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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1909 Excerpt: ...of Dr. Kohl, had its first floating bath in 1800; and Berlin, through that of General von Pfuel, its first river bathing some time after 1813. The washstand made its appearance with this growing desire for cleanliness; it was of very modest proportions at first, generally a tripod holding a diminutive jug and basin. The great love of flowers among the English gave us the flower-stand, and the sentimental preference for certain of Flora's offspring over others was accompanied by the costly delight in show that spent itself on plants and blossoms that were out of season. In Paris this love of flowers was first displayed after the Reign of Terror, and was brought more especially into fashion by the Empress Josephine, who was passionately fond of them; we have to thank her for the introduction of the Hortensia into our gardens. Even in those days flowers were ordered in winter from Nice and Genoa. Napoleon himself paid 600 francs a year to Mme. Bernard for a fresh bouquet to be sent him every day. As regards the decoration of the inner walls, the Empire style, which preferred either a plain wash of colour or lightly figured papers, made a virtue of necessity. Wainscoted walls, Bartolozzi, after Vheatlev Winter which had hitherto been the general fashion, had, on account of the continued cutting down of woods and consequent increase in the price of timber, which had already necessitated the introduction of economical grates and stoves, given way to hangings of various material, either of Gobelin tapestry, woven silk, or printed calico. The walls had to be as cold and neutral as possible, as a background to the altars, monuments, and pillared temples with which the new style now filled the rooms, and to the spindle-legged chairs, and all the classical paraphernal...