Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-06-14
NYlllDhS OF the BATH

Nymphs OF the Bath.
LADIES DAY AT The FIFfa STREET FREE BATH
HOW THEY ENJOYED THEMSELVES AND WHAT
THEY WORE.
Taking .. bobti!l car" at the Post-offi e yes
t. day Afternoon lady reporter OF the Hera,i
was carried through the ho5 and moi some streets
that KIT the outer edge OF this eli to ne foo
OF F.iGn street. NJ ost of the Inhabitants Of this
20 ton OF the town appeared to be sitting along
the Gu! b5toneS In front or their dwellings, or
hanging from the windows thereof and gazing
out upon the world with stoical indifference
from their dizzy heights. Girls and boys cooled
ter and played at hOp-scotch or marbles upon
the blIster1ng pavement. Other little ones, who
had learned at tender age to make the nselves
AGAR, barely able to walk, carried cracked
pitchers of foaming beer In their tiny nand !.
One little fellow who had been seat OFT for
game of pitch aud toss which two little bows
were playing that he forgot his Grand an i
stood watching the game with bated breath,
dull and black as molaSse5.
At the corner OF Lewis and Fifth streets an
enter p,ising lad had set up an old counter, on
with white chalk, so orsters and clam ;0ss
cent each" On the top of this counter wer
stacked very nearly dozen oysters, and o The
itself away in the sunshine. Two ragged little
fellows regarded this tempting array of hi
valves with watering mouths and hands In their
empty pockets.
AT THE FREE BATH
I" Is the free bath at this wharf :? =" inquired
the reporter.
eyes, ma'am,r replied the youthful mer-
chant, indicating the direction with broken
oyster Knife. !" 1t is 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 an
chored. just inside the door was seated Miss
Brown, the matron in charge, and her assist
ant. Both were sewing on bathing dresses.
The reporter stated her errand and was admit
TED Within the borders of the hollow square
that forms the bath. The place is painted in
light colors, and looked very neat and clean.
row OF dressing-rooms runs around the entire
space, and all seemed to be occupied yester-
day.
"What time do the bathers begin to come?n
1nquil ed the reporter OF Miss Brown.
many are here by half-past four, waiting for
us to come"
"Who are your best patrons?
'The Germans. There are more Germans
bathe here than any other people. They are
used to it In their own country, and are perfect
One 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 cork" said Miss BrowD.
&c Those big women look the best In the water
There are not many Americans come here in
Inc daytime They won't stop work long
enough to battle. The most Americans come at
very pretty here then. all lighted up and the
water splashing, for all the world like a scene
In play"
The shouts Of the bathers attracted the report
er's attention, and she turned around to view
the scene. What sight 1t was! Some two
hundred women and children swimming and
There were fat old women puf1ing like porpolses.
ana lean young women darling in and out
among them Nearly all the women could
swim, and some OF them did some fancy SWIM
ming when thpv f0nn0 thpV
There were few ttm1d ones who chung to the
ropes and found enjoyment In bouncing up and
down like corks. Some of the children wore
life preservers and learned to swim With their
assistance. Over In corner three young We
men were shriektng with laughter. Two OF
them were good swimmers and the other was
evidently making her debut as a mermaid, for
she chung TO them with the grip of drowning
man to straw. They were trying to make her
let go her hold and kick out. She did kick out,
but at an unexpected moment, and sent her
trainer over backward. Then one caught her
hands and rested themOn her shoulders and the
others caught her heels: But it was no use;
up. The little children who were learnining
had great deal more confidence, though the
legs OF two or three little mites trembled so
violently that they did not venture beyond the
steps,
The costumes worn by bathers in the wa
ter were as various as those they donned for
street. The new suits furnished at the BATH
house cost ten cents each and the old ones five.
The latter are mere apologies for coverings and
tear with the slightest provocation. Ten cents
Is no small amount to most OF the patrons OF
Tree swimming baths so they res TT to every eX-
pedient to provide suits of their own. Skirts
and white muslin suits are prohibited, the
former because they float up and are In the
way, the latter for their cling1ng qualities, for
1t sometimes happens that men are obliged to
surprise these nymphs at the bath. The regu
Lar costume consists Of drawers and waist al
In one. Several OF the girls wore trousers long
since discarded by their younger brothers, and
Inc waists OF Old dresses One girl wore sui
made out OF gay curtain chintz, and anothe
haQ the lower part OF hers made out of a worn
out piece OF awning goods, the striped legs
which gave her the appearance OF the clown
circus. Another-shade Of Washington for
give her!-had manufactured suit OF an old
nag, and the stars and stripes made her look
like the Goddess OF Liberty In thunder storm.
Saint Patrick defend US! WHAT have we here?
DE Cutd0ne by her lean Yankee compatriou, had
made suit out OF the flag OF her country. The
green color was not inappropriate to the sal
water, but
The harp that once through Tara's halls
The soul Of music shed.
Now hung as mute, not on Tara's walls, how
ever, as II that soul were dead. But what did
She CAFE? It answered her purpose, and do we
Lot all claim protection OF our flag?
Hello! What has caused that red haired girl
to Sit down SO suddenly on the steps that run
hto the water? 1t is soon explained, for she
Mary Flanagan, Mary Flanagan, bring
me a PIN. quick, y and the willing Mary soon re-
turlS Irt III tf-e dressing room With the needed
article. Damages are repaired In moment,
and the red head disappears under the water
and pair or white feet f1aSh la The sunshine.
The elect are white enough after they have been
In the water for awhile, but before they go In
e most Of them might be modelled In bronze
from their color.
AT THEIR BEST AND THEIR WORST.
Pardon me, Miss Brown" said the reporter,
hes1tatiDgly, but what Is the matter with that
k1ri's legs-the one just going down to the wa
ter-she is striped like a Zebra?"
"Oh, that's nothing" replied MISS Brown,
laughing; otis merely the dye out OF her
stockings" The reporter felt Immediately re-
iieved to find that such really was the case, and
the zebra stripes soon gave way TO marble
Wilderness.
The girls do not look so bad in the water, as
their faces are animated by the excitement of
the sport, and their arms as general thing
are shapeIy. 1t Is when they Climb dripping up
the little steps and patler across the platform
to their dressing rooms that they look their
worst. 1t does not take them long to resume
their everyday apparel. The reporter was sur
pi fsed to see SO many With a well-to-do appear
ance. Others again came from among the poor
est of the poor. Match girls ana candy girls
get about their only washing here. Plain as Is
their appearance they look well by comparison
when they leave the bath-hOuse, for their faces
shine with cleanliness and their hair Is neatly
doLe up.
The rush at the bath has not commenced yet,
al d Will Lot until the water gets warmer. 1t
was quite chilly yesterday, and some OF the