Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-07-10
NYMPHS or THE BATH.
Ladies' Day at n New York Public bath.
How they Enjoy Themselves.


public baths on "a day given up 10 ladies,
and she gives lively account Of the
scenes inside the bath-hOuse.
Reaching the foot Of Fifth street, East
river, the reporter tramped on to the
edge Of the wharf, and there she found
the baih-hOuse anchored. just inside
the door were seated Miss Brown, the
matron in charge, and her assistant.
Both were sewing on bathing dresses.
The reporter stated her crrand and was
admitted within the borders Of the hOl-
low square that forms the bath. The
place Is painted in light col0rs and look
ed very neat and clean. a row Of
drcssing-roOms runs around the entire
space, and AL seemed To be occupied
What time do the bathcrs begin 10
conner inquired the reporter Of Miss
Brown.
The bath opens At five in the morn
ing. and many ar" here by half-past fou
waiting for us t0 come"
Who are your best patrons2n
The Germans. There are more
Germans batho here than any other
people. They are used 10 il in their
own country, and arc perfect ducks in
the water.
One Of the ducks passed the reporter
on her way cut a. Miss Brown spoke.
She must have weighed some three
hundred pounds
She floats like a cork" said Miss
Brown "Tho-" big women look the
best in the water There are not many
Americans come here in the daytime
They won't stop work long enough to
bathc. The most Americans come AT
night, between seven and nine O'Clock
1t looks very pretty here then. all lighted
up and the water -pla-hing. for all the
world like a scene in play
The shouts of the batAcrs attracted
tho reporter attention, and she turned
around 10 view the scene. What a sight
II WAS, Some hundred women and
children swimming and diving in a
space about thirty by ninety feet. There
were old fat women putting like por-
poises and lean young women darting in
and out among them. Nearly all the
women could swim. and some Of them
did some fancy swimming when they
found thcy had An audience. There were
some tinid ones who cluug 10 the ropes
and found enjoyment in bouncing up and
down like Cork~. Some of the children
wore lIic-prr-cryors and learned 10 swim
with tAciT assistance. Over in "A corner
three young women were shricking with
laughter. Two 81 them were good
swimmers and tho other was evidently
making her debut a. q mermaid. for she
c.unc 10 them with the grip 81 drown
ing man Ia a straw. They were trying
a. make her l't 90 her hold and kick out.
She did kick out, hut at uu unexpected
moment. and sent her trainer over back
ward. Then one caught her hands and
rested them ON her shoulders and the
other caught hcr heels But il was no
use: she screamed the moment she felt
lia ID. Il a
were lcaruin. had great deal more con-
iidencc. though the legs of two or three
hule mites trcmhlod 80 violently that
they did not vcutur, beyond the steps
The costumes worn hy baihcrs In the
water were as various as those they
douucd FOR the street. The new suits
furnished al the hath-house cost ten
cents each and the old one. five. The
latter arc mere apologies for coverings
and tear with the slightest provocation.
Ten cents il no small amount to most of
the patrons Of free swimming baths, so
they resort 20 every cXpcdicnt 90 provide
suits Of their own. Skirts and white
muslin suits are prohibited. the former
because they float up and get in the
way. the latter for their clinging quail
tics, FOR il sometimes happens that men
are obliged to surprise these nymphs nj
the bath. The regular costume consists
uf drawcls and waist all in one. Several
of the girls wore trousers long since dis
cardcd by their Younger brothers. and
the waists of old dresses. One girl wore
suit mad" out of gay curtain chintz
and another bad the lower part of hers
made Of a worn-out piece Of awning
goods. the striped legs of which gave
her the appearance of the clown at
circus. Another-shade Of W ashington
forgive hcr'-had manufactured n suit
of an old flag. and the stars and stripes
made her look like the goddess Of liberty
in thunder storm. Saint Patrick de-
fcnd US! What have we here? A
rotund daughter Of the Emerald Isle.
not to be outdonc by her lean Yankee
natriot, had made a suit out Of the
flag Of her country. The green color
was not inappropriate to the salt watFr.
but
The harp that once through TaEl's halls
The soul 81 music she'd
now hung as mute. not on Tara's walls.
however. as if that soul were dead But
what did she care? 1t answered her
purpose. and do we not all claim pro-
lection Of our flag?
The girls do not look so bad in the
water. rs their fares are animated hy
the excitement Of the sport. and their
arms. rs general thing. are shapely. II
Is when they climb dripping up the
little steps and pattcr across the platform
To their drcssing-rooms that they look
their worst. 1t does not take them long
10 resume their everyday apparel The
reporter was surprised to see so many
with well-to-do appearance. Others
again came from among the poorest Of
the poor. Match girls and candy girls
get about their only washing here.
Plain as Is their appearance they look
well by comparison when they leave the
bath-house. fer their faces shine with
cleanliness and their hair is neatly done