The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1888-09-29
FREE BATHS.
Amusing Scenes in New York's
Public LavatorieS.
The Boon Enjoyed by the Metro
politan Poorer Classes.

In an article descriptive OF New
York's public baths the Commercial
Advertiser says: A policeman stands at
the narrow gang plank which leads to
the bath, armed with a switch. By the
aid OF this simple weapon, an apology
for order is maintained among the IRE
pressible crowd waiting for a chance to
get in. The first 'trick" having fin
ished its bath and retired. the keeper
gives the signal to allow the expectant
multitude to enter. The policeman
opens the small gate and mad SIAM
pede begins that would put cowboy
raid to the blush.
Down the bathers pour, bowling and
yelling, pushing and scrambling. rails
ing perfect pandemonium. Many of
the very young bathers begrudge losing
even Q moments time in undressing,
and every supsrfuous article of cloth
ing is removed before the gate is
opened. The boys rarely utilize the
minutes allotted.for this purpose; and,
as many toilets are composed of a shirt
and pair of trousers only, the task of
undressing has been accomplished in
less than Is seconds.
There arc two male keepers, a watch
man and two matrons to each bath.
Tho depth Of the water in certain
places is two feet six inches for the use
of the younger bathers. The extreme
depth of the bath is four feet.
1t is truly interesting and amusing
sight to witness $50 men and boys
swimming about in rather limited
space. With the male sex no clothing
Is required, and the display that a re-
porter saw was limited in variety only
by the number of bathers. The fat man
was there. taking up more than his
share Of the water. He floated COM
place ntly by the side of man, who,
with little training, might have OBJ
tanned a situation in a Bowcry museum
as the living skeleton. The small boy
was there il immense quantity. OF
course. Tall, thin, stout. fat, bold,
timid, quiet or noisy. he was literally
omnipresent. He splashed, he dived,
he jumped, he shrieked, and in his own
peculiar way thoroughly enjoyed him
SELF
Any person who imagines that a keep
ership in free bath is sinecure will
speedily have his mind disabused by q
personal visit Some sort of order has
to be maintained, and to exact it of
$50 irrepressible Juveniles is one Of the
difficult things about baths. Each
youth who takes plunge is convinced
in his own mind that he thoroughly ua-
derstands the art of swimming. In
many cases he is mistaken, and the
keeper comes to his rescue. The won
der is in the turmoil and disorder acct
dents are practically unknown in the
free baths.
At the stroke Of the bell, which an
nounces the expiration of the twenty
minutes swim, the bathers retire with
wonderful promptness.
Days for women are far more do
corous, the women and girls now being
compelled to wear bathing suits. The
splashing is increased with the fair sex,
and giggles and squeals take the place
of masculine shouts and yells. The
baths are much used by the girls and
women employed in factories and stores.
A number of those who live in BROOKLYN
often stop on their way home to take q
dip in the Battery bath.
The Department of Public Works is
continually receiving letters from all
over the country, asking for informa-
tion as to its method of conducting the
baths, showing that this city is looked
upon as the pioneer and leader in this
particular sphere of usefulness. Some
letters have come from cities on the
Mississippi, and letters of inquiry have
arrived from Jamaica, in the West In
i dies.