The New York herald., 1870-10-24

Tho Turkish bath seems at last to have
fairly natnraIized itself among ns, and upon
another page we give an interesting account
OF the principal establishments devoted to its
mysteries now existing in New York. IL
win be noticed that similar institutions have
been or are being introduced ia Boston,
Philadelphia and Chicago, while San Fran
cisco, with the large IDEAS that appear to
characterixe the Pacific slope, Is going to
erect human handsomer and more luxu-
rious than even the finest efforts in this direc-
ton OF Mahmond tae Conqueror or Solyrnan
the Magnificent.
Americans have apparently found out that
it is pleasant thing to be parboied within an
inch OF ones life, and then brought back TO
the ordinary world by the dexterous and
greasy hands Of the shampooer. Viewed
from another standpoint-as a means of re-
yiving or preserving health--there can be lit
tie doubt that the heated air bath is good
thing. II is endorsed when used ia modera-
tion, by most physicians, whether of the
regular Of eclectic school, aud the almost
universal immunity enjoyed by Turks from
dyspepsia, gout, rheumatism and all diseases
that spring chiefly from impaired activity Of
the skin, speaks volumes in its favor. So,
whether it be regarded as luxury or
hygienc agent, the human is worthy of the
place ii has slowly struggled into occupying.
But il would be a curious thing IL the heated
air bath should take the same place among us
that 1t fila In the Orient. There, we are told,
1T serves not only as a sacred temple Of per-
sonal publication, but also as sort of rem
devious for social aud political intercourse.
The Sultan and his Vizier, the Pacha and his
Prime Minister, while being stewed into skin
deep cleanliness. manage to transact no small
share of their official business, thus relieving;
the mind Of the cares Or State and cleansing
the body of its film of accumulated dirt at one
and the same time. Suppose something like
that should come TO pass here! The Hon.
Peter Bismarck Sweeny, we are Informed, is
one OF the regular frequenters oil DR.. Augell's
bath. Imagine importunate o1ice-seeker,
after waiting vainiy in the antecbamber Of
the great mans office, dogging him to the
''humam' There sitting in common cham
ber, both alike subjected to the same genial
warmth, and both alike attired IN the simple
dress Of nature modified merely by decent
linen fig leaf, the suitor might indeed, hope,
with some show OF success, to carry his point.
And looking at the ''humam" as an estab-
ished fact among us, we cannot help wonder
ing what new-fanged notion in the way of
baths we shall next assimate to our social
institutions. Europe abounds with fancies of
the kind That we have yet to adopt. There ia
the mud bath, for instance-nO doubt If in
troduced on u grand scale that would nav
handsomely. Then, again, there are all the
varieties Of mineral bati,s--hot and cold, and
with fuctuating proportions Of iodine, iron.
potassium and sulphur.each and all OF them
might be found lucrative speculation. Per-
haps even the magnetic bath of Mesmer, though
that is now pretty well exploded, might meet
with abundant patronage But we can only
guess at the future. For Che present we can
contentedly congratulate ourselves that new,
pleasant and eficacious neans OF enabling us
TO live in pure and healthy body has success
fully established itself in cur midst.