New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-07-11
BOSTON.
YANKEE BANS cULorTEs-rHE BOYS IN EcsTAcY AND
rs WATER.

rs WATER.
From Our Special Corrcspondelt
Boston is .wcltcrinr. Il is athery weather The pave
mcn.s are ping hot and wives penpro proiasey
while the unfortunate males whom business town.
arr truly Ia a melting mood.
Boston il thirsty Icc-wl'cr and irc-waeT, " with the
edge takon Of arc IN demand. Even the
BOYS are fAnaic4 the pop issue and they, eyentlc
sun-wor.hipplrssc tho shady sides OF the streets
inS 81 June She is stripping herself swim.
She has established free public baths which are as pOpu-
and useful DO tesr roasting dysalDelt IN grosser
the Public Library Is IN the cold nights Of
Winter.
Thee public baths have now been opened little
than month. They established under an order Of
the CITY Government passed about two months ago. Ton
thOrsard dollars were appropriated for the purpose Of cs
tab fishing baths The sum proved 20 BE- amply suhc
lent and the houses ahOat and used every day.
They situated widely apart IN order to accommo
de the cut, population 10 those Of your readers who
familiar with the plan 81 Boston may be interesting
10 know their locations. No D. az West Boston Bridge
near tho foot of C.mhrdc-st No b. near the Junction
OF the Warren and FItcnburg Railroad Bridges; No. 3is
near the Sectional Dock on B0rde5t East Boston; NO
n ~ Arch Wharf In BrOld-si. No In 10 the foot OF Last
Do South Boston and No. Is at the South Pier OF Do
verst. Bridge.
with the exception Of No. s. these baths floating
stctures moOrod the wharycs bridges and they
rse and fall with the tide be available ali stages
of the water The exceptional house is located on spa
beach with shelving shores which render the con
siructon Of floating bath impracticable.
Now take ip through these resorts Of the great
unWashed.
The Cambhlge-s, Bath at " the West End" / have
lust returned my FIRST visit 10 H. The rise and Tall
OF the lido here eight TEL feet II Is low
tide now You descend 20 feet down steep gang
way and landed the outside platform. Passing
through doorway yon see beyond the superintendent
room an open space surrounded on all sides by little dress
ingr0Oms The bathing trough IS - fee; long by ID vide
and has an average depth Of less than four feet Al least
10 boys were stnpped-and oquaciousss entered the
Ia establishments
IDENTIFY framed without experience and rs destined 10 be
moro honOrod IN the breach than the observance "No
noisy conversation al0wedF
But bows have no respect such rules and regulations
when their enforcement must necessarily be matter OF
choice. What chaering crowd No six dozen parrots
could have made greater din. Ii was very pleasant too
10 listen 10 this hubbub for the voices ringing and
merry-he bosterous expression Of genuine enjoyment.
and what school Of unstudied gymnastics Not six
dozen monkeys could have devised larger variety Of
graceful pastures and gambling attitudes. Some were
running round the gangway others were sitting Oh the
Insi some were climbing up tho ropes tnat are sus
pended here ,and there from the raiiers oyehead some
were in the Of diving scattering the water on every
side as they disappeared from sight some swimming
easily and fast while Others abored hard and pulled ter
uby like guerrlla-battered engines on our military rail-
roads Others hanging 20 the ropes ends as they
made their first aquatic essays III the practical problem OF
how to keep their heads above many Others
were acquiring aOeH UoeHs their hrst experience IN the
ancient art of sinking. And AL were clad IN the cos
tune which Adam before Eve eaPed out Of his side
or the iirst hg-eayes grew.
come aquatic Christians while Others half dressed peered
ont OF their drossngrooms with eyes Of anticipation
on the ehatterng chins which bespoke felicity too long
euioycd There only two men among THIS crowd OF
boys But this ls not proper estimate of tho average
ages OF the bathes 1t just after sehoolhours when
reached the BATH long line OF boys on doubeqnick,
demonstrated. They on their way u enjoy free
swim before going home to supper There was
never any public institution So popular with
tho boys as the public bath It's only rival Is
the fireworks on the Fourth. Even the circus has
lesser charms on days many As 800 and 1000
bathers-he larger portion Of them boys-haye visited
this single bath The Superintendent told me that he be-
neved Il would be necessary 70 issue stint
TO the heads of families order TO prevent the youngsters
from coming otcner than day Some OF the little
ramns visit the bath aud swim as frequently as Tour or
hgc times.
Although the ton OF the bath I. not covered over there
a Venetian screen on TIE roof which prevents tho pas
.n-crs the horse and the pelesAt ON tne bfdge
, e., the a1ead inrstls AZ fAe llilhcr side there
Is an arrangement by which, without being seen, adult
b.tles or practlcod swimmers can dive into tho nyer and