New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-19
TIE NEED or PUBLIC BATHS.

New lOfk ought 10 HtNe publiC puNuS Vu "'"fN
commensurate with the MAGNITUDE OF her popnla-
ton and the demands of her heated terms. be
efforts thus far made to supply this pressing want
have only served to show how thoroughly public
ba tbs are appreciated and to indicate how eagerly
adequate accommodations would be used. VI
old. before the monastic idea of modification OF The
flesh superseded the pagan @sthetcisn- tho iinpor-
lance Of public baths as state institutions was July
recognized. The Greeks md Romans believed that
personal cleanliness essential TO sound think
ing and right acting, and the bath was with them
an integral part Of the routine OF daily life SAM
tarv science has for many years been teaching the
same lesson bnt the mod IN world has been slow OF
Response. Yet tho public bath should and would he
a great feature in civilization In hot weather
especially does the Absence of personal cleanliness
produce i'll effects The human skin is beauti-
fnlly constructed machine one Of whose functions
is the elimination " the refuse matter OF tho sys-
tenn. This refuse is elected through the pores. If
they are cogged the process Of clearing the system
is check d. The s.cretions are then thrown back
upon the internal organs and the eX work put
npop those organs is apt to produce disease. The
effects of n ciosged skin numerous. moral a.
well as ply seal. They comprise greatly increased
irritabihtv an abnormal desire for stimuiants,
general ill-temper, aud weakening OF the Judgment
And TINS personal unceanliness may be. and I'M
doubtedly is. the direct cause Of great deal of
domestic dlscord. business difficulties, unneces-
hary friction. iutemperance and crime
The erection OF pubic baths adequate TO the needs
Of such population as that OF New-York would be
costly undertaking. but 1t would be wise public
MEASURE. no matter what the cost For public
bath, tend 10 lessen tho drath-rate IN summer,
to diminish intemperaDce and immortality, and 10
educate the community into a recognition of their
Ana to
which there can be no really high civilization and
no refinement at all. fine old saying that ceanll-
pes is next to g.dDe,s is far trucr than many old
yucs for IL is certainly the fact that the puulca
tion of the body is essential to the perfect working
of the higher mental faculties. la theory the
pre,eut generation recognizes the need
of physica culture. bat IN the admins
tration of government local or other. all con-
alterations Of tho kind are ignored. The poor
APOLOGIES for public baths which have hitherto
been deemed sufficient for the needs of this com
munity are proof of this. But lift besaid that New
York cannot at present afford TO undertake The con-
structon OF proper baths because Of her heavy IN
deb,e dpess there remains another element through
sbicb helm may come 10 the sweltering people. We
have among ms a large number of very rico men.
MANY of these wealthy citizens have at times mani
fesled a desire 10 perpcruaie their memories by
benefactiOns. They have endowed or DullJ col
leges and hbIares aud art museums and picture
galleries All OF these good things, but
IL may confidently DO asserted that none OF
them compare in excellence and usefulness with
public baths. We have many citizens each of whom
could give million dollars enterprise OF this
kind Ii would require several millions 10 do the
work thoroughly But when it accomplished
II could he the grandest public benefaction OF the
aoe and II would benefit scores and hundreds OF
thousands where the libraries and colleges and art
galleries benefit units and tens. b0untliul snp-
ply of cold water. furnished ia ample and nobly
constructed public baths, would do more IN a few
wears to elevate our lower classes aud check crime
and immoraity and Drunkenness than all the
police and courts and home missionaries and tenn
perapce societies and salvation armies aud other
administrative and philanthlopic organizations
can do In a century.
Here. then, is o great opportunity for our mill
iopnaires They cannot, any OF them, expect
the ENJOYMENT OF their wealth more than
a few years. To them. "a to the poor denizen
of tho tsnement-house, Death will come, knocking
with impartial foot at all doors. And whether they
are Christians with lively faith IN the usefulness
of good works. or Comtists, looking forward to the
apotheosis OF Humanity. they could not choose
better or easier way by which not alone to keep
their memories green but TO ameliorate the lot Of
their less fortunate followers and to elevate and
civilize both their contemporaries and postcuty.