Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-06-11
NYMPHs OF THE BATH.
Ladies' Day at the Fifth Street Free
Bath---HOw they Enjoy Them
selves and What
They Wear.
New York Hsrala.l-

office yesterday afternoon a lady re.
porter Of the Herald was carried
through the hot and noisOme street.
that skirt the outer edge of this city
to the foot of Fifth street. Most o.
the inhabitants of this portion of the
town appeared to be sitting along the
curbstones in front of their dwellings
or hanging from the windows thereof
and gazing out upon the world with
stoical indifference from their dizzy
nights. Girls and boys cooled theil
hot feet in the muddy waters of the
gutter and played ~hop-seotch or mar.
bles upon the blistering pavement.
Other little ones who had learned at a
tender age to make themselves useful,
were "minding the baby and Others
again, barely able to walk, carried
cracked pitchers of foaming beer in
their tiny hands. One little fellow
who had been sent out for a half pail
of beer had become SO absorbed in a
game of pitch and toss which two
little boys we're playing that he forgot
his errand and stood watching the
game with bated breath, while the
beer also lost its head and looked as
dull and black as molasses.
AT the corner of Lewis and Fifth
streets an enterprising lad had set up
an old counter, on whose brown side
was traced IN rude characters, 80
G orsters and clans one cent each"
On the top of this counter were
stacked very nearly a dozen oysters,
and on top Of the oysters a small piece
Of ice dripped itself away in the sun
shine. Two ragged little fellows re-
garded this tempting array of bivalves
with watering mouths and hands in
their empty pockets.
AT TIE FREE BATH.
SIS the free bath at this wharf ? +"
inquired the reporter.
Yes, man,, reulied the youthful
merchant, indicating the direction
with a broken oyster knife. Its
right down there, but this is ladies'
day"
The reporter tramped on to the
edge Of the wharf, and there she found
the bath house anchored. Just inside
the door was seated Miss Brown, the
matron in charge, and her assistant.
Both were sewing on bathing dresses.
The reporter stated her errand
and was admitted within the borders
of the hollow square hal forms the
bath. The place is painted in light
%colors. and looked veryneat and clean.
A row of dressing rooms runs around
the entire space. and all seemed to be
occupied yesterday.
What time do the bathers begin
to Gomez" inquired the reporter OF
Miss Brown.
The bath opens at five in the
morning, and many are here by half
past four, waiting for us to come
Who are your best patrons"
The Germans. There are more
Germans battle here than any other
people. They are used to it in their
own county :, and are perfect ducks in
the water"
Once of the ducks passed the reporter
on her way out as Miss Brown spoke.
She must have weighed some three
hundred pounds.
"She floats like a cork" said Miss
Brown. Those big women look the
best on the water. There are not
many Americans come here in the day
time. They wont stop work long
enough to battle. The most Ameri-
cans come at night, between seven
and nine o'clock. 1t looks very pretty
here then, all lighted up and tho
water splashing, for all the world like
a scene in a play"
The shouts of the bathers attracted
the reporter attention, and she turn.
ed around to view the scene. What a
sight it wasl Some two hundred wo.
men and children swimming and
diving in a place about thirty by nine.
ty feet. There we're Fat old women
putting like porpoises, and lean young
women darting in and'Out among them
Nearly all the women could swim. and
some Of them did some fancy swim.
ming when they found they had an
audience. There were a few timid one.
who chung to the ropes, ana found
enjoyment in bouncing up and dowr
like corks. Some of the children wor,
life-preseryers, and learned to swim
with their assistance. Over in a cor
ner three yong women were shriekin,
with laughter. Two Of them were goo,
swimmers, and the other was eyidentl,
making her debut as a mermaid. 70
she chung to them with the grip of
drowning mar to n straw. Tnev werI
trying to make her let 20 her hoId am,
kick out. She did kick out. but al al
unexpected moment, and sent he
trainer over backward. Then on.
caught her hands and rested them OF
her shoulders, and the others caugh
her heels. But it was no use sh.
screamed the moment she felt he
heels 90 up. The little children VIII.
were learning had a great deal NOR
confidence, though the leqs of two o
three little mites trembled so yiolentl
that they did not venture beyond th
steps.
The costumes worn by bathers i
the water were as various as those the
dOnned for the street. The new suit
furnished at the bath house cost Re
cents each and the old ones five. Tn
latter are mere apologies for covering
andtear with the slightest proyocatior
Ten cents is no small amount to mo,
OF the patrons Of f.eeswimming bath.
so they resort to every expedient {
provide suits Of their own. Skirts an
white muslin suits are prohibited III
former because they float IN n ar
in the way, the latter for their cir,
ing qualities, for it sometimes harper
that men are Obliged to surprise Inc,
nymphs at the bath. The regula
costume consists of drawers and wal,
NH