Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 208, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 September 1910 — TAKE WEEKLY BATHS [ARTICLE]

TAKE WEEKLY BATHS

j . ... (Citizens of Aurora Startled by Health Department Orders! iflule Will Be Strictly Enforced and ! Violations Will Invite Prosecutfons to Fullest Extent of Law —Ban on Files Excites. Aurora, Ill.—Take a bath once a week. Do not spit on the floors, even of your own house. Sinks, wash bowls, etc., must be kept strictly clean. ! < Keep out the flies. i 1 Sweep the floors thoroughly each nay and scrub them at least once each jweek. No more than two persons may (Bleep In a small room and not more than five in a room of moderate jsize. All rooms, especially sleepingrooms, ,must be kept clean and well venItilated. Windows must be kept open in all |bedftoms. Bed clothing must be thoroughly aired at least once a week. 1 Yards must be kept free from disease breeding rubbish and refuse. Place garbage in regulation cans and set them oht on day of collection. Publication of the above rules -by Aurora’s *board of health was accompanied by a notice from Dr. A. R- Reder, health officer, that they would be strictly enforced, and that (Violations would invite prosecution “to .the fullest extant of the law." Moreover, Frank Mitchell, chief of police, (Signed his name below Dr. Reder’s as a warning that seekers for leniency ■need not look to him. “Those rules go,-’* said the police chief, grimly. “Every one must take his bath and do the rest of the stunts. And I want to say right now that we

are not working in the Interest of the bathtub trust, either.” Dr. Reder further' announces that he or some other attache of the health department would visit every residence each week to see that the new rules ■ were being obsrved. As soon as the new health laws became known there was trouble in Aurora. Former Senator A. J. Hopkins said he thought the regulations were "sane and conservative,” but there were others who wondered how Dr. Reder would be able to satisfy himself on his Inspection tours, whether the once a week bath had been taken as required. “That may be a puzzler occasionally,” said the doctor, “but if I should hale the wrong .man, woman or child into court, wouldn’t it be a matter of evidence? The wise-ones will have their alibis—l mean they will be able to show that they took their dip or soak of whatever the variety was. Proof will lie with members of the family, you know, or receipts at the barber shop.” t Every portable bathtub in Aurora was bought up within an hour after Dr. Reeder’s proclamation was made. Dealers in plumbing supplies all sent in rush orders for bathroom equipment and hot water attachments for kitchen stoves. The towel department of the dry goods stores did a rushing business. Drug stores made record sales of shower apparatus. Next to the bathing regulations, the ban on flies most excited Auroraites. Although Dr Reder told inquirers he “did not Intend to be unreasonable,” he wouldn’t say how many flies to the cubic yard would be allowed without a penalty. However, less blue bottle flies than of the ordinary or garden variety will be permitted. He suggested that parents offer rewards of say five cents a hundred to stimulate the activity of their children with wadded newspapers.