Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-08-01
Boys Day at the Baths.

The public baths along the river
front, opened at the beginning of last
week, have been we'll patronized during
to brief spell Of hot weather by men,
women and children, who took advan-
tage Of the occasion to cleanse the cpl
dermis of the winter accretions
These small fry being held in check
during the week attending school,
turned out en- nasse on Saturday and
regularly besieged the bath houses.
Although the day was decidedly chilly,
with stiff breeze blowing, it was as
much AS a couple of police officers and
the bath officials could do to keep the
mob Of ragged uichius in order. At
the fee bath ut the foot of Gouverneur
street they filled the pier and adjacent
docks and alleys, playing strange
games, fighting and throwing stones,
driven of 10y policemen only to return
like q swarm of lilies thicker than ever,
full of fun and mischief, though many
looked as though they were strangers
to good meal.
The interior of the bath presented an
animated scene. Some two hundred
boys OF ages ranging from nine to four
teen GALS NCIc anu NpluSlllDR
about III the water, while they rent the
air with eXclamations. The water is
about AZ feet deep, which, however,
is ample for diving purposes, as the
Whit and slender bodies of the bathers
pitching head first in all directions suf-
ticien,ly attested. A couple of ropes
stre,cucd across the bath made good
hana rests for those learning to swim.
ANY rough play shown by the larger
boys t. the smaller was immediately
put i. st ~ to by the keepers, who kept
wuichiui eye Oh all The proceedings.
The time allowed TO u bath is twenty
minutes, though the youngsters are apt
to exec, d it, III fact the keeper told the
reporter that 1t was much us he could
DO I" keep item from slipping i'll see
ond time.
Taxi the ears to tho South Fifth
Street Bath, - slightly different phase
of tue bathing performance was iUun!
to bo III per,tion.
Tue bath itself was nearly empty,
white along tue edge Of the pier were
scattered couple hundrei boys anx-
iousiy waiting the signal to eater.
When tins was given the Impatient
crew iu!iiei IN, uniousehinS their few
garurlit, as they weIt and crowded
into tn dressing rooms i'll troops OF
four or live 20 emerge almost immedi
atelS i natures garb and plunge into
thei, gallery playground. Ittook hard
~ II mluuie to transform the place from
q vaca"t sheet of liquid, to what closely
resenibied Il frog pond on gala day.
All the participants with one or two
soliiar, exceptions, bathed in paris ma
tova 'du$, ana dried themselves in the
sun :,i,>r coming out, thus entirely re
lievIns heir minds from any anxiety
concerning the safety Of their bathing
suits or towels.
TIE remainder of the baths on The
streets were we'll puiruniZed, though
not 10 such an exteDt as the two above
mentioned. 1t is computed that Cow
orntur AMI Fifth street baths battle IA
many as all the rest pnt together. Tn.
Battery and Dover street baths on tn,
East side are not yet in oper ,tion. TIL,
bath houses in the North River ut thu
foot OF Bethune. Tnirty sixth al d
Hob we're also well patronI2ed by tt,
youths OF the vicinity. Tie boys. how
ever, IRE sternly declared from bathing
between II aud l O'clock in the day
time and alte, p. NJ i'll order to allow
the IN, II to have chance.
Tu, sdays and Fridays are set apart
for the women, who resort to the water
in great numbers.
The total number of patrons of the
free ii 'atiug baths during theoweek was
81 el4 of whom rs oD3 a ore females 49,
". \. Tribune.