In the old days when being made Knights, members of the Order of the
Bath used to go and take a bath as part of the ceremony. I was very
glad to see in Hull during a visit there that at the Boys' Club every
boy on coming into the club has a bath.
In the first room he comes into on entering the club he takes off all
his clothes and puts them in a rack made for the purpose. Then he goes
into a big warm plunge bath, from which he goes into a drying-room,
and beyond this is a dressing-room, where he gets a club shirt and
pair of shorts to wear for the evening, till it is time to get into
his own clothes to go home again.
[Illustration: BRITISH SOLDIERS SURPRISED THE FRENCH NATIVES BY THEIR
EAGERNESS TO HAVE A WASH, EVEN ON ICY COLD MORNINGS.]
This daily bath is an excellent thing for keeping a fellow healthy and
strong--and the most important part of it is the rubbing with the
towel.
Well, it is often difficult for a Scout to get a bath. Sometimes in
his home there are no means for doing it, and often out on the veldt
or desert there is very little water, but if he has a towel,
especially a damp one, he can always give himself a good rub down with
it--he should scrub himself well all over! and that is what I should
like every Scout to do every morning when he gets up. It will not only
keep him clean, but will make him grow far more healthy and happy and
strong, because it cleans the skin and wakes up the blood so that it
rushes through his veins and brings him health.
So get yourself a towel, every Scout; and carry out your rubbing every
day when you get up.
In the same way see that you clean your teeth regularly night and
morning--not because it will help you to pass the time away, but
because it will prevent your teeth from getting rotten, thus saving
you from toothache.
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