The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-07-23
FREE BATHS FOR GIBLS.
Two Thousand Naiads in the
Wavc.-Secrets of the Dress-
ing-ROOms.
From the New York Daily Graphic.

From the New York Daily Graphic.
sGirl's Day" at the Free 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 in 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 swimming baths of this city is meal
,culable. Passing down Eleventh street on
the west side of Fifth street on the east
side of the town to the river, from in
the morning till o'clock in the evening
unay be seen hundreds OF weary, dust-be-
grimed men and women and scores OF
children eager to lave their tired limbs in
the cooling waters. If 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
dts walls by a single code OF regulations
are just those most easily comprehended
and most generally needed by the une iu-
Gated classes. Among the multitudes who
visit these public baths one is bound to
believe hundreds receive proper training
ain 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-
havior toward each other are simply snr-
prise a matter Of speculation, and in
many cases an aggrivation to be borne
patiently if possible, if not, nevertheless
to be borne, or pleasure forfeited in con-
sequence. There are now two large free
baths in operation in this city; one, as
before stated, on the east side, and the
other on the west, as it is estimated that on
Mondays. Wednesdays, and Fridays from
10000 to 10000 woman and children are
admitted to battle, while from 12.c0O to
Is 900 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, it is only necessary to state
that the managers of these baths are fire.
.quentlv obliged on very sultry days t
close the doors every half hour to exclude
the outside throng OF applicants unit
those already within have enjoyed theil
allotted twenty minutes. On the "Wo
mems Day" two polite feminine attend
ants easily manage and superintend thu
scores OF Maids that dsport themseve
in the "briny wave" and seldom have oc
cas;on to reprove an individual. In tn
evening more difficult class OF subjects
appear, frisking, diving, and splashin!
about with an energy one would deem i'm
possible after hard days labor in July
These require ar occasional 'lookin,
AFTER" but, all things considered, are yer,
we'll behaved. On the other days OF tn
week four policemen are present to pre-
serve order among the more boisterous de
voices of the Material art, and little boy
and big swim about in wholesome fear Q
those gilt-buttoned and starred ".oEds q
creation" watching them with an ''eagl
glance" In the evening on womsn's da
the scene is most singular and enlivening
the bath being brightly lighted by gas-jet
that flare and flash upon the waters an
gay jackets Of the bathers. Every variet
of color and material has been brough
into requisition for the stipulated costume
.calicoes, and striped lowered ed.tickins
ginghams, checked and plaided; and far
mels, "yellow, red, aud blue" some c,
bag and pillowcase fashion, and othel
gracefully fitted scalloped, and trimmed
Amusing transformations are constant
occurring as the fair bathers enter the
dressing-rooms in all the glory of hoo]
and fonnces, chignons and floating curl
emerging therefrom sans hoops, sans hal
sans so much that constitutes the femil
inc toilets o. to-day. And after the flr
,splash-what Hebes and Venuses. VIII
.quaking masses of solidity; what shaki1
anatomies are revealed Here q wisp
hair and pair of skinny arms; there
rosy face, long tresses, and shining, snow
shoulders flash through the waters. Pes
of laughter and shrill creams ring throus
the air, aud the bathers. lean and plum
~ slteysthss leyYy. says : fsG taat Shil