The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-01
Il
THE WASHED DEMOCRACY.
Opening Of the Public Baths
Yesterday.
PROSPECTS OF METROPOLITAN CLEANLINESS.
Scenes and Incidents an
the Water.
GREAT SUCCESS OF THE ENTERPRISE.
Statistics of Bathing and Bath
Necessities. .
PROSPECTS OF METROPOLITAN CLEANLINESS.
GREAT SUCCESS OF THE ENTERPRISE.
IS A. HORSE CLEANER THAN A MAN?

were opened yesterday, under the auspices Of
William NJ. Tweed, President OF the Department Of
Public Works. The houses situated at the foot Of
Fifth street. East river, and at the foot Of Thir-
teenth street. North river, were filled from NORM
ing till their close at night by weary and soiled
throngs OF the populace, ana the days doings
plainly demonstrated that bathing in New York is
luxury which the people at large can duly appre-
ciate. arN
In order TO see how lamentably deficient this
city is at this hour in accommodations
to promote cleanliness, let US look at the
public wants. II can safely be assumed
that New York has population OF 100000;
indeed this was proved by the partial census COM
piled by the police under the direction Of the late Su
perintendent John A. Kennedy. or this immense
population there about $4,000 Americans, 5000
Irish, 10000 Germans and lOO 900 Of mixed nation
allties. or these 100000 souls 3O1 500 are females
above tle age Of fifteen, and Of these ema es over
10000 Comprise the working women OF the metropo-
lis This population, upon very general division,
can he SAID 70 comprise SIX classes
The wealthy class. e.
The class OF ample means
The class OF mSderate means.
TIC class Who live by daily toll.
The class Of uncertain resources. 81 iA
The pauper population. a0 alB oiif9,r.
or these six divisions only the three last enume-
rated be said to need any bath provision on the
part OF the sanitary authorities.
Though those who are classed as possessing abun-
cant means have all the facilities to keep clean and
make the daily acquaintance of fresh water, 1t is
- - FALLACY
to suppose that they are by any means as pure in
body as they believe money makes them in SOUL
The reader may be startled at the declaration that
those enjoying the Hottest social spheres often form
nucleus for the equalization OF bodily filth. Yet
such Is the case. That young man you see waking
down Broadway, with those admirably fitting pearl
colored pantaloons, those neatly polished
shoes, that immaculate linen and the
wrinkleIess coat, with the most gorgeous twists
upon his hair and mustache, would hardly be pleas
ant for the physical inspection of physician. Be-
side workingman Of the Fourth ward his skin
would hardly gain anything in purity or wilderness
by the comparison. 1t has been the fond theme OF
a,,, ~ t,-r. SOCIAL CRITICS
to make invidfous comparisons TO the cleanliness
OF Gncrent nationalites; but 1t is extremely doubt
fu n anything tangible can be deduced even by the
most careful statistics; for writers always assume
that those revolving in the upper circles are lmmacu.
late. This assertion Is not true
Take, for instance, man OF luxurious leisure.
He takes little exercise behind pair of 2:4os
or on the waxed floor Of ballroom. He bathes OF
course; but in bathing he does not use his bath as
virtue OF necessity by removing the deposits arising
nom daily toll. Hence it is that workingmen who
stand over the anvil and at the forge are healthier
fthan those who simply follow
LIVES OF INCIDENT PLEASURE.
This may not be q universal truth, but 10 Is GER
tainly the result OF observation as applied to the
upper and lower strata of society. Hence while 1t
Is blessing to have pubic baths in this CITY, il
would also be even greater blessing If those who
own private baths would use them oftener.
Keepers Of elegant baths on Broadway and else
where assert that even In this warm weather few
Of their regular customers battle oftener than ohce
week This sanitary derelction arises not from ex
traYagant prices-for baths az the best hou cost
but thirty-fve cents, and for the fancy abiuitons
from one dollar and quarter to two dollars. But
thee IS want OF inclination. IL takes
TINS Money making Is too important and these
ReuCkmen nave barely Time 10 take shave. Hardly
any one can have failed TO mott pleas VI this char
acer Is 1t strange, then, thai SO many Of the CITY
suffer
-. EXHAUSTION,
become facilitated, sickly aud emaciated, when they
SEs s Gues 81 s Sy IA
man may Indulge all manner Of exciteinents and
n y na w anon p ne lets
geological phenomenon.
~ WITH A HORSE
how different lie Is no sooner turned into his stall
than he is lmmedateiy sponged or by direction Of
his discreet owner, VINO himself enemy to such
st lie OF treatment Tor the human body. Is the
It Is believed he is
There are then, threeclasses who demand the pro-
vision OF public baths as foLows:--
Working people .............. 10000 7s5OO
Pcopie o1 uncertain resources. $4,000 10000
Pauper population ........... 10000 5000
$4,000 l24,oo0
s f $4,000
Total 2es,ooo