Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1890-05-10
GRE AT MEN IN TUBS.
The Capt. OILS Luxurious Bath R ooms
for Conpressmen.

saturda y is wash-day in the House,
that is, it is the day when all the mem
bcrs take their baths, says Washington
letter to he New York Commercial Adj
ycrtiser. Some there may be who bathc
oftener til an once week, but they oil
bathc on Saturday When they come
out of the marble tubs, get into the
sweat pona and are rubbed down, they
are spraye,l with cologne without cost
md come out as fine as a fiddle.
The bath rooms of the house have
been greatly enlarged. They are stu
atcd down in the basement, where
stcam-heatlng apparatus keeps the at
mospherc mt an even temperature. Soft
carpets are laid along the stained floor,
and on eithe side of the narrow corridor
arc nine batl,-rooms, most of which arc
as large as an ordinary bedroom lighted
by electricity, carpeted and furnished
with suitable toilet articles.
Most et the tubs are OF very large size,
cut out M solid blocks Of marble, and a
showcr-b ath arrangement is attached TO
each tub. Lately, tVo or three old
fashioned tubs have been replaced by
modern nes, and one room has been
fitted up With chairs, table and lounges
where men bcrs may smoke or dream
away half a hour after the bath.
This little room is so arranged MS to be
as cosy as p ossiblc, and its subtcrranean
location, its privacy and comfort have
made it fav pritc resort for members who
want to hold conferences or exchange
secrets which it will not do to whisper
above ground. No voice could ever pen
citrate from this Place to the upper air
and no one could t-Yer find these gentle
men, hid so far 1nGlcr the ground. The
only way to reach.::it from the House is
by means of the. elevator. A Senator
who says that he has tried all the baths
in Europe and A herica .pronounces this
the best of all. The member takes his
place in one Of thu, marble tubs and an
attendant adjusts the temperature of the
room and tcmpers the water to suit his
pleasure. Then, wi III delicate and scented
soaps. the states man is lathcred and
scrubbed and rolled and tumbled, put
into n marble tub end left to soak with
his head Just above water until all the
fumes of tobacco AID the recollection Of
the last nights di amer are soaked out OF
him: then he is rubbed down with crash
towels. and, if he desires, he can get into
the steam BATH Afterward he can go
to the longing room and stretch himself
upon the soft upholstered couch, to
smoke or tlrouse, forgetfnl of all the af-
fairs of State that weigh upon his brain.
Congress provides all this for its own
comfort. 1t has paid for these rooms and
has fitted them up. Two men are en-
ployed as keepers of the bath, and all
the towels and soaps are bought by
g Uncle Sam" Bay rum used to be
furnished for bath purposes at govern
ment expense, but this is no longer done
The keeper of the bath, who gets
salary of $72O year, buys this cologne
himself, and the members pay him for il
or not according to their liberality. II
some fail to give him the tip, Others
over.pav, so that the balance at the end
of the month is not against him, and the
supply OF perfume is not cut off.
Members not only get their baths free
of charge. but they have a chiropodist.
BY his delicate skill he keeps the feet Of
Congress free from pain, and the foot
prints left in the sands of time may beai
witness of his skill.-[Commcrcial adj
ycrtiser.