Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-06-04
Clara Bee = lsits a Turkish Bath
I'm New York.


Not man was to be seen about the place
woman took my 1.5o in an outer office aud
let me into the next room, which looked Ike
the cabin OF Hudson river steamboat 1t was
long and low, with soft carpet on the floor and
doors arrow at the sides, opening into little
these and diSrobe.
.'Must take of everythings" asked.
Everything? Oh, yes" said the attendant
put you Will lind sheet TO wrap yourself
in."
Just then ghostly figure, wound in sheet,
emerged from room and disappeared through
another door at the further end of the cabin.
She was tall. thin woman, with a bloodless
face, and her black hair hung loose. But she
was enveloped, and that gave me comfort
might have been seen ten minutes after
ward coming sheeted out OF my room and
Sinking toward the entrance of the batn. |
pushed open the door, and had scarcely seen
that was In mere anteroom when whIsk
went the sheet. and was In the condition OF
my grandma Eve before she took to aprons
An attendant had grabbed Off the covering
Here !" said, budding myself together, 81
"Oh, none of the ladies ever wear ANYTHING
was the response, In an expostulatory tone.
Well, 1t wouldn't do TO kick against the fash
Ion. and allowed myself to be pushed into the
bathroom. What sight met my astounded
eyes! About 80 utterly nude women were in
That Dig room, lOung1ng In willow chairs and
sofas. walking about, chatting with acqualnt.
Inc temperature Yves 120 degrees the dry heat
pouring in from registers on ali sides, was
aWfully ashamed at first, but the uncnncern OF
the great majority gradually treasured me, and
at length ventured out OF the corner In which
had taken refuge.
There were many comely bathers to be sure,
with nne forms and smooth, white SKINS but
Ine Ievelatl0n OF hOllOW-cheSted maids and
naDDy matrons. OF spindle shankS and arms
OF cOfns ana Dunt0nS, and of various unSna ape
mess, vas beyond my power OF description.
saw several persons whom had seen before,
ana DlesS me, how altered they looked without
clotnes! one OF these was the popular leading
s s OF theatrical company, and I knew
ner by sight. because OF having seen her half
undressed on the stage. Somebody called me
Dy name, and / with difficulty recognized the
face or an acquaintance. Perhaps that Assem-.
Dlage was not fairly representative, but taking
1t as standard, not one In ten of US is reason.
ably good IN hnery, and not one In fifty would
do for statuary.
The best figure in the lot was that OF woman
who could hot have been less than 10 years Old
and It was perfection itself In every curve and
proportion; but, as rule, the women Of 25 to
30 eKcelled In form, the younger ones being
scraWDy, and the older 0nea being either gaun5
or habby. The only wearers OF anything we're
the Dozen attendants. all slender, sprig1tly
young women. Each had q towel wrapped
around her body from waist to hips, another
opposite armpit, and third wound turban-l1ks
around the head. They looked Jaunty and
agreeable. Il was their task to show bathers
how to use the cold water d0uches pools and
showers and to scrub them with brushes "a
they lay on marble tables. / liked the hath
well enough, but am sorry saw the women
for they dlsenchanted me.