The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-06-28
A RUSSIAN BATH.
Steam Cleaning Process Which Does Not
Seem Attractive in July Weather.
New York Dial.

Steam Cleaning Process Which Does Not
Seem Attractive in July Weather.
New York Dial.
There is one thing absolutely necessary for a
man who takes Russian bath for the first time
and that is confidence. He must be willing to
take for granted that the sudden changes that
he has been taught from boyhood were detri-
mental to the health will be a benefit to his sys-
TEN, and he must jump into the coolest water
without Il murmer.
A Dial hand while revolving around the city
yesterday concluded to go into the largest Rus
sian bathing establishment in New York and
make record of his sensations. The first room
of the bath has temperature of about lis
degrees which is about the right heat to in
dulge in during political campaign. The
room is Of marble, with floor walls and seats
around the side al of the same material,
which absorbs none of the heat. In the
centre of the room is plunge surrounded by
an iron railing, and through it the cold water is
constantly running. The first impulse of the
bather is to throw himself in the water and re
main there until he becomes cooled but this he
must not do at this stage of the proceedings. He
must remain in this room until every pore in his
body opens, and the perspiration rolls down his
body every side
He is then taken into the next ROOM laid on
his back, on marble table, and scrubbed by an
attendant. This scrubbing process is vciously
conducted and forcibly reminds the bather of
the manner in which groom curries horse
against which he entertains grudge. A little
boiling water is poured over the bather while
the attendant is wetting his brush, and then
the fun begins The stiff brush, welded by a
strong army is rapidly moved over every portion
of the body, the old cuticle is rubbed off, and
the sufferer with a feeling of utter helplessness,
utters prayer that the Scrubber will soon tire
of torturing him. Suddenly, when he begins to
give up all hope, he is invited to stand on his
feet on the table, and a shower bath, icy cold,
drenches him.
The next portion of the performance is to en-
ter the steam room, where the thermometer reg
listers little under 125 degrees, but the instru-
ment is evidently rendered insane by the heat,
for it feels twice as hot as that-put 250 degrees
at a low estimate. This room is also of marble,
like the first, with plunge in the center. To
understand the sensation in the steam room one
must have felt it. The bather at once places a
sponge soaked in water on his head, to keep his
brain cool, but that seems but slight relief.
One can scarcely breathe the vapor; the eyes
feel affected and talking becomes difficult 1t
does not take very much of this room to satisy
the most greedy pleasure seeker. A few mo
ments will suffice for most people, excepting for
those who wish to reduce their flesh. When ev-
cry enjoyment in the hot steam has been expert
enced, plunge is taken. The water feels like
ice and chills one through to the marrow for the
first moment; then it feels delightful.
The bather next seeks large room where the
thermometer is kepta at slightly over one hundred
Here he can stand in corner and have spray hit
him in any direction he chooses, from above, be-
low, from the sides or elsewhere; he can swim in
a large tank, or he can have an electric champoo
and see how it feels to have ST. VituSS dance
After all this, if he Wishes he can recline in a
chair and smoke for awhile
The next thing on the programme is to go
back in the direction from which he came,
taking plunge in the first warm ROOM and
then going into more moderate Temperatures
where an attendant first dries you with a
towel and then gives you a massage treatment
after the most improved method. The bathers
palms are slapped and rubbed, his arms and legs
are operated upon in the same manner, with the
addition of being doubled up once IN while and
suddenly jerked out again; his soles are tickled
and his ribs poked, and after having received the