Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-11-24
From the n. Y. Tribune.
THE PEOPLES WASHING AND BATHING
ASSOCIATION.

1t is now over three years since a number of be-
nevolently disposed gentlemen of New York city
seeing how successfully the Washing and Bathing
houses for the people which had been set up in
London and other cities in Europe had operated,
and the benifcent results which attended their
Introduction, contributed largely toward a fund for
a similar institution in this city. This institution
was erected in Mott street, in the center of a neigh
borhood more in need of it than any other locality
in New York. The building was furnished with
first class facilities for blthing, and purifying fam
lily linen, which were offered to the public at q
merely nominal cost and yet. singularly enough,
the projectors-though hoping to make the enter
prise seit-sustaining-fave lost largely by the in
yestment, which from the beginning has failed to
realize expenses. Whether this result is to be at
tributed to the innate love Of filth in the people of
that quarter of the city whom it was designed TO
reach, or whether even the slight sum charged for
the use of it's cleansing appliances was too much
for the means Of the poorer class of people, we are
not competent to decide but that as a self supper
ting Institution it has been so fur q failure is appa-
rent.
1t is estimated that the cost of carrying on the
establishment for another year will be S5,S75.
On n recent visit to the Wash-house we were in
formed by the matron. Mrs. Benson, that the num-
Der of washers attending daily averaged about
twenty-five; these pay five cents an hour for the
use of tubs, hot and cold water steam driving appa-
ratus, smoothing irons, mangles, and every nppli.
ance necessary Tor washing and getting up family
linen. The wash-room is clean, airy, we'll ~ventila-
ted and drained. The drying apparatus enables
the washerwoman to dry her clothes as fast as she
can wash them, 80 that when she has finished
washing she can at once begin her ironing. A
smart woman can do n weeks washing for half n
dozen people in about three hours, at this place.
Some few ladies send their servants to the wash
house with their family washing, and a few people
in the neighbOrhood make use of its advantages,
but the majority of those who frequent the build
ing are professional washerwomen, who find it
cheaper to do their work there besides saving the
discomfort and confusion that invariably attend
washing-day at home. Some of these women we
learned make from a dollar TO twelve shillings a
day without any extra exertion. There is one
woman to whom the matron gives all the chance
Jobs that may be brought to the house she does
well, usually earning one dollar and fifty cents a
day'and sometimes hiring help from other women,
at a profit. AS an illustration of tue facilities for
doing work rapidly, we learned that it was not I'M
common for gentlemen to go into the bath, send
heir linen up to be washed while bathing, and
tley rarely have to wait an undue time in the bath
until it is finished,
AT this tune of the year the baths are very much
treqnented, the smallness Of the charge placing
them within the reach Of the poorest. Neat and
convenient bathing rooms, vapor and shower, warm
and cold baths, With clean towels, are provided