FIG. 24.-Spray baths used at the Strand Schools. The lad in the right hand compartment is having a body douche, while the one in the other compartment is washing his feet at an ascending spray.

THE MANAGEMENT OF ACCESSORIES.

Towels. It should be a fixed rule for each child to keep to his own towel. That end may be attained in several ways, but two only need be considered in this place, namely, (a) the provision of a clean towel for each wash, and (b) a proper system of marking or numbering the towels.

In theory it would no doubt be correct for each child to be provided with a clean towel on every occasion of washing, and, in point of fact, the plan is adopted in some institutions. It is, however, needlessly extravagant. It throws an unnecessary strain upon the resources of the school, and robs the inmates of that sense of individual ownership so important to foster in the young. Besides, the scarcely soiled linen constitutes an open invitation to slipshod treatment at the laundry. As regards "driers," that is towels used after the periodical bath-the case is obviously different, and there is no reason in fact why they should not be employed once, and once only, and then sent to the laundry.

The proper plan of dealing with ordinary towels is to mark them legibly with the name of their owners, or else to stamp them with numbers. The lads should be made to understand clearly why this is done. With care at the outset there will be no great difficulty in keeping the articles separate.

In

Towels are now and then kept over the head of their owners' beds, a practice that cannot be commended, inasmuch as the contained moisture is given off to the air of the dormitory. They should be kept in the lavatory, suspended from numbered pegs. the absence of a suitable rack, a strip of deal, six inches in width, may be fastened to the wall of the room. Brass-headed nails are then driven into the strip, and the towels are attached by means of a tape loop. A number or name is painted over each nail (Fig. 18). Care should be taken that towels swing clear of one another, which may be readily done by having a distance of 12-16 inches between the pegs. Should space be limited, the Norwood plan may be adopted. As shown by Figure 25, a pegged strip of wood is enclosed within a

FIG. 25.-The Norwood plan of suspending towels.

(N.B.-In practice, the towels should swing clear of one another.

CORD FOR RAISING AND LOWERING TOWEL RACK

wooden frame, and is capable of being moved by means of the pulley string. A second pegged bar is immovably nailed across the lower part of the frame. Towels are attached to the upper cross-piece, and then drawn out of the way by the cord of the pulley. In case of need, a second or third immovable bar might, of course, be added.

Sponges and Flannels.-If these articles be allowed at all, they should at least be marked, and each inmate should possess his own. In large schools it is advisable to do away with them altogether; they are not only unnecessary, but constitute an ever present potential danger. Pieces of tow, to be collected and burned after use, are safer, and in the long run do not cost much more. It is almost needless to add that a separate piece must be given to each child.

Soap. A plain, pure soap should be selected, and it should be kept in suitable receptacles. A wire basket hung over the supply pipe of the washing apparatus is convenient, while it has the additional advantage of being readily cleansed by means of boiling

water.