The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-04-12
TAkE a HATH.
The Bathing Facilities Furnished by the
Government for Legislators.

TAKE n BATH.
The Bathing Facilities Furnished by the
Government for Legislators.
"
When congressman wants to show
especial attention to a visitor he asks
him to take bath, saws the Washing
ton Star. This watery refreshment is
much appreciated by those who have
once tried it, but sometimes the kind
ness is misunderstood by the initiated.
The bath accommodations of the house
are luxury that brings to the mind
of back county constituents fairy vis-
| ions of oriental grandeur. Away
down in the depths of the capitol,
down still yet below the basement, the
marble tanks of tempered water into
which the members plunge are To-
Gated. Big walnut cabinets with blind
doors stand in row along the wall
There are nine of these, and in each is
large tank or bath-tub, which can be
filled with hot or cold or tepid water
in very few minutes. These are all
in a narrow 'L"-shaped room, which
is presided over by a big colored man
and his assistant. The cabinets, or
baths, are about the size of an ordinary
hotel bedroom, and the tubs are big
enough for the largest sized statesman
to wallow in with ease and comfort.
Tom Reed and Barnes, of Georgia,
test their capacity more than any other
members, but they, even, can roll over
and founder about in one of the mar
BILE tanks with as much ease as they
could perform the same evolutions
anywhere.
Co1na of tho f,7hC ono
nicely painted, but the newer ones
are made of marble and each looks like
a great sarcophagus. Three ordinary
men might get in one of them without
much crowding. The marble sides.
are as slippery as glass and as warm
as the flesh that touches them. Their
mometers are hung in each bath and
on the walls in the passage. The
temperature is kept always the same,
and member might promenade for
three hours in nothing but his epider-
mis- without danger of cold. 1t was
here that Mr.. Reagan struggled with
tight undershirt on the occasion of
his famous bath, while the vote on the
Morrison bill was being taken. The
temperature is just at a point where
the least exertion would bring a pro-
fuse persplratiOn, and but little rub
bing in the bath is sufficient to
bring a ruddy glow. Members come
up in the elevator from these regions
with the hair curling about their tenn
pies and their cheeks as pink as q
baby's.
Some of the older members take a
bath as the last step in their prepara-
ton for making Il speech. They
a, go
take a bath, and then deliver it. If q
member has the rheumatism or a cold,
or for any other reason feels the
necessity of being parboiled, there is
Russian steam bath at the end of the
bathroom to which he resorts.
Members of congress can bathe
here any day, provided not more than
hundred select the same day; but on
Saturday none but members can enter.
On other days employees of the house,
or men who have been given tickets
by members can >bathe. On Friday
business is most brisk, and the swash-
ing of the water may be heard from
early y morning until the place is closed
in tine evening. 1t is hard to tell how
many people are bathed on this day,
but ordinarily hundred is as many
dS Cdu Oc Ilduul0u Iii HOURS A1D6E
an all-night session the capacity of
rooms is strained. Members have all
their toilet made here except their bar
bering. The air smells moist with
steam, and is fragrant with perfume
and scented soaps. The very finest
toilet furnishings are used. The
"black man of the BATH will rub you
down and perform all the services Of
the bath. Besides this, he has proper
instruments for the purpose and he
will trim off the corns and keep the
feet in order. When a new member
is elected from the country district it
generally takes "a right smart while"
to get his feet in condition. They re-
quire much care and attention. But
this man keeps all the congressional
feet in order, without regard to size Or
previous condition. Some members
visit these rooms every day, some three
times week, some twice, some only
once week. while few do not call
so often.
The last mark of attention from his
visiting constituent is ''to give him a
bath. P" After showing the voter
through the building, explaining and
testing the mysteries of the echoes in
the statuary hall, giving him a
lunch, and finally conducting him to
the speakers gallery. where he can sit
and watch the ''whirligig of the house
whirl, as final and special honor the
representative invites him to take q
bath. If the representative makes
this offer in the right way and to the
right man it is appreciated; but they
have been known to make enemies by
making the proposition too abruptly
and without explanation. The story
is told of an absent-minded member
who always did the utmost to entertain
his visitors, but did it in that per-
functory way that comes from habit
ual courtesy without discrimination.
He was showing a lady the wonders
of congress. He had taken her to the
ncrth wing and pointed out all the
great senators; he had rung the
changes on the echoes, and sat with
her in the speakers gallery, pointed
out his own seat and then the seats of
of all the other great members, and
they were going down in a crowded
suddenly a thought
flashed upon his preoccupied mind,
and he asked quickly:
Wont you go down and take
bath?"
Some one in the elevator Uttered,
and the member awoke to a realization
of his position. The lady with
scornful and indignant look pretended
she had not heard him, and their part
ing was cold and embarrassed.
The Dynamite Air-Gun