Cold or Tefid Bath. 489 



rugs, he may, if he chooses, repose until summoned to dress by the gong ; a plain table, 

 furnished with all the conveniences for writing, and a new magazine, newspaper, or book. 

 All the furniture may be of the most inexpensive description : plain deal, or the 

 oldest-fashioned mahogany, an iron bedstead with a good French flock mattress, and 

 cotton, not linen, sheets— he will be more at ease than within chambers furnished 

 regardless of expense, where everything seems too fine to use, and the couch and 

 writing-table have been omitted. On this subject the following quotation from TIi.e 

 Lancet, is very much to the purpose: — "Amongst certain persons — and the class is rather a 

 numerous one — that which is comfortable is unconsciously considered to be wrong, and object- 

 less self-mortification assumes the character of a virtue. Such persons never wear a top- 

 coat, never have a fire in their bed-room, always shave with cold water, break the ice in their 

 tub of a morning in order to bathe. They are apt to boast of these feats, and to look down 

 upon their weaker fellow-creatures who do not imitate them. In the matter of the 

 morning tub alone the absurdity is well shown. Now, granted that the cold-water bath 

 is a good thing, it must be remembered that whereas in summer they immerse them- 

 selves in water about 20° or 30° cooler than their blood, in winter the difference of 

 temperature may amount, as it does sometimes, to no less than 50" or 60' Fahrenheit. To 

 be consistent, they should raise the temperature of the bath in winter to that which it has 

 in summer. As they are inconsistent, they suffer very often from muscular rheumatism. 

 When it can be obtained, there is no way of promoting warmth so beneficially as 

 by exercise ; but business people, and those with sedentary occupations, are of course 

 debarred to a certain extent from this, and are compelled to resort to artificial heat. 

 It should never be forgotten that it is of the utmost importance to keep the extremities warm ; 

 and the feet should be especially cared for, more illness being caused by foolish neglect of 

 them, and by allowing them to remain cold or damp, than people are generally aware of. 

 The best way of keeping feet warm is to wear thick socks, and large, easy-fitting boots. 



" There are some who would object to wearing ' great clumsy ' boots, but although they 

 should be roomy and not paper-soled, they need not be clumsy, and if not quite so neat and 

 pleasing to the eye as the cold, tight-fitting, miserable things worn by dandies, they are at 

 least more conducive to comfort. One word of caution, however, to those who may be inclined 

 to act on the other e.xtreme from the ' cold comfort ' men : — Never allow yourselves to go to 

 sleep with so many blankets covering you as to produce perspiration, nothing being more 

 weakening or debilitating ; and any excess of either cold or heat, being equally injurious, should 

 be carefully guarded against." 



The next grand point to make the hunting-box complete are daily, well-ordered, well- 

 cooked repasts. 



sportsman's fare. 



How often is a good day's sport spoiled by a dinner of excellent but unsuitable viands — 

 spoiled by the cook's relying on a degree of punctuality which, where fox-hunters are con- 

 cerned, is simply impossible ! 



Fox-hunter's fare should be appetising, digestible, and nourishing. If the party is large, 

 and composed partly of strangers to the host or hostess, it should include dishes which will 

 satisfy a fine young healthy appetite, as well as dishes that will tempt those who feel a little 

 feverish after their fatigue. 

 K K K 



