The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-07-23
FREE BA1HS FOB GELS.
Two Thousand Naiads in the
Wayc--<eCrets of the Dress
ing-ROOms.
From the New York Daily Graphic. |

from the New IOrk Daily Grapnlc.
''Girl's Day" at the Ere Bath is charac-
teristically illustrated by our artist, Miss
Jessie Curtis, from drawing made at the
bath located at the foot Of Vest Eleventh
street. This bath is sixty feet long by
thirty five in width, has sixty dressing
rooms, and is lighted i'll the evening by
twenty glass globes. The water is over
four feet Deep is very clean and clear, and
the scene by day or night is charmingly
animated.
The good accomplished by the two pub
lie s"lmming baths of this city is meal
'culable. Passing down Eleventh street on
the west side of Fifth s'reet on the east
side OF the town to the river, from in
the morning till O'Clock III the evening
anay be seen hundreds OF weary, dust-5e-
grlmed men and women and scores OF
children eager to lave their tired limbs in
the cooling waters Ii Cleanliness is next
to godliness," and it is asSurdely conduc-
i've to the latter attribute then the public
bath ranks nearer the church than other
institution, and the lesson taught within
its walls by single code OF regulations
are just those most easily comprehended
and most generally needed by the une iu-
visit these public baths one Is bound to
believe hundreds receive proper training
an their own homes but one is also aware
that thousands, alas, know little and hear
less OF decency in dress and decorum in
manners, and to them the rules that exact
suitable bathing attire and a proper be-
havlor toward each other are simply asur-
prise a matter of speculation, and in
patiently if possible, if not, nevertheless
to be borne, or a pleasure forfeited in con-
sequence. There are now two large free
baths in operation i'll this city one, as
before stated, on the east side, and the
other on the west, as il is estimated that on
Mondays Wednesdays, and Fridays from
10000 TO 10000 woman and children are
admitted to battle, while from 1900 10
70 ,OOV men and boys enjoy the same privi-
lege on each of the other days OF the
week. To show the great need that exists
for large number OF these excellent in
situations, 1t is only necessary to state
that the managers OF these baths are fire.
quentlv obliged on very sultry days 10
close the doors every half hour to exclude
the outside throng oil applicants until
those already within have enjoyed their
allotted twenty minutes On the "Wo-
mems Day" two polite feminine attend
ants easily manage and superintend the
scores OF Maids that disport themselves
III the "briny wave" and seldom have oc.
casion to reprove an individual. In the
evening more difficult class OF subjects
appear, frisking, diving, and splashing
about with an energy one would deem i'm
possible after hard DAYS labor in july.
These require az occasional Cooking
after hut, all things considered. are verv
well behaved. On the other DAYS OF the
week tour policemen are present to pre-
serve order among the more boisterous de-
votes OF the Material art. and little bows
and big SWIM about IN wholesome fear of
those Silt-buttoned and starred ".oIs of
creation" watching them with an "eagle
glance" In the evening on womsn's day
the scene Is most singular and enlivening,
the bath being brightly lighted by gas-jets
that flare and flash upon the waters and
gay jackets of the bathers. Every variety
OF color and material has been brought
into requlSltion for the stipulated costume:
'calicoeS, and striped lowered bed. ticking;
glnShamS, checked and plaided and fan
alelS, yellow, red, and blue" some cut
bag and pillowcase fashion, ana others
gracefully fitted scalloped, and trimmed.
Amusing transformations are constantly
occurring as the fair bathers enter their
dressing-rooms in all the glory of hoops
and founces, chignons and floating curls
emerging theretrom sans hoops, sans hair,
sans so much that constitutes the femin.
inc toilets o: to-day. And after the first
splash-what Hebes and Venuses. what
qualing masses of solidity: what shakinc
anatomieS are revealed Here a wish Of
hair aud a pair OF skinny arms: there a
rosy face, long tresses, and shining. snowy
shoulders flash through the waters. Peais
of laughter and shrill creams ring through
the air, and the bathers, lean and plump,
% Nssystass hsygy. says = leg IaAs ,hiv.