Comments on: Rudger Clawson Takes a Bath, 1912

By: Jpaul

Jpaul — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 22:33:25 +0000

Ardis do you happen to know anything about the “eleven Austrian and Hungarian Elders” that RC visited?

By: Researcher

Researcher — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 00:41:56 +0000

when he was pardoned by President Grover Cleveland

He wasn’t the only polygamist pardoned by this president, and as a result the main street in St. Johns, Arizona, is named Cleveland Street, and the hill on the west side of town is called Grover’s Hill.

By: Cliff

Cliff — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 23:13:04 +0000

Ardis, yes you were correct. I did not mean my comment as a right or wrong issue…merely that I would like to think that maybe the Apostles are just a bit more busy than before now that the church is literally world wide.

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 18:35:31 +0000

I don’t suppose Cliff meant it as a matter of right and wrong, but of imagination and familiarity. We generally don’t get such an unbuttoned — literally — look at today’s Apostles that it’s a stretch to imagine them in these unfamiliar activities. Obviously, though, they do care about dress and grooming, and were at their best last weekend. That doesn’t happen by rolling out of bed, forgetting to wash their faces or shave, pulling on the rumpled suits they threw over a chair or dropped on the floor last night, and wishing they had found time for a haircut yesterday. We just aren’t treated to the details the way Rudger Clawson gave them … and, um, I for one am glad of that!

By: ji

ji — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 18:24:25 +0000

no. 6 — If one did, would we recoil in horror? Times change, and standards change — but right and wrong don’t change, some will say — if visiting the bath in the old days wasn’t “wrong” then, how can it be “wrong” now? I enjoy the article and seeing how people lived in the old days. it refreshens my perspective and my understanding. History is wonderful. Opinions made without a knowledge of history are dangerous. The study of history is essential.

By: Cliff

Cliff — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 17:32:24 +0000

I just can’t see any of today’s current Apostles spending their time doing something like this anywhere! But maybe I’m wrong, I often am.

Great story Ardis!

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 16:05:02 +0000

Here’s the record of one of AHCannon’s 1890 Turkish baths:

“I had my massage treatment from Dr. Uronius, and then went to 55th street and had a Turkish and Russian bath. I first went into the hot air room where I remained 50 min. The thermometer registered 165̊. Then I was thoroughly lathered and scrubbed by an attendant. I then went into the steam bath where the thermometer showed 130̊. This heat was so penetrating that I could not long endure it. On entering the bath I weighed 177 lbs. naked, and lost three pounds while there. On coming out I was thoroughly rubbed with towels and then bay rum. After lying down a short time I dressed and felt weak but very much refreshed. The whole operation occupied about two hours.”

By: J. Stapley

J. Stapley — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 15:27:20 +0000

Abraham H. Cannon wrote of a similar experience when he visited NY, and he took regular Turkish baths and massages for his leg, as I remember. Delightful.

By: Mark B.

Mark B. — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 14:10:11 +0000

But it probably cost a bit more than the 100 yen that the neighborhood bathhouse cost.

It’s unlikely that many modern missionaries make it to the “resort” baths in Japan, where the experience would be much more like the one Elder Clawson had in Budapest. Next time I’m in Japan, I’ll have to go to one, and will write a full report–complete with everything, but pictures.

By: Bookslinger

Bookslinger — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 13:45:03 +0000

A bit more classy than the bloggernacle stories of modern missionaries attending a bath house in Japan.