The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-07-02
THE WASHED DEMOCRACY.
Opening of the New York Public Bnths-Great
success OF the Enterprise.
The New York Herald of Friday says

The New York Herald of Friday says
AT AN EARLY HOUR
yesterday morning the immense clearinghouse
put up by the Department OF Public Works at
the foot of Fifth street began to be the resort of
large crowds of men and boys and by 2 o'clock
over 1900 males had visited the place and dis
solved their antiquated barnacles in the waters
of the East river. None, it is pleasure to say,
were found to be insoluble. The chemical pro-
perties of the element seemed to attack the
most animated forms of real estate, and no large
aggregation OF soil proved TO be too imper
Vlous.
The bathing itself is no novelty to New
York. 1t is very similar to the one for long
tiIne moored at the foot of Thirtieth street and
North river, but now managed by private par
ties at the foot of Thirty-fourth street, North
river. It's simply
A HUGE WOODEN FLOAT,
with the sides under water, made of lattice
work, and the wooden floor is open for the
admission of water. 1t floats by its own buoy
ancy. The sides are painted drab, are of some
architectural pretension, and are made some
THE "ToMBs."
In fact, the resemblance to the Tombs is very
close, for the house is rectangular, with large
area in the centre, which is nothing but field
of water.
depth of four feet was kept in the reservoir.
If such it can be called, throughout the day.
On the four Sides and running around the in
terror, are the boxes sixty-eight in number.
These boxes are dressing stalls, provided with
hooks and wooden seats, while ventilator
admits air and light.
Yesterday bathing was
FREE TO ALL
without tickets What swarm of boys this
indulgence brought By 10 o'clock the pack of
urchins had swollen to a mob, and an extra
platoon of police was ordered to the vicinity.
The lads were almost crazy: they issued loud
cries and gave the foot of Fifth street
JUVENILE PANDEMoNIUM.
But the VI. P.s clubs made them relax. Yet
over five thousand bathed in this one house
yesterday and this astonishing number was only
a small parcel of the applicants.
The question now comes, What did yesterday
prove? 1t proved that public bath are mag
nifcent success; but it proved also that instead
of having two there should be fifty.
The great impediment proves to be boys,
They are regular devils and bathe for fun.
Their exclusion, except at stated times, will
become almost absolutely necessary. Although
by the rules they are limited to twenty minutes,
their clothes once off it is impossible TO dis
cover the identity of a single one of them. By
sharp ruses they can remain in all day and
mOnOpoliZe the bath.
1t is not certain that a small fee, say of two
cents would not be better than the present
arrangement for the good of all concerned. In
Paris Ton the Seine) this rule has been tried and
it works admirably. 1t should be remembered
that whatever expedients are provided, there is
still large class who will go into the river
from the pier heads, Independent of baths of
any md.
As a permanent fixture this bath-house cannot
be praised. 1t is light, of himsy construction,
and could be easily destroyed by fire or a ter
rife sea. Constant use will also soon annihi-
late its
To-day the women are to bathe, and the other
regulations will be followed as found in these
rules.
TEE REGULATIONS.
The baths will be opened daily from June to
September 80, as follows:-
on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from
5 A. NJ. to 10 P. NJ, and on Sundays from A.
NJ. till l2 NJ.
FOR WOMEN
on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 5
A. NJ. till Q P. NJ.
No person will be admitted without q ticket.
and if required must give his or her name and
address. Tickets shall be free, but they will
be refused for sanitary and police reasons, ac-
cording to circumstances.
Women and girls will be required to furnish
suitable bathing dresses.
Bathers of either sex desiring towels may OBJ
tain them of the keeper by deposting twenty
five cents Upon the return of the towel twenty
two cents will be returned.
Throwing towels in the water or at another
Ierson Is prohibited, under penalty for the same
of expulsion from the BATH
No person shall push another into the water
OF spatter water at him against his wish.
No swearing, profanity, or noisy language will
be permitted.
Any person detected in defacing the premises
will be arrested
All persons must retire as soon as dressed.
Each person shall be charged in name with
the number OF his dressing room key, and a
strict return of the same will be required within
thirty iuUtes from the time Il Is takea,
M "a enQcfatOrS will allowed