The record-union., 1891-08-28
Some Very sensible Remarks.


EDS. RECORD UNION: I was wit
ness, impartial l hope, to scene at the
Swimming Baths Wednesday evening,
the only Importance Of which is in the
lesson it teaches concerning rights,
duties and courtesies of the baths. Some
young and middle aged men were sport
ing i'll very shallow water. Led 10y the
eXhuberance OF animal spirits to too
boisterous conduct by their tumbling
and leaping and jumping in broad-sided,
they rendered it uncomfortable to others
who did not wish to be constantly
splashed. Among these were ladies with
escorts trying TO learn to swim. One
showing her dislike and great discomfort
at the splashing, the group Of sky
larkers being so large as to occupy too
much shallow space, which is all that
non-swimmers can use. Thereupon the
superintendent interfered, and told the
rompers to moderate their sport and
cease splashing so as to incommode
others. Then followed some hot words
and long conference, in the midst of
which an officer was called in. But it
all quieted down and the checked romp-
ers retired. 1t was unimportant, l say,
except for the value it has as experience.
1t was what might be looked for when
excitement carries rOmperS beyond the
limit of consideration for others.
The rule with ali bathers should be
that the same behavior shall be main
tanned as in any other public place Of
good repute is demanded. In shallow
water swimmers properly come to rest.
and engage in reasonable sport. But
when this is carried to such extremes,
as was true of Wednesday night when
the Superintendent iuterfered, it becomes
nuisance, though evidently the rompers
did not, in their excitement, realize it.
Shallow water is provided for the com
tort OF those who do not swim and wish
TO learn. 1t must not be monopolized to
their exclusion, nor will gentlemen hav-
ing the rights of others in mind, so carry
on their sport as to splash" or duck"
those not engaged in it, or so as to pre-
vent them, by agitation of the waters,
from using them.
The rompers Wednesday night were
wrong. but, Of course, unthinkingly so.
L have been trequenter of all lead
ing bathing tanks IN this State, except
one. 1 have been in many in illinois,
New York and other parts, and in the
Southern Continent, and nowhere have
L ever heard bathers object to being
checked for excess of sport.
L think diving in the shallow parts,
splashing and jumping in to make great
splaShes and such conduct in the shallow
places when the tank is well filled, is i'm
proper and ought to be prohibited.
These baths are a great blessing, and
the men who conduct them ought to be
encouraged and aided and not hindered
by the ideas of people who want things
each his own way. The constantly flow
ing, daily renewed, soft and sparkling
water, is better than l have ever seen or
used III any fresh water tank except one
| in South America. 1t is great tempta-
| ton, indeed stimulant, to sport in it,
But the thing is new, new 10 our peO-
pie, and some friction is natural, until
experience teaches, and the rule of the
bath becomes as well known as the rule
OF the road. Let swimmers and non
swimmers remember that the simple
and one rule is, behave in the bath to-
ward the rights of others as you would
in the street, or theater, or other public
genteel assembly, and never monopolize
the bath to the discomfort of others 1t
is not and cannot be ''free-for-all cir
Gus" without limit; it is a space for rea-
sonable healthful exercise by people of
good manners. All of which is the ad-
vice of an EXPERIENCED BATHER,