New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-06-09
LIE EREE R1TUS.

In furnishing free baths to the people of this
CITY n wise step has undoubtedly been taken,
and that the free baths are fully appreciated is
shown by the steady increase of attendance at
them year after year With such summer
climate as We possess, cleanliness is prime
necessity and it is most necessary for those who
are unable to afford spacious lodgings during
the hot season. Nothing can be more cOndu-
Give to all kinds of social and moral reform
than education in personal cleanliness. Pow
erty Is made doubly irksOme by dirty habits,
and those who have ever learned the comfort
of the bath will not long be cOntented with slo-
venly lodgings, but will bestir themselves until
they even sweeten the tenement-hOuses. But
though the city has done well in providing The
free baths, it must be confessed that as little as
possible has been given in the way of accOmmo-
dation. At present we provide little more than
a means of getting into the water. The bathers
must bring their own towels with them, and
soap has not always been supplied, if it is now.
For a democratic country there is in the present
theory of free baths perhaps rather too close a
resemblance to the methods of providing for
the lower classes" in monarchies.
The elder Republics managed such things
very differently Recognizing the Importance
of cleanliness even as an object of State legsla-
ton. they begrudged no outlay in making these
institutions attractive, comfortable, and even
luxurious. Modern explorers have been
amazed at the magnifcence even of the ruins of
Roman baths, and 1t is not too much to say that
they indicate the existence in that distant era
of civilization which in some points must
have been further advanced than that of the
present century. For it is only quite recently
that the Importance of personal cleanliness
has been at all generally recognized.
Yet the importance of free access to cold
water as an active auxiliary to social reform can
scarcely be OveTated. AS help to temper
ance, rs a preventive Of crime, as an incentive
to intellectual eXcrtion as means Of Installing
self-respect, as an antiLote to immortality of
every kind, the bath Is potent agent of ciyil-
cation. Why then should not a great city like
New-York make its free baths worthy of its
reputation for progress and enlightenment
A 1.-THE of the annual expenditures upon use
less and unnecessary street destruction, called
repairs" would give Ills a series of baths which
would be something better than the coarse make
shifts now provided. There is no reason why
free bathing should be poorly accommodated
because IL IL IOI lllc Hp'Nidl uSc VI inc Door.
They are all citizens of our Republic, equal be-
fore the law equal in political influence, en-
titled to equal rights and privileges, and it
would seem that they should deserve the attcn-
ton of the politicians who manage municipal
affairs. But all who seek reform, and above ALL
temperance, should unite to secure improve
ments in this matter. The free baths ought To
be inviting, convenient, properly equipped
carefully managed. The American people have
a right to expect so much, and it ought 70 be
conceded to them Perhaps II one of our rich
men would set the example by building model
free bath and presenting il TO the city, the latter
might be stimulated TO better things. Much
has been done by private muuifccnce for the
education of the mind, but too little for the
education of the body. Here is an opportunity
for the latter which ought not to be neglected
by those who are looking about for suitable
whereby to preserve their memories
from oblivion.