On My Soapbox

Did you know that today is National Personal Hygiene Day?  Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson’s third cousin, twice removed – at her request) set this annual observance on the Saturday following Thanksgiving.  He established this day to draw attention to regular personal hygiene because every year he noticed that relatives visiting for Thanksgiving – particular those in their teenage years – began to emanate body odor, develop smelly feet, and acquire bad breath.

Pictured below:  The American Institute for Better Living through Proper Health, Posture and Cleanliness, established by Emmett Lee Dickinson in the late-1800s.  The AIBLPHPC, located in Ithaca, NY, is still the world's leading organization that promotes appropriate personal hygiene for pre-teens, tweens, and teens.

​Emmett Lee Dickinson wrote many poems to promote cleanliness and proper personal hygiene.  One of his most popular poems, "Obtaining but his rank Extent" (below on the left), was dedicated to his nephew, Lum P. Dickinson.  His poem inspired third cousin Emily to pen her poem "Obtaining but our own Extent" (below on the right). 

Pictured at the right:  Emmett Lee Dickinson's nephew, Lum Pierpont Dickinson.

By Emmett Lee Dickinson:
 
Obtaining but his rank Extent
In my secluded Realm –
’Twas Lack of personal Hygiene
That bore him ‘cross the Room –

By Emily Dickinson:
 
Obtaining but our own Extent
In whatsoever Realm –
’Twas Christ’s own personal Expanse
That bore him from the Tomb –
​

​Pictured at the right and below left and right:  For decades, Master Hygienists at the AIBLPHPC have attempted to solve problems related to body odor and personal hygiene with teenage boys.

​Pictured at the left: Emmett Lee Dickinson thought he had solved the issue related to body odor with teen-aged boys when he invented the "Dickinson Electro-Bath." The device was ultimately banned in all fifty states, though, when it was found to be a potential fire hazard due to the lithium-ion batteries required to run the apparatus.