St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-01-25
Nr1u VopU Ian 90

w = 49, had just taken
~ her first Turkish
bath, and was in
great enthusiasm over her new-found
diversion. She was an ObServant little
woman, and her conversation showed
that little had escaped observation dur
Ing her novel experience.
''Do you know" she continued, II
haven't been in New York month yet.
but Eve made great discovery already.
New York women have clubs where
they can pass leisure hour, sip a glass
of wine. and exchange the latest gossip,
Just like the men. Perhaps you are
thinking that my discovery isn't a find
at all, and you've read all about these
women's clubs in the newspapers But
YOU can't have read about them. be-
cause I'm positive that l am the first to
discover them.
ssThe clubs | am talking about are not
formal and awfully swell affairs, or
ganized to elevate women and all that
sort of thing. They aren't organized at
all and haven't any name, and am the
first to speak of them as clubs. what
on earth are they, then? Well, I'll tell
YOU. The 'elubS' | am speaking OF are
the fashionable ladies' Turkish baths.
s.Ever Since 4 Have Been
in New York Mrs. Fourhundred-wh
was mammals roommate at boarding
school years ago--haS been very kind
to me and has taken great pains to
show me around. She moves in the
very best society in New York, and L
couldn't have better chaperone. L
was calling at her house last Saturday
afternoon, and after we had cahtted for
while, she asked me if I'd like to go
with her to a Turkish bath. Now, of
course, I'd read about Turkish baths
and was perfectly familiar with the
name, but confidentially hadn't
the remoteSt idea of what a Turkish
bath was like, or what happened to
those who went to one. didn't tell
Mrs. Fourhundred that, though, you
may be sure. | have learned a good
deal since [ came to New York, and
! one of the things | have learned is to
conceal my ignorance. So, just said
if there was anything was f0nd OF, IL
was Turkish baths.
.sShe said we'd better go about 3
O'Clock, and the carriage was ordered
for that hour. When the time came we
got into the carriage, accompanied by
our maid, and were driven to the baths.
There we dismissed the carriage. tell
ing the coachman to return at O'Clock.
COnfidentially, / Wondered
how we were going to spend as long a
time as two hours, but | said nothing,
and followed my companion into the
hallway. There was cosy little ele-
vator at the end of the hall, and
entering it we were translated, so to
speak, to the Turkish bath regions on
the top floor of the building.
There we entered room about as
large as an ordinary parlor, which
proved to be the Office of the baths.
The room was handsomely carpeted.
was furnished with a suit of parlor
furniture, and on the walls were sew
eral fine steel engravings. At one side
an office desk, behind which sat a neatly
dressed young lady. There was an
open book, like hotel register in ap-
pearance, in front of her. behind her on
| the wall was case OF numbered
| drawers or boxes, and near them was
key-rack with keys hanging from num-
bered nails such as they are seen at the
clerks desk in hotel.
II don't know whether my hos tess
suspected that wasn't as familiar with
| Turkish baths as [ had pretended to be,
but, anyway, she said, in matter-of-
course way, and not as if she were con-
veying information to me: 'Ihe first
for us to do is to register Whether
she knew it or not, this remark was a
| great relief to me. | was i'll dazed
condition by this time, and didn't know
| which way to turn or what to d0. 80
| her information was very welcome. L
mentally promised myself that l would
watch her very closely in the utterly
unknown experiences through which
we were to pass. and would copy her
actions infinitely. She took a seat in
front of the desk and wrote her name
in the book with pen which the
young lady behind the desk handed her.
Followed Her Lead,
and, in trembling hand, Pm afraid.
put down my modest little name. The
Young lady behind the desk had adj
dressed Mrs. Fourhundred by name as
she stepped up, and didn't even glance
| at her name on the book as she turned
| it around towards her and hastily wrote
down number opposite my chaperone's
| name.
"sWiil you have a ''double" room.
! madame?' she asked.
eyes. think we can get along in one
room, can't we? said Mrs. Fourhundred,
addressing the young lady at the desk
and myself at the same time.
| L
she was talking about, but l saw that l
was expected to say Yes and so l
| said 1t.
1.-The young lady took key from the
rack, and as she did so young woman
clad IN surprising costume entered
| and beckoned US to follow her. The
costume she wore was like a bathing
| dress, except that it was made Of ging-
! ham instead of flannel. 1t was cut very
| low in the neck and the skirt barely
| reached to the knees. Why on earth
she should wear such an arrangement as
| that on the top floor of house on the
middle of Manhattan Island | couldn't
make out. | held my tongue, though,
and followed the young woman with the
inland bathing costume. Mrs. Four.
hundreds maid bringing up the rear
We went to one end of the Office, where
there were a lot of little rooms par
titioned off, and were shown into one OF
was double room.
ssAs Soon as We Entered
| the little room Mrs. Fourhundred seated
herself in the sole chair and suggested
that / disrobe frsS Mechanically
complied with the assistance of hel
maid, and soon stood as Eve i'll the Gar
| den or Eden. MY DeWlldermenC was
manifest by this time, for my hostess
suggested that I'd better wrap the sheet
about me, handing me one which she
had picked up as she spoke. was very
glad to have some covering and i'm q
minute [ was enveloped in that sheet
from head to foot Mrs. Fourhundred
quickly followed my example, undressed
and donned sheet.
Then. leaving her maid in the apart
ment, she opened the door of the little
room and we sailed forth. | don'i
think I ever felt so ashamed of myself
as I did then, with a sheet wound
around my body going out into hall
way where we might meet other people.
| had gone too far 10 retreat, though, sc
meekfy followed. We did meetone o.
two ladies, but ~ey, too, were wrapped
up III sheets and did not pay any pAstic.