Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1852-08-05

f L ON C---, Non the mOmentOuS occasion
/ of his first shower bath. In the CITY of
Boston, in the month of March. lS4-.
/ Tom C-hails from long way @down
east" or, as he used himself to say. "hc
was brought up as near to sunrise as ha
could get without burning and where the
woods were 50 thick the moon couldn't
rise without help" lie stands six feet
two natural, and six foot six when he
stretches up. His breadth IS not quite IN
proportion, although his bones were got
ten up for giant Had they been fairly
covered with flesh, lie would have been in
valuable to Barnum The truth is. Tom
was very lean indeed and his leanness an
noyed him exceedingly, his clothes would
be open at the elbows and knees in half
the time his fatter fellows. and Tom vowed
to get fat if only for the sake of economy
Some kind friend recommended the gym
nasium as likely to be beneficial. and Tom
enrolled himself at Sheridaus 1t was
there | first met him and a right good fel-
low, with plenty Of fun within him. lie
proved 10 be, liz spite Of his unpromising
exterior. Among the gymnasts. D.
was conspicuous. not only for his skill in
all athletic feats, but also for his beautiful.
compact form, and superabundant muscle
When he peeled" his arms and chest
looked smooth as womau's, and vet as
muscular as those Of pocket Hercules
How our friend Tom euvied the Doctor
Many questions did he put to him about
regimen exercise. &c, and their effects In
producing flesh upon the human frame
The Doctor attributed this redundancy to
plenty Of exercise, plenty to eat, and above
all, TO the daily use Of shower bath
WAL said Tom. ore day. with his in
imitaLle drawl, I'm sure Eve Skinned up
and down these ladders long enough: as
for eating, faint to be expected that one
man can eat enough to fatten such an all
fred skeleton as mine | wish l may be
darned if L don't try that shower bath you
tell me so much about
As Tom and | were as thick as two thin
men could be. | volunteered to show him
where he could get one in short order
We accordingly started for the United
States hotel then called Texas In the
basement story Of this house was a large
number of bathing rooms. fitted up with
hot, cold, aud shower baths The latter
were very temporary wooden boxes. stand
ing on end with doors bolting on the inside
and a very capaciOus sLowering apparatus
in the top.
went in to take a warm bath while
Tom made ready for his cold one in the
other room. rs the partitions were very
thin, overheard him solqUizing some
thing after this sort.
WAL. now, that upright cotin, with
holes in the bottom and sieve in the top.
may pass for shower bath here. but I
guess if we had it down east, twouldn't be
long afOre we had it sot for eels Blast
the thing, wonder how it works. Here.
you Sukey, Sally. what's your name call
ing the servant girl, just come here, and
show me how the critter works. | don't
see no shower
'Oh, my 2 cried the girl don't YOU know
howe Why. its easy enough. You pull
this ere string, and guess you viii see a
shower, and feel it too.
Tom, who stood outside. caught hold of
the string, and before the girl could inter
fere, give it a tremendous pail. when down
came a dciugc of water, scattering them,
and swimming the carpet.
There. now you see T said the girl, IN
dignantly.
Yes / see now replied Ton. very cooIlv- +
All this amused me considerably. But
[ had a presentment that the fun had not
finished. Tom adjourned to the room on
the other side Of mine, and the girl to wip-
ing up the carpet
Before Tom was ready to enter his bath
I was out Of mine and nearly dressed
All had been still in the room for several
minutes, except an occasional muttcring
of disconnected sentences. such as,
Wonder what there IS about this to fat
ten man Never heard that Noah was
very fat, and he took one for forty days
Mighty small space to stuff my carcase in
to- Guess there isn't much danger of the
water coming up high enough to drown
me. Wonder if twill fall anything as
that blasted shower did down to Bath.
last summer
| heard him, after stepping into his
closet shut the door, and carefully bolt it.
and the next minute here came a crashing
ISLAM bang on the foor, that made the
house shake, followed by the most terrific
screams and shout Of
oh Oh Oh Lord Oh Oh
Thunder and Lightning Murder Fire
Water Watch Let me ont I'm drown
ing For Gods sake help " and ended
by calling upon me vociferously.
In an instant. not only !, but every ser 7
want. and all others within hearing male
aud female. we're in the room. Although
be had not ceased shouting. nothing was
to be seen Of Tom. but in the centre Of
the floor lay the shower bath. door down
wards, and the whole affair absolutely
jumping from Toms super-human efforts
to relieve himself We rolled it over, the
door few open. and out tumbled the most
amazing mass of arms. legs. and body,
ever presented to the astonishing gaze 9i
human ewes
One moment was given to astonish- /
ment. the women scamPcred and then NOR /
tai risibles could stand it uo longer.
We rolled on The floor in little short Of .
commissions Tom raised himself up too I
happy in bis faucied escape to be verv ang- /
~ at US, yet evidently trying to assume /
some dignity. Dignity from such a fig /
ufe and IN such plight We roared the I
louder. aud Tom. finding it was no use
joined in the chorus, until we were Obliged /