The Washington critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1889-1889, 1889-05-29
LADIES AT'THE BATH.
Correspondence Of TIM cnlrlo.

New YoRK, May 2S.---I went into
fashionable Turkish bath the other day
and found that the American woman
is just rs enchanting there as she is
everywhere else.
A pretty woman is never more charm
ing than when she Is Just out of the
hands of the bath attendant. Her
cheeks are flushed, her moist hair
crinkles into the most irresistible little
curls and her eyes are brilliant with
the glow of exhilarution From the
corner Of the enveloping sheet there
comes glimpse of cleaning white
arm satin smooth. OF course, there
are unfortunate beings, who are not
things of beauty or joys forever" in
the bath. Unhappy mortals, whose
faces grow crimson and whose hair
grows stringy, but these are the ex-
ceptions.
never saw prcttier picture than
one that met my eyes, on stepping out
Of my dressing room, on my way TO the
bath
A beautiful woman, in the full bloom
of eyuberant health, lay stretched at
| full length on cushioned couch. Her
glorious red hair was spread out over
the pillow and hung in gorgeous masses
nearly to the floor. The dainty curve
of her elbow Just showed under her
head and her eyes were half closed.
AT the foot of the couch sat neat
| fresh-faced woman, with case of
shining instruments in her lap. In her
hand she held the rosy foot of the in.
dolent beauty, She took up a little fiat
instrument, shaped something like q
ail-polisher, and sprinkled 1t with
| powder,
Then she took the warm white in
step in firmer grasp and began to rub IL
| gently. When she touched the sole of
the foot the little pink toes curled up
| p1otestingly, but she held firmly on un-
Ill she had rubbed off all the calous
skin, and left the bottom Of the foot as
soft and delicate as baby's. She
gave 1t a caressing little pat as she re-
leased her hold. Then I saw that the
powder was pumice stone.
II should think II would make the
foot tender" said to her afterwarl,
"Oh, no, she said. mot when it's
carefully done"
left her at work on the other foot
and went into the first hotroom.
The lounging steamer chairs were
nearly all occupied with motionless,
recumbent figures, who looked in
their white sheets and Egyptian-like
head dress of folded towel, like
congregation of mummies. / found
an empty place and sat down.
In the chair next to mine sat woman
who must have weighed at least 200
pounds. She was evidently an old
stager, for she had brought novel, and
sat placidly reading. Now and then
huge drop of moisture fell on her book,
but she did not heed it. She sighed
deeply at intervals, but whether she was
affected by the book or the heat l could
not tell.
Opposite her sat sharp -elbowe1
damsel who gazed with evident envy at
the fat arms Of her vis-a-vis.
Three school girls, who had evidently
come together, were having Splendid
time," as they expressed it. They were
at that happy age when "life's joke
that's just begun and the least thing
let them off into peals of laughter The
sight of the weird, sheeted figures pass
ing to and fro never palled upon them,
and they went into silent convulsions at
every new arrival.
A plump English girl was talking to
the attendant.
Don't you get very thin in here? 2"
she said, with the peculiar rising infec-
tion which betrays the Briton.
mo, indeed" said the girl; I'VE get
stout, It's very healthful."
"StoutH p echoed the English girl,
why came here to get thinl I'll go
straight out" and she half rose. The
attendant hastened to assure her that
one bath would not increase her weight
TO any noticeable extent Besides"
said she, you're just right, now; you're
none too stout"
"oh, yes, | am, csaid the girl. Il
want to lose just sixteen pounds"
My attendant motioned to me here,
and ! arose and followed. II never
saw the Ike" she said; they're none
of 'em satisfied with the looks the
Lord gave them. They're always too
fat, or too thin, or too pale, or too red.
But half O. them only say that to get
little blarney about their figures"
After most vigorous scrubbing she
let me go, first rubbing me with rock
salt, She asked me If took the plunge.
"Of course" said /; that's the best
part of 1t. Doesn't everyone take that?"
Indeed they don't" she said. mot
one in ten can stand 1t"
That does not speak very well for the
vitality of the American woman. does III
| After o most refreshing plunge l
went into the slumber.room. On the
couches near mine were two women
who were engaged in the fascinating
| pursuit of discussing their friends
| What careless beings women are! Who
but a woman would talk scandal in a
| public room, without the least attempt
at Disgusting names? They spoke as
freely as though they were in their own
boudoir.
Near them were two girls whomI had
noticed in the hot room. One of them
was a fair, delicate creature, with an
innocent face and head and shoulders
like Psyche. She was the perfect en-
bodiment of sweet, girlish purity and
grace. Her companion was dark,
heavy-looking girl, whose face was
strangely familiar to me. but could
not remember where had seen her.
As was lazily trying to place" her
q maid entered with tray.
Whose order is this 2" she SAID.
ut Is mine,' said my Psyche, In a
sweet, flute like voice,
On the tray were two glasses. One
large, the other small. The large one
held creamy-loolSing liquid and the
smaller one tempting fluid with bit
of lemonpeel floating on top.
milk punch and whisky cocktail" /
heard the maid say as she balanced the
tray airiy on the palm of her hand.
Psyche handed the punch to her com
panion and tossed Off the cocktail with
evident relish.
That's very good G. T., she said,
| with fhn aip nf a nAnnniqaa1Ip 90 oil ha