Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-08-22


being on that afternoon appropriated to females.
vent 70 one 10 the neighbnrbooc Of our hotel,
accompanied By katinka. Dsmstris wife. as my
attendant. The only sign by which the women
baths are known is q string stretched across the
entrance door, with piece or twe OF rag tied 70
10; aud although the same bath houses serve az
different times tor both msn and women. yet, on
the days TO which this sign i suspended over
the door. a man would sooner think OF enisring
private bsren than Of violating this sanctuary
of the women. | first entered large hall, in
the centre OF which wAs fountain playing, the
water from which fell ia several Jets into a large
circular stone BASIN about ten feet across, look
ing delieiously clean and cool The floor Of this
room vas paved With squares Of marble Of differ
ent colors. and on three sides CT il were recesses
containing raised platforms, on which we're
ranged In row number Of divans and small
bedsteads, with mattresses and pillows. on which
were reclining several ladies. some half dressed.
some wholly so, but almost all ofihem smoking
and slipping rich coffee from the tiny ttls china
cups In general use in those countries Some
we're smoking long nargilehs, and others eigaret.
tes, In richly ornamentsd cigar holders. Many
Of these ladies had gaily dressed little children
playing about their tsds, and some we're talking,
aud others apparently sleeping. Altogether.
the outer hall presented n very gay appearance,
and at the same time inspired delicious feeling
Of dolce far nisnfe.
In corner Of one Of the raised platforms was
little desk. surmounted by rich gilt canopy.
At which sat the superintendent, who rose a. We
entered. and came forward to receive us, and TO
whom my attendant paid the money for my bath
L was then conducted down long stone pas
sage, likssise paved with marble, along the side
OF which was gutter. with running stream OF
delightfully."- cool water. At the end of this pas
sage sc were met by q young woman. who
snperinisnds the dressing rom Of the ba.hers.
She spoke a few words with Domstri's wife,
which 1 did not understand, aud then We we're
Immediately shown into another hall, likewise
paved with marble, with a stream running across
the floor In this room were number OF small
bedsteads aud divans. on which were placed some
mating and pillows. This room. Ike the other
was filled with women and children, dressing
and undressing with many of the former smoking
and the children playing around them Here
the women sit upon the divans and dress them
selves sitting | felt rather uneasy at seeing
many of the women and children partly naked
though they on their part did not seem
ia any way abashed at strangers entrance
amongst them. As wished TO see all over the
bath house before venturing 10 allow myself to
be undressed. proceeded with the waiting wo-
man ont of this room through door into an
other passage. down which Was running stream
OF warm water, the steam from which prevented
me from seeing very distinctly, but it seemed 10
me rs IL q number OF w0meL kept running back
wards and forwards down this passage 10 the
cold room. without shoes or stockings. aud with
really nothing on them but colored handker
chief around the waist From this we passed
through several halls without any furniture in
them. but AL warmed by steam, and the floors
covered with thin clipper film OF soapy water:
and here the women were standing about naked
many OF them wearing high wooden pattens TO
keep their feet from the hot stones, and 20 pre-
vent them from slipping.
The heat Vas gradually getting greater as We
passed through these rooms. until at last we en-
tered the grand hall or bath room. Here
could not stand for the slpperyness OF the soapy
water over the polished marble floor. and was
obliged to be held up by two women, one on
each side. The clouds OF steam. Joined 10 the
smoke tom all kinds of pipes that were being
used, prevented me from seeing and almost from
breathing. IL was well il 20. for IL required
no small amount OF courage on the part of a
European lady TO enter this room az ALL aud had
the atmosphere been clear, the disgustingly in
delicate and immodest scene that would bave pre-
sented itself would. | do believe have frightened
me away altogether. The hall contained women
OF all ages and in all states OF health. with
children OF all shapes and makes Some few o {
the women-and when ! dared to examine, /
found that they were principally the youngest.
and BY far the best l0oking-showed some small
amount OF modesty by tying handkerchief
round their bodies. The ugly old hays. who
would have done the best had they covered
themselves altogether, seemed TO possess not
particle OF shame, but rather TO glory in expos
ing themselves. The hair of all was streaming
down their backs Some were combing out
their ehildren's and one anothers hair with
combs such as we use to our horses names
Others were scrubbing themselves or being
scrubbed with soap and brushes, while lying fiat
on the floor. others sitting on stools. but most
of than smoking while they are undergoing the
operation OF being scrubbed all over by the
women of the baths employed for that purpose
|, was large circular ball, beautifully paved
with polished marble. the walls being OF the
same material, and It WAS lighted by sky-light
above.
In different parts round the room were hand
somely carved marble basins some round, others
oval, standing about foot from the ground, and
being about couple of feet wide. Each basin
had two taps projecting over it from the wall
one FOR hot, the other for cold water About the
floor were many little cutters foF the water to
run of. The whole place, as saw il occupied
gave me an idea of an immense wash house ia
England, the females looking like a number of
wssherwomen, indstinctly seen, moving to and
fro through the clouds OF steam. | Was so thor
oughly shocked aud horri6ed at seeing 80 many
females together in such a state, and apparently
without the least idea OF shame about them. and
thinking was about TO DE subjected to similar
treatment, tina, fairly took 20 nv heels, rush
ing back through all the passages and rooms A.
quickly ~ could, IN spite of the efforts OF the
attendants 10 detain me; and. TO their utter
amszement, At length got cut of the baild u q
altogether. and ran home TO our hotel where |
sat down quite faint from the heat and smell Of
the place / had escaped from. My husband,
who VAS naturally surprised to me back so
soon. was anxious TO know what was the matter.
l told him | had not been able 20 summon cour
age TO remain: for the whole habits Of the wo.
men there were not what | could conform to
that had seen no signs of private room, and
| was sure | should never be able TO take bath
among 80 many.
katnka arrived n search of me- and
after nv husbands explaining the matter 20 her
for she did not understand a word of English.
French, or Italian,) aud on heF assuring him and
me that | should have private room and every
thing I required | once more started of with
her TO take my bath. l passed throug the outer
vestibuls and along the passage 10 the first hall
where had 10 suffer myself - be undressed by
the waiting women. in the presence OF AL the
ladies who were there before me. both dressing
and undressing. For this purpose was made
70 ST upon q sort OF Indian bedstead, where my
clothes were dragged of me. and Submitted to
the inspection OF the rest OF the females pres
ens; who seemed greatly amused Al my crinoline
Had worn a hoop. Il would doubtless have as
tcnished them great deal more | then man.
aged TO cover myself with long flannel Dr..