The record-union., 1891-02-24

bath will be of greater pleasure or benefit
than IN Sacramento, and this fact all our
people realize.
Artificial bathing places were indices OF
generous civilization in earliest time. and
throughout the ages the most advanced
and cultivated communities have pro-
vided them, not only for the promotion
of the virtue of cleanliness, but for the ac-
quireinent of high accomplishments
swimming.
All animals, nearly, will swim when
cast into the water, except man. He must
acquire that with which dogs, eats, horses
and cattle are gifted by nature. His
higher intelligence begets fear, and hence
1t is necessary that he be taught self-reli-
ance and inspired with confidence. and
for these purposes it is proposed to es-
tablishs the swimming bath in Sacra-
mento. But besides being an accom-
plishment, and arm of defense against
drowning and therefore a necessity,
swimming is a delightful, developing.
health-giving and noble exercise and
sport.
Pompeii, it is discovered by the re-
moval of volcanic ash, and the uncover
Ing of the drift of more than eighteen
centuries, had its public baths; indeed.
though it was a small city, yet it devoted
an entire street TO artificial bathing places.
Rome set ali the world an example in this
matter, and her baths became the public
exchanges, where the foundations OF
States were laid, and the fate of nations
discussed and decided. The splendor of
the baths linger upon the pages OF his
tory, and we catch glimpses of their
magnificence and extent in nearly every
era OF her tairest annals.
At the East in our own country swim
ming baths are to be counted by the hun
dreds, and there is not in the land city
with one that could be induced to
oh of hn oft Of Noli
fornia have provided them, San Fran
cisco has two, and a third of immense
proportions is projected. Oakland has
commenced work upon the Piedmont
baths, and win presently be inviting us
to come there and disport ourselves in its
waters.
As a health promoter nothing is more
to be commended i'll the way of exercise
than the sports of the plunge bath. 1t is
the gymnasium of poor and rich alike: it
is the field to which youth by the gravi-
tation of buoyant nature inclines; it is
alike inviting to the strong and the weak:
ii adapts itself to all conditions, and is
the one pleasure that yields physical
profit to all who indulge in it, 1t is bet
ter for the people than monuments to the
dead, or memorials of the past-it is OF
the living present. for the hour, the day,
and the people Of this time.
We should not put ourselves in the
poSltion 10 envy Oakland, but by liberal
promotion of the Sacramento scheme be-
come Independent of even thought of the
delights of the bedroom of San Francisco,
as Oakland has been not inaptly styled.
The Sacramento scheme was born of pub
lie spirit: the Oakland scheme of private
enterprise. Our swimming bath is to be
the people's-albeit, it is to be so con-
Quoted that its immediate promoters,
those who subscribe the stock will be in
no sense losers. The idea is to do the
greatest amount of good possible to the
greatest possible number without the
limits of charity, and happily this can
be done. So the Sacramento bath will be
n model one and conserve the broades;
possible usefulness, and be source of in
finite pride to the people who erect it and
the people who enjoy it.
But the Oakland bath, since it partly
illustrates what is intended here. deserves
something more of notice in detail The