St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-09-30


These are arranged in
Two rows, each room about six feet
square, and divided from each other by
.Ow partitions and a silk curtain, which
shuts it completely.
We discarded, as quickly as possible,
our uatty, tight-fitting dresses for a
sheet, which iii attendant. locking like
a cup-bearer TO Jupiter, in her short
tunic. laid upon the divan. In this
sheet we wrapped ourselves and it was
as cool and soft to the skin as a robe
made of rose leaves, and forthwith
gathering it up daintily and feeling like
a Roman in his toga, we stepped from
our several little curtained inches into
a wide, carpeted aisle lighted by tiny,
incandescent lamps branching from the
walls on either side.
From this we passed into a sort of
an te-chamber where number of bath
ers were having their hair brushed,
Others their nailed manicured. and two
or three in the further corner were
weighing each other and diSputing
YOlubly about an extra pound or two.
THE STEAM-ROOM.
Beyond this was the steam-rOom, look
ing as though wrapped in the mystery
of a genuine London fog. 1t was large
and wide, lined Oh each side with a
marble slab, above and below, like upper
and lower berths, the steam pouring in
streams from grated openings in the
marble. In the center lay great. ruff
fled pool, marble-edged. fed with fresh
water constantly from the open mouths
OF two massive dogs heads made of
silver and projecting on each side. We
settled ourselves upon the lower slab,
and prepared t. perspire slowly, stead
lily. terribly.
The heat was intense, the steam so
tlrick that we distinguished the forms
of the other batherS but dimly at first,
but, as we became accustomed to it, we
saw bright girliSh faces, the contour of
pretty arms and shoulders, few pallid,
Sickly women. some very lean, and one
very stout woman of middle age sitting
in remote corner in the midst of seeth-
ing steam, determined to get thin or die
on the spot. A group of chorus girls
were practicing quartette near by, in
tersperSing it with laughing comments;
every one was laughing or gOssiping.
The shower baths were in full play, the
plunge filled with SplaShing nymphs,
the attendants rushing hither and
thither, bearing bowls of cold water and
soft towels for aching heads, and the
scene was of the liveliest.
THE THING" TO WAX CONFIDENTIAL,
1t seems to be 1.-The thing to wax con-
fdential when in Russian bath, iudg-
ing from the scraps Of conversation
overheard.
Il didn'ttell you 50 before, because l
/ feared" etc.
You might have known me better,
Jennie, as if would" etc.
but promise you will never mention
It: | would not have him know | spoke
of it." etc.
You may rely on Newell, finish
and then?' etc.
''Well, and them and the voices
sank lower amid explanations of sur
prise, ScOrn and merriment.
Yes. it is certainly strange that when
woman takes off her tailOr-made gown
she lays aside her reserve, and in the
haze of the steam-rOOm unbOXeS her Sc
cTetS to her dearest friend, and whether
the friend considers the secrecy binding
when out in the sunlight, ''clOthed and
in her right mind" is a question which
admits of dubious answer.
Along came our attendant, brush in
hand. She was a tall, beautifully
formed young woman, with complex
ION like a blush rose, and oh. the
strength in her vigorous arms as she
put us through the scrubbing process
lcu us oliC dIlCl JIG OlllCls W d SllONcI
bath of graduated water from warm to
cold.
These attendants, by the way, are all
in perfect health, with unblemiShed
skin and without an ounce of Superfiu-
Gus flesh. They apparently thrive on
the hot air and vapor which they
breathe for five or six hours every day,
and, clad only in short, picturesque
linen tunics. are as happy lot of young
women as could be found anywhere.