Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-10-04
Congressional Ba,her>.

Ras-1u P-s-.
..Frcouentlv members gave bath tick
els 10 their friends-cOnstituent YOU
sncw. Who had travelled % w ashingtOn
from remote points. Such men We're gen
f~aIlv much trayel-stained, and the bath
vas very refreshing. Il was no unusual
thing for a backwOCds visitor TO apply for
q bath. They were tough subjects TO
handle. too. and il required every con-
rriyance we had 10 return them 10 their
member upstairs in the house in salts
factory state Of cleanliness. sometimes
a granger would come down. and alter
uathing. exchange mis- sOiled clothing for
clean. We never allowed them 10 leave
sheir sOiled buds behind but now and
-hen an old shirt. o a venerable pair Of
socks would be found secFered in the bath
room after the departure Of the visitor.
There was a fellow here one day who
came in with nothing but the clothing on
ais back. He certainly had no change Of
linen with him. but after he had done,
MS entire outfit of undertaking was
found in a bundle. He had evidently sal
led forth thoroughly cleansed, but wear
in- no undertaking.
How about the members: Were they
frequent bathers:''
A number Of them were. but the ma
71rity conducted their additions either at
their homes or at favOrlte bathing saloons.
The most constant bather in my time was
Representative Acklen. OF Louisiana. He
bathed every day, and generally every
night during night sessions. He used
Florida water To perfume his baths some
times. and always paid a boy extra to rub
lin down sharply with Turkish towels.
Representative Holman. Of Indiana.
lid not battle here often. but when he did
we were notified ahead. lie always used
cold water, and plunged around the bath
tub like a pOrpOIse. He was always in
hurry and was bathed and away again in
iiffy. some Of the boys used 10 joke about
Mr.. HOlman's long. lank form, fears be-
ing expressed that some time the plug
would shift out Of the waste-pipe hole
and that the bather would slip through;
but happily no such accident ever occur
red. Mr.. Holman never feed the attend
ants. When General, now Governor. But
Ter. Of Massachusetts, was member OF
the House he was a great bather, very
often using a solution Of sea salt in the
water. His own servant attended
1im and he used his own toilet arti-
cles. When outside aid was avail
"a Of he paid for IL literally.
Congressman Blackburn, Of Ken
lucky. always bathed on returning from
Quincy. He looked after himself while
bathing. but generally had friend or two
outside Of his apartment with whom he
AthL UP a luuNAu- NpAlf "a oAtADu nun
within. There was a Tennessee member
II the last House. though. with whom we
frequently had trouble. He never wanted
20 battle except when on tearing spree.
At such times his appearance was that OF
a man who had not bathed for over
week. and hence repulsive. Well. OF
course, some one would have 10 handle
aim. and It was no pleasant job. He used
- curse and swear al the attendants Ike
/ trooper. out afterwards, when sober. he
would come down and apologize and pay
the men snugly all around. His was not
The only case of this nature. but II was
perhaps the worst.
There was a Virginia member, Who Is
now dead. though said the manipulation
Of the sponge and towel. who was often
n the bathtub as long as two hours at
time. He frequently changed the water,
beginning with hot, and subsequently Ia
9ering the temperature down 10 cold.
Then he was roughly dried and wrapped
III a rrr= u blanket, and after nap OF
about ten minutes seated in chair. be
would send for a cup Of cold tea. dress
and return TO his duties. He went through
that process twice a week. after heavy
spree the night before, and used 10 call
II taking a soak. Whoever attended him
On such occasions was rewarded with a
Tee Of 81
" ere the bathers generally lloefal a.
10 fees:'
The regulars were not. Transients,
however. paid up well, and 81 or - day
was thus frequently made by the attend
ants. There was General Garfield, for III
stance He bathed at home as rule, but
sometimes when worn out during dull
night session he would come down for
diD. and would never fail to leave fee.
remember one night during the progress
Of a deadlock several years ago, General
Garfield applied for bath. He looked
haggard and worn, and asked not to allow
anV one To disturb him. The bath of
tepid water was prepared. and II was
not long before he was splashlng
and spluttering like child. No attention
was paid to him after he closed the door
until an hour later. when page appear
Il and said tnaJ tao General was wanted
IN the floor of the House TO vote. Alter
few sharp raps had been given on the door
# his bathroom General Garfield suddenly
started up from the water, shouting, "AiI
right: be out directly" and sprang iron
the tub. He had fallen asleep IN the
water. completely overcome by fatigue.
He explained this as be came cut Of the
room. and handing the man who had
aroused him 80 cents, he hurried upstairs.