The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-06
THE BOYS AND THE BATHS.
ElatiOn Of the Gamins of Gotham
Over Free SwimS.
THE FIRST HUNDRED IN.
How the Little Chaps Cleanse and
Enjoy Themselves.

Tho boys OF tho east side OF town wore in high
feather y~sterday-that is, the boys who make the
most noise am have tho least Of pocket money
TO spare, tho boyS who punch holes in their hats and
prematurey tho and aft sections OF their
pantaloonsln Short tho poor boys of tho city, who
get moro kicks thai coppcrs They wcro happy be-
tho FREQ baths had arrived and tho time for bath
ing and swimming at hand TO the street Arab or
gamin OF low degree this is event OF moro tran
scendan importance han tho fall OF empires ana
states and is accordingly hailed with loud and bolster
GUS tokens of appreciation. To get bath for nothing
ana 10 have tho extra privilege OF staying In u all day
long, or at least taking baths in successon-the
privilege OF being repeater without any fear OF con-
scquences-is dear and delightful TO his soul
RISKY KIND FREE BATHING.
OF course he can have FREQ bath In another way
by boldly disrobing himself before tho public eye and
plunging or tho convenient per but his heart is
never easy whom he takes these risks. policeman
with plant switch may como upon him any
ment while no is in paris nauralibus and make his
epderms tinsc unploasantly. He can't afford to pat
ronize the baths that mako a charge, and even II he
could he wouldn't to great extent. because he is
essentially Democratic and loves everything frce irce
baths included.
THE ECSTASY OF THE GAMINs.
Therefore 1t IS that his soul in ecstascs when he
learned OF the arrival OF the free baths. and he
and several thousand Of his cxultant fellow gamins
crowded to tho rivers edge to witness the fact and
feast their Dyes upon it. They renamed till near
midnight, when tho bath reached the foot Of Gouvcr-
SIP, discussing It's 0babc merits and capacity,
Tor II s new bath and tho boys have yet 10 pass an
opinion upon It, They had troubled dreams In the
sixth and seventh wards that n,snt and wnon morn
Ing broke many bov was out OF bod several hours be-
tore his regular time.
MAKING FOR THE BATH
Early yesterday morning the tiny and tattered youths
OF Cherry and Pearl streets wheeled into Gouvern eur
slip, and catch,ng sight oil the long looked Tor bath
floating anchor securely the foot OF the pier,
sent up whoop OF joy ana broke into run.
'Huloo!" shouted one to another "there she is as
Eyes; and don't she look bully, . remarked second
boy 10 icrvor o. admiration
You bet your bottom dollar she's big 'un, and
we'll have good iur hcr,' emphasized third, and
thus taking and running they reached tho pier, whcec
other boys who had como abroad in the morning ar
without having troubled themselves with soap and
water
DETERMINED TO HAYS WASH.
Captain Hawk stood surveying his charge. ana more
particularly mole knocked IN its side where It came
IN COLLISION with bark IN the bay and had oowsprt
driven through its outer wall. The Captain was soon
surrounded by tho eager and watcr-loving crowd Of
boys and besought TO open the bath.
'Gve us chance for good wash, Cap"
sIct's take swim afOro goin' 10 school,"
sWo'll not do her no hurt, Captan.n
Then tho Captain said:--
"But she's not ready yet II am waiting for brooms,
pals and mops 10 clean up after boys get through"
''wcil cean her up ourselves"
Here cried taking of his perforated chapeau,
exhibiting equally seedy battered piece OF head
furniture, "you can have present of THIS Tor mop
ana keep iI''
WASH BEYoRE SCHOOL HOURS.
"Wcll,' answered the Captain, las you want to 60
to school, aud you say you didn't have wash, I'll lot
you in, but you mustn't kick around 100 much this
morning." SO the door was opened and tho Iuds
entered pcll NELL and before one had mo Jack
Robinson they were splashing about III tho water.
uuouCumOcrcu
buttons any OF these things that cause delay IN
making or unmaking tollct, there lost
before they we're made happy. over hundred Of
them ioand easy room 10 the bath, in fact 800 would
DO none too many. but such racket Us they made,
and such Bedlam OF voices The water was by no
means warm, and though few OF The little fellows
shivered aud looked blue after plunging IN ana out
scoro OF times, all OF them wero lui Of devilmcnt.
TALK AND TRICKS OF THE BOYS.
Nov, shorty, let go my loot tnerc or I'll punch you
IN the snoot," one ttle two-looter shouted 70 ms
cnicvous companion VINO had seized him behind by
OF his peual cxrcmities while vigorously striking
out a tentative SWIM Tho boy addressed as Shorty
had notion OF releasing the grip he held OF MS VIC
tim. but the contrary followed IL up by laying
ceremonious hands on his head and ducKing under
the water, u proceeding accompanied by great sput
tering and profany and some OF these boys
IN tho swearing line Shorty only dcsislcd from his
playful practices on being sterny roprimanded by one
"Look out there, BUSY, or I'll jump atop O. you and
Spite yer beauty, was the caution addressed by stall
wart infant Of seven years, VINO was about TO take q
plunge IRON the platform.
'.Divc yer for sinner, Rocks, an d only one
..oh you got sinner and you amt ablo to
dive, came back as the tauntng rcpy.
"Look al Patsey Bergen, boys, prcicndin' TO swim,
with one leg on the groun."
'.swlm yer roun' aud roun the bath, JIpsoy, for a
dimc."
me again In the belly ike that y
s.Hcro goes dvc for a nickel"
'.pull my leg, wa:tsey got The cramps or tho CO.
boots, and SO on without brcnk, while Tho yelling
and splasning, plunging and diving mover ceased
Not ENTIRELY READY YETI
fhn hnh asIno A.
connections, as u is intended TO keep open ill nne
O'Clock at night In the afternoon the Captain gave
long aud earnestly with him. out no closed up before
night make arrangements tor tomorrow, when is
expected the bath will be opcn oil day, from six A. M.
10 nine +. NJ
WHERE TIE BATH WILL ne WELCOME
The bath Tor rhlrtysevcnth street arrived yesterday
afternoon One Of the most popular places OF
hot evenings 0! summer is tho piers the loot OF
Thir,y.seventh street, East River Here when school
is over, when day work Is done ana the sun Is
sinking over the Palisades, and boys throrg the
pier to catch the cooling breeze IL is long solid pier
and projects into the river ut its broadcast part
Tn. watcr too, is clearest ana purest Up street
leading down 10 the pier tho sidewalks are throngcd
with children OF all ages aud above them over OF
tall fiery red tenement houses with their windows all
gaping for the arr There are brick, lime and
cement yards around and tho ulr Is iul Of
the sultry evenings ntoIcrablc up the Then
is the pier wc,come to the tired artisan his chill
dren, and now how doGoiy welcome IL will be with us
bath Tree 10 all open throughout the day, Sundays in
ciudcG With the exception oil Gouvcrncur slip thcro
place along the city front wbcro this institution
will be more thoroughly and exclusively appreciated.
CONTRIBUTORS THE BATH.
The tenement houses OF the adjacent and We
nues Will contribute largely OF their patronage; but
witha II must be plain auyoody the Der OF
baths tsx all oid IS Inadequate 10 the needs Of this big
and tconing city.
BATHS.
Tho baths will be for the summer ne the following
places --One on East River, Harlem between 1O9tn
ani 10th streets; ono foot OF rhrty-seventh street,
East RIVER; ono loot oil Filth street, East River;
one foot OF Bethune street, North River; loot oil
Forty-sccond street, North River, and ono foot OF
Gouverneur slip, East River. Four were in position
last evening, and two remain to DO towed up to-day.
The time occupied in towing up the uouverneur
slip, from Gowanus with two tugs, iour hours,
winch was considered good time for things heavy
and unweldy.
A MAGISTRATES IRE.