, 1877-07-08

NEf 1OltIa N-AlADS.
lNtso FORK Hera!f.
The popularity Of the free swimming baths
among the female portion Of the community in
crcascs with every yeur, mud with the additional
facilities afforded for their accommodation. 1t
first is was only ou experiment, but gradually
| the mothers, the young women, and the young
girls became accustomed to the novelty, and
now they nock to the bathing-houses on the
days set apart for their exclusive benefit with us
much regularity, II not in quite so large num-
bers. as the tnen and boys. The days on which
tho geutler sex have possession OF the baths arc
Mondays. Wednesdays, and Fridays. The girls
are at first little afraid OF the water when it is
chilly, but the babies 20 almost crazy with dc
light when they become accustomed to it. The
following Is statement regarding the different
baths visited:
To begin Mt the uppcrmost free swimming
bath. situatcd on the East River, near Little
Heil-Gate, at tue foot of One Hundred and
Thirteenth and One Hundred and Fourteenth
streets, Harlem, the lady Superintendent, Miss
Harncy, here says that universal expressions Of
tliaukfulncss are heard from the mothers til the
vicinity at the establishment OF the bath there.
Before the opening OF the bath they we're
Obliged to take the Saltwater from the river to
their homes, IN order that their precious little
| ones might haye the benefit Of it during the
dreaded first wears Of their infancy. when tho
summer heat is go fatal to them. This part of
the city Is mostly composed OF houses built Of
brick and rentedin floors, but with none Of the
signs OF extreme poverty which are consDct,-
ously apparent in tho tenement houses In some
parts Of the city. There arc no cyi-
dences here OF carclcssncss or fndifrer-
cnce to appearance. eut. on every hand
are to he observed Indications Of neatness
and responsibility. Those of the female Sex
who patronzc the bath, arc mostly women who
work during the day i'll stores, factories, ctc.,
with quite humber OF the cottage-resdcnts,
who arc generally persons OF comfortable. cir
cumstanccs, but, having pure air in this locality,
prefer staying in their homes aud take adyan-
tage OF tue bathing here to going to the seaside.
Many Of the ladies' frequenting this bath are ex-
pert swimmers, and their trials of skill and en-
durance are frequently quite interesting. In
the morning, from five until about niue, and
from three to nine in the evening, are the hours
during which most OF tho bathcrs cone, auu at
that time there is q constant stream to and
from the place, the time allowed to each battlcr
b:ing twenty minutes. The average attendance,
from the opening at g. m. until closing @ p.
n.y., is from zoo to 500 women and girls.
At the hath situated at the foot of Thirty
seventh street, East River, there is undoubtedly
the largest number of visitors on ladies' days
than at any Of the other baths. Mrs. Parker,
the lady superintendent, is one Of the most ex
pericnced and yigilant of the attendants. The
women and girls coming here number from
1000 to GOO daily, and the most perfect order.
prevails. In the morning many housckeepcrs
and girls attending school come here for their
u1atutiual ablutions, ETC., anu about or Q
O'Clock mothers bring their babies regularly for
dip. During the hours from about Q Il. m. to
s p. IN. there are omparatively few bathcrs, and
they are mostly OF the better classes, who can
command their own time These Ere tue people
living in tile more aristocratic neighhorloods,
but who arc democratic and sensible enough
to take advantage OF these valuable pub
lie institutions. Many come. distance Of
thirty or forty blocks for thc purpose. There
may also be seen in the bath ut ti1ues
aadics and children afflicted with hip aud spine
complaints, whose physicians have ordered
daily bath in salt water rs onc ofthe best means
OF saining- bodily strength. or course no one
afflicted NTH any contagious disease is allowed
to bathc. After o'clock come the school girls,
who are dressed plainly but neatly, and are
eleanly in every detail Of clothing The hours
from to are allottcd to those women who are
employed IN the various factories in the vicinity
during the day and the children who are NIT
able to battle without their mothers. The
school girls arc noisy ard frolicgsome, but it is
in the evening that the real fun may be seen.
home of the women from the silk, hoopskirt,
and other factories in the vicinity take their
swim before going to their homes in distant
parts of the city, but most Of them wait until
after tea. when they COME by the hundreds.
The water here (Thirty-seventh strcet) is clearer
than at auy of the other bathing-houses, the
one at harlem, perhaps, excepted; The PLACE
tcscends to depth Of fifteen fathoms few
feet from the shore
The bath at the foot Of Fifty-flrst street,
North River, is extensively used by the fcmalcs
employed in the factories i'll tine vicinity, one OF
which has l,S00 operatives OF the feminine sex.
The attendant, Mrs. Graves, does not find this
mass Of wcll-bellared young women rs great i
care Us the schoolgirls, who require constant
watching, as they are continually playing tricks
upon eacn other. Sometimes piercing scream
frfr1 frt,rg m fhi.Y
cause thar that she cannot keep her feet from
coming on 4 level with her held; but the lady
attendant is rcudy in al instant to plunge in,
clothes and all Ii necessary, to bring up the
head OF the frightened girl, who may, perhaps,
never have been in 1 switnming-bath before.
The fearlc5sness OF those arouau SOON inspires
confidence i'll the tilnid embryo swimmer, and
after few days. experience she becomes 10 IT.
customcd to her new element that She leaves
the ropes and begins to enjoy the luxury OF an
actual swim.
One of the baths most freQuentcd by women
is that at the foot Of Bcthune street, North
River. A most beautiful sight may be seen here
about orc O'Clock In the afternoon, when
dozen or two expert swimmers have the bath
to themselves. These wo1ncn have figures
which, in symmetry Of DEVELOPMENT and grace
fulness, equal the antique statutes, those stand
arls Of feminine beauty which are, in great
MEASURE, thu result OF pcrlcct health OF mint
and body. These graceful water-nymphs vic
With each other in performing difficult fcats-
swimming under water, Oh tho side or back,
going through aquatic gy:nUastic exercises,
diving, racing, etc. Ono woman, called ~ Mag
gie'' BY her companions, is one of the most cx-
bert of the swimmers, one OF her feats hcing to
swim thelcngth of the bath IN eight strokes. Two
sisters, named Mason, aie also 'perfect ducks"
in the water. These women all belong to the
working classes, and their Development Of nius-
their FORMS. Most of those trcqucntng the
free b1tlls supply their own bathing dresses