Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-06-12
4 NATATORIUM NEEDED.
ug,r A raOsR ssSiyE UirrLIhE Ian
CAsuFR sHOULD Hars.


Now that the long summer days ara sp
preaching, when old Sol gets In his most ac
two and bIistoting work, tho question of th,
feasibility oi erecting IA natatotium 10 awsk
ening from its winter sleep and putting oi
removed vigor. said n prominent citizon Il
tho lNrELLtGENcgR scribe " know Of ~,
city in the country that stands more IN need
oia swimming school than Lancaster. You
would be startled II ] would toll You all the
male Iancastrians to the manner born who
cannot swiui. Aud yet when You consider
tho limited opportunities afforded for ac
quiring this very necessary art, your sur
PRISE would doubtless ba greater that the
category oi swimmers has It's present numer.
ic'l sirongtn. Got into any crowd OF yonng
clerks, middle aged business mon, or htary.
headed sagos. Incidentally ask how many
at them can swim, and there will ho n quick
desire to change the subject"
ais II strange that II should be 40 ?" he
continued. Think how TAR away tho Con
ostogn creek IL when the inclination comes
over you to lave in it, turbid waters. Ym, 90
n milo under the boiling and broiiing sun
before You arrive AT point where bathing
may he INDUCED in without police Interior.
encc. And, II you have no conveyance, the
case with 90 per cent of the army of wU,ild-
be swimmers, yon must trudgo over the
dustiost aud droariest Of roads Even this
might bo endured, N one were rewarded
with desirable bathing place al the end ol
his journey. But this small boon ~ denied
you. gang Of hOudlums usually occupy
the iow choice spots, and they take II morbid
delight in acting their worst when they are
intTudcd upon 10y gontlemaniy company"
SOME OTHER TuouGurs.
with these rin,z percoIsting through tho
mind OF the reporter camo others, born OF
s0li suggestion. lln remembered how, In
his cal,ow days when bathing represented
the upHUui3H h0HtU OF his life, the muddy
waters of the tonestnga presented an thing
but An inviting prospect for his dipping
therein. iie recalled his emotions Of sur
prise on his first visit to the seashore 10 find
that he could open his eyes under water
without danger OF impairing his vision.
Then, too, his memory reverted TO the Jagged
stones In the bottom Of the Conestoga that
seemed To- have been specially placed there
Ia wound his POOR feet. Tho long journey
homo after tho bath, tho perspiratiun and
disgust that were evoked by the tramp, and
his general tendency to view life through
jaundiced speciacles after his trip-ull came |
tack 10 him. And so with view Of saving |
the rising generation from going through his |
harsh experiences, ha bethought him il |
might bu well To WELD his pen In advocacy |
OF the scheme Ia make swimming easily at- |
tainablc by all NJ n minimum of expense.
rRNCrICNHIIITY or THE PLAN.
Any one who gives the matter careful con
sideratinu will reach tho conclusion that n |
or swimming school, would not |
only ho a good thing for Lancaster, but also |
that 1t would repay those max ing the invest |
meut. The annoyanc2s and unsatisftctori- |
ness OF creek bathing are 10y no means eNag-
gsTatod IN the remarks above made, and all |
who have trir.. II Will agrcS that IL IL strictly
true. This admitted, and i being also con
hat "a tII ita ~ in
thure exists a demand for swim |
ming iarilitits, II should not be difficult for |
men "t energy and means to provide the |
supply.
would he inexpensive stter a building was
selected, and this lattor, II il believed could |
be secured at a price not eNto, tionate. Prop |
erly tho building should be within easy /
reach 0i the centre OF the town, or at some |
point that could he arrived at hy the street
ears. Nearly any Kind OF building OF good |
size could bo remodeled 10 suit The Ian
castor sl> atiug rink or llmberger d Nic,ul-
Tvs iron foundry will suggest themselves to
some H> desirable IOrations or II the eN-
pense OF these II too great, the upper stories
Of some Ot the buildings now devoted to uses
a. halls might be taken.
\ good. sized tank with n constant supply
Df running water during the hours Oi the
use would I've the chief repui- |
site after the huilding was secured. Tho ar
Of dressing rooms, etc, would
not entail much expense. The Broad street
nataiorium in Philadelphia contains tank
about loo feet long 10y p feet broad, and in
depth II has u gradual slope OF from to 10 |
feet. similar institution in Lancaster
might safely lie modelled upon this plan.
There they have instructors " no Ill guar
antce To- teach boys aud girls, young and
middle aged luen and women the art Of
swimming in the brielest possible time
The morning Is devoted To the fair sex with |
women instructors, and the afternoon TO
men. Many fair girl who wins praise at
the seaside resorts for her natatOrial skill
owes II Ia her lessons from this or a similar |
institution.
THE SANITARY VIEW.
And tho sanitary Wow of the question
should not ho overlooked. As cleanliness is
next to Codlnoss, a uaiatorum in Lancaster
would cause its patrons to approximate TO
both. Not that this, however, would be the |
primary object of its institution, that being
included ia the learning to swim. But II
1t ever cano into popularity, 1t could not
have any but favorable effect on the phys.
ral hahits of those who became its patrons.
Lancaster has its share of bath-tuhs aud |
doubtless its due .prOnurtion OF cloanly cit-
zens. But natatorium would increase the
number at the latter, and besides afford to
large numbers AN easy mode of learning "A |
most necessary accom- pishment 1t would
besides give swimmers an opportunity for |
the exercise Of thoir skill in this direction |
that would I've very gratifying break in the |
OF summer afternoon.
1t having been thus successfully demon
onstratcd that the scheme il necessary and |
feasible and that it would supply IA long |
want, il remains To he seen whether enough |
energetic and publicspirited Lancastrians |
will take hold oi the project and carry il |
along Ia splendid success. We know that |
there are many who Will echo the aspiration |
of the scribe " SO mote it be-"