The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-11

from being frozen to death.
SWIMMING IN WINTER.
Bath-H House Where Only Members of the
First Families Are Admitted.
New York Star.
In the upper part of the city, in one of the
most aristocratic mel ghborhoods near Fifth ave-
nue., is bath in which the luxury of swimming
in winter is enjoyed by what the proprietor of
the place calls the better element A liveried
attendant opens the door, which leads into a
spacious vestibule in which a number of English
and French illustrated newspapers lie about.
The bath itself is a good sized pool,
nearly seven feet deep in spots, handsomely
rallied in, and surrounded with spring boards,
swinging rings and swimming gear. while con-
trivances for frolicsome and daring swimmers
overhang various parts of the pool Around the
four sides commodious dressing rooms ran
ged. small platform. at least ten feet above
the water overhangs the deep end of the bath.
Aman dressed in bathing suit, which revealed
his strong physique leaned against the rail of the
bath. He looked thoughtful and self possessed,
without imparting the impression of being sullen
or i'll humored
"Who are your custnmers?7 was the question
which the reporter addressed to the gentleman,
who proved to be the proprietor of the establish
ment.
'Only the better elements of New York So
ciety come here. l never touch anything that IS
not of the uppercrust The tone is everything
partly because it is pleasanter to deal with true
ladies and gentlemen than with the upstarts,
and partly because it pays better to be exclus-
ive'
Il suppose your expenses are heavy"
You would be surprised to learn the cost of
such place as this. Why, the rent of the two
lots alone is enough 10 absorb good sized in
come. to say nothing of the cost of the building.
the water supply heat and so on. The water
and whole interior are kept at summer tempera-
ture all through the winter and you can, per-
haps. imagine what my coal bills are"
rs the place patronized exclusively by gentle
menu"
Il have a very large number of lady pupils
Their hours are from II to P. NJ. They are the
most delightful of bathers."
do you instruct the ladies in the natatorial
artqn
No, no. No men are admitted during ladies'
hours. The swimming instructors are women
so that the ladies perfectly safe from observa
ton. OF course am here occasionally, but then,
you know only IN an official capacity, and that
doesn't count Oh, they are charming! What is
more beautiful than beautiful woman in a
bathing suit?"
What kind of costumes do they wear2"
1.-The same that are seen at the seaside. Some
of the ladies' however, wear the single gar
ment, without the skirt or tunic, which leaves
the arms and neck bare"
DO children come hereF
1--WE have more children than adults, aud q
have some as young as four years. Of course
these have to be bathed, but many ten year.
old has learned to swim here. On the other
hand, a lady sixty five years old came here to
learn swimming. In three months she sue
ceeded very well, though sixty five is a pretty
good age to begin with. She is now well able to
take care of herself in the water
care lady bathers timid?'
mot at ALL They have more courage than
men. IF woman once makes up her mind to
n a Ia for cha Sc Tt
would surprise you to watch some of cur expert
lady swimmers Look at that platform 1t is
ten feet above the water. and ten foot dive is
not to be sneezed at. We have dozen young
women who take headers from that platform.
while hardly one man attempts it, One of my
patrons is a we'll known society lady from Brook
Ign. The first time she came here happened
to be in the room. She came slowly down
the walk looked into the water, then walked
back, ran out, gave a big jump on the end of the
spring board, and took dive that never saw
beaten in my life. Then she came up, swan
around the pool couple of times, came out and
ran up to the platform there Over she went
like swallow She is the champion swimmer
among the ladies'"
IL suppose the dudes of the city are,focking
hither?"
MY dear sir, never use the word dude. 1t
is tabooed here 1t is the better element of New
York society which patronizes this place. the off
spring of admirable families, you know-blood.
foresaw that such place as this would pay. be-
cause everyt thing has shown of late years that
the tendency of the better element of New York
society was toward exclusiveness, and this ee-
ment has found in this place bath that is not
common. Some years ago society swells eStab
lished roller-skating rink up town. The
masses crept in. and the swells gave up the skat-
ing. Give the better element thing they can
call their owu and they'll take care of it,
While this conversation was in progress, a
specimen of tho genus man was dsporting HIM
self in the water OF the pool. He had very
prominent nose, a thin neck, thinner legs and
enormous feet number of snowy rings
sparkled on his fingers, and he carried sponge
daintily in his left hand One of the attendants
carefully on the edge of the pool The being in
the water stood up. climbed up the steps, sat
down on the edge. Dipped the sponge in the pail
of water and sponged his head carefully and
gently Then he squeezed the sponge and
washed his hands.
The instructor explained to the reporter in an
awestruck whisper that the young man was the
son of wel-known banker.
s'He is very fastidious" said the proprietor,
land does not like to wash his face in the same
water that he bathes in. He comes from an
admirable family, you know-blood. II always
tells
The reporter remem bered, on arriving at the
place, having seen an individual clad in the very
extreme of fashion enter the place, who bore
some resemblance to the young man who sat
pensively on the edge of the pool. Yet it was
evident that an astonishing transformation had
taken place in the appearance Of the man. When
seen at the entrance on the street, he looked
like a ll-built young man of compact
physique His trousers were wide and big, his
coat tightr and he wore a waistcoat of velvet or
velveteeh that correspondent with the color of his
overgaiters. English tan gloves, big hat, and
single glass screwed in his right eye completed
his outfit. The cane he carried was of the latest
fashion. Shorn of all these paraphernalia-the
padding and all--he was no longer an impressive
swell as he sat down on the edge of the pool
Best Varieties of Apples
While climate must have much to do with de-
termiuing what varieties of annie trees fo nIant