The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-11
CONGREsSMEN AS BATHERs,
Incidents Related by Attendant of the
Congressional Bath Rooms

Incidents Related by Attendant of the
Congressional Bath-RoUms
Washington Post. ...
One of the attendants at the congressional
bathrooms gives the Post the following in
formation in regard to the personal habits
of certain members of Congress He says:
"a number of members were frequent
bathers, but the majority conducted their
ablutions either at their homes or favorite
bathing-saloons The most constant bather
in my time was Represents tative Acklen, of
Louisiana. He bathed every day, and gener-
ally every night during night sessions He
used Florida water to perfume his baths
sometimes, and always paid a boy extra to
rub him down sharply with Turkish towels
He was very particular. Representative
Holman, OF Indiana, did not bathe here Of
ten, but when he did we were notified ahead
He always used cold water, and plunged
around the bath tub like a porpoise. He was
always in hurry, and was ba:hed and away
again in iitfy. Some of the boys used to
joke about Mr.. Holman's long, lank form,
fears being expressed that some time the
plug would shift ont of the waste pipe hole
and that the bather would slip through,
But happily no such accident ever occurred.
Mr. Holman never feed the attendants. When
General, now Governor Butler of Massachu-
Setts was member of the House he was
great bather, very often using solution of
sea salt in the water His own servant at
tended him. and he used his own toilet arti-
cles. When outside aid was availed of he
paid for it literally Congressman Black
burn, of Kentucky, always bathed on return
ing from a journey. He looked after HIM
self while bathing, but generally had a
friend or two outside of his own apartment,
with whom he kept up running conversa-
tion from within. There was a Tennessee
member of the last House. though, with
whom we frequently had trouble. He never
wanted to bathe except when on a tearing
spree. At such times his appearance was
that OF a man who had not bathed for over
a week, and hence repulsive. Well of
course some one would have to handle him,
and it was no pleasant job He used to curse
and swear at the attendants like a trooper;
but afterwards when sober would come
down and apologize and pay the men singly
all around His was not the only case of
this nature, but it was, perhaps. the worst"
Ex-Speaker Colfax the late Speaker, N.
p Banks, OF Massachusetts; Representative
Hobhtzell, of Maryland; Representative Page,
of California; Samuel Cox and few others,
were also mentioned constant bathers.
Congressman Randolph V. Tucker OF Vir-
ginia, and Mr.. Carlisle, of Kentucky, we're
generally too busy to indulge in anything
more than a sponge-bath about twice q week,
Mr.. Kasson, Mr.. Conger, Mr.. Butterworth, of
Ohio, and the jolly Horr, of Michigan, were
mentioned among those who rarely ever used
the House bathrooms.
Were the bathers generally liberal as to
fees?'
'"The regulars were not Transiens, how
ever, paid up well. and dollar or two day
was thus frequently made by the attendants
There was General Garfield, for instance. He
bathed at home as Il rule, but sometimes,
when weared out during a dull night
session, he would come down for