The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-06-24
ents have gathered concerning the emigra
movement.
PUBLIC BATHS.


PUBLIC BATHS.
Both from sanitary and humanitarian
standpoint one Of the most practical things
the Sanitary Association could do would be
to establish number Of free baths, all along
our river front, at the most convenient and
accessible points. Within the past few years
a large number OF such establishments have
been erected In New York, and so greatly
have they grown In popular favor that 1t has
been found necessary, from time to time, to
increase both the number and size OF them, In
order to accommodate the multitudes, both
Of men and women, who flock to them
throughout the summer months. The need
OF such establishments is certainly not less
here than In New York. while 1t extends
through much longer period Of the year-
indeed from May until late In November they
would be frequented by large numbers OF
people.
Nor 10 there any reason why these estaD-
lishments should be confined to the river
front. At no expense beyond the laying OF
pipes, for no machinery would be necessary
to supply them continually with fresh water,
reservoirs and pools for bathing purposes
might be established In all parts of the city.
When we consider the luxury, even the
necessity to personal comfort and health, OF
q profuse supply Of water In climate like
ours, and the wonderful advantages we pos
sess for obtaining It, 1t Is wonderful indeed
that public baths have not been, for years,
q distinguishing feature Of our city That
such has not been the case can be accounted
for upon but one hypothesis, and that is that
there is one distinguishing characteristic
Of our people, which dominates all
others, and that Is the disposition to
have nothing which can possibly be dis
pensed with, or which costs the slightest ex-
ertion or enterprise to obtain. Chicago, with
much less favorable situation than ours,
and with infinitely less need OF an abundance
Of water, for purposes OF public health, has
erected the most magnificent and costly
waterworks ever constructed; yet 1t Is esti-
mated that 10000 gallons per day can be sup
piled to each inhabitant Of the city-man,
woman and child-at yearly expense Of fiji
teen cents head. IL this result could be OBJ
tanned In Chicago, when q tunnel over mile
Ii length had to be constructed underneath
the bed OF Lake Michigan, what super-
abundant Rratuity Of clear, fresh, running
water, sparkling with oxygen, ought to be OBJ
tanned In our almost tropical city, where
| .water, water everywhere" 70 one of the essen
tial conditions OF healthfulness and salu-
brity.
| In this respect, as In almost every other
wherein public cleanliness and sanitary regu-
lations are concerned, the anclents were very
far ahead OF us. From the earliest days the
Greeks had their public baths. while In the
days Of Roman simplicity, as well as OF
Roman splendor, these were the favorlte re-
sorts Of the people. The magnlfieence and
luxurious arrangements of many Of them
were such that some writer's, Seneca for ex-
ample, were carried away with their descrip-
ton OF them. The halls were crowded
with magnificent columns and ornamented
with the finest works OF art. The
walls, 1t has been said. were covered
with exquisite mosaics wherein the rose-col-
ored Syenite of Egypt and the precious
marbles Of Numidia were made to reproduce
the finest effects Of the painters art. A per-
petual stream Of water continuously flowed
into silver basins from the open mouths OF
silver lions; water issued from silver and was
received into silver. "To such pitch Of lux
ury have we come" says Seneca, "that we
are not satisfied il we do not tread on gems In
our baths"
These establishments were, of course, very
costly, and we only refer to them to illustrate
the shameful neglect and disregard Of SAM
tary precautions which maintain under our
boosted nineteenth century American civili-
zation, as contrasted with the careful and lib
eral provisions made by the ancients In such
matters; Exactly the same conditions which
brought about the erection of these magnifi-
cent establishments In Rome exist In New
Orleans; yet here we are pleading for few
frall structures on our river front that will
furnish the populace opportunities to occa-
sionally enjoy the luxury which was regard
ed necessity In emi-barbarous Rome-of q
plunge In cold water.
| IL the ambitious sanitarian will cast his
eyes over the local columns of our city papers
and note the number Of boys and men who
are drowned in the river and canals during
the summer MONTHS he will find another po-
tent argument In favor of the establishment
of public baths We do not know that saving
people from death by drowning comes, tech
nically, within the scope Of sanitary science,
still, from practical standpoint, 1t appears
to be more nearly allied to 1t than blowing
around and doing lot Of absurd things, for
the sole purpose Of propitiating the senseless
prejudices and speculative trade iealousies OF
distant communities and rival Cities
THE LATE GLENDY BURKE.
Il r,P r ic 5Yn md