 If I were to take a "cold" bath upon arising, you can bet I would dry off with enough friction to produce warmth. And then I'd happily rest and partake of some refreshment. Makes me think of a college roommate whom I didn't know until the day we moved in. One of her first comments to me was that she only bathed once a week. Seeing the look on my face, she explained that she had just spent a year abroad studying in Austria. She lived with a local family who set her straight the very first day by telling her that unlike Americans, they bathed once a week and expected her to do the same. And she did. Back in America, she relaxed that rule somewhat and I never thought her to be unclean. Funny how our culture shapes us. When I was growing up, anyone who shampooed daily would have been considered a little odd. Today, the "rules" are different. Bathing seems to have been replaced by the shower, for one thing. What's in store for us in the future? Who knows? I love to tell my students that Queen Elizabeth bathed once a month and was thought to be putting her health in great jeopardy. =-) Their groans may well be echoed by later generations when they study our habits. If I were to take a “cold” bath upon arising, you can bet I would dry off with enough friction to produce warmth. And then I’d happily rest and partake of some refreshment.

Makes me think of a college roommate whom I didn’t know until the day we moved in. One of her first comments to me was that she only bathed once a week. Seeing the look on my face, she explained that she had just spent a year abroad studying in Austria. She lived with a local family who set her straight the very first day by telling her that unlike Americans, they bathed once a week and expected her to do the same. And she did. Back in America, she relaxed that rule somewhat and I never thought her to be unclean.

Funny how our culture shapes us. When I was growing up, anyone who shampooed daily would have been considered a little odd. Today, the “rules” are different. Bathing seems to have been replaced by the shower, for one thing. What’s in store for us in the future? Who knows?

I love to tell my students that Queen Elizabeth bathed once a month and was thought to be putting her health in great jeopardy. =-) Their groans may well be echoed by later generations when they study our habits.

]]> By: hillbilly momma http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/how-to-take-a-bath-circa-1884/comment-page-1/#comment-4005 hillbilly momma Thu, 06 Nov 2008 21:03:38 +0000 http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/how-to-take-a-bath-circa-1884/#comment-4005 I stayed with friends back in the 1960's that didn't have indoor plumbing. Once a week - Saturday night usually - they all had a bath. They put a metal wash tub on the kitchen floor and poured water heated from the kitchen stove into the tub. The girls all had a bath in order of age. The mom washed their hair and sent them to bed. Then the boys had their chance. I assume the parents took their baths after the kids were in bed. When they finally got a bathroom in the house, it was a good sized room addition. They had 2 toilets with a divider between - just like a school, 2 sinks, a tub and a shower. There was a door to the outside of the house and another door going to the inside of the house. Just inside the house door was a hand washing sink and a place for hosing off mud. There was an outside spigot for hosing shoes in warmer weather. That bathroom was nothing fancy but I can't tell you how thrilled those kids were to show that off. It meant no more trips outside in the winter too. The kids said their dad never would use the indoor toilet. I stayed with friends back in the 1960’s that didn’t have indoor plumbing. Once a week – Saturday night usually – they all had a bath. They put a metal wash tub on the kitchen floor and poured water heated from the kitchen stove into the tub. The girls all had a bath in order of age. The mom washed their hair and sent them to bed. Then the boys had their chance. I assume the parents took their baths after the kids were in bed. When they finally got a bathroom in the house, it was a good sized room addition. They had 2 toilets with a divider between – just like a school, 2 sinks, a tub and a shower. There was a door to the outside of the house and another door going to the inside of the house. Just inside the house door was a hand washing sink and a place for hosing off mud. There was an outside spigot for hosing shoes in warmer weather. That bathroom was nothing fancy but I can’t tell you how thrilled those kids were to show that off. It meant no more trips outside in the winter too. The kids said their dad never would use the indoor toilet.

]]> By: Rose http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/how-to-take-a-bath-circa-1884/comment-page-1/#comment-4004 Rose Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:17:40 +0000 http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/how-to-take-a-bath-circa-1884/#comment-4004 Brrr, I love my hot shower in the morning. Guess I am just spoiled. Great post. Brrr, I love my hot shower in the morning. Guess I am just spoiled. Great post.

]]> By: Stan J. http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/how-to-take-a-bath-circa-1884/comment-page-1/#comment-4003 Stan J. Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:10:35 +0000 http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/how-to-take-a-bath-circa-1884/#comment-4003 I agree with the brrr. I can't imagine taking a cold water bath! This is great stuff. Thanks for posting this. Keep up the good work! I agree with the brrr. I can’t imagine taking a cold water bath! This is great stuff. Thanks for posting this. Keep up the good work!

]]> By: Lydia http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/how-to-take-a-bath-circa-1884/comment-page-1/#comment-4002 Lydia Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:09:13 +0000 http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/how-to-take-a-bath-circa-1884/#comment-4002 This is priceless! Thanks for sharing such an interesting find. Love your blog BTW. This is priceless! Thanks for sharing such an interesting find. Love your blog BTW.

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