The morning call., 1893-08-21
HOT AIR BATHS.
Novel Use of the Park
Conservatory.
People Who Perspire for Hours in
the Warm Pondroom for the
Benefit of Their Health.

To find the queer side of things in Golden
Gate Park one would hardly 60 searching
among the ferns OF the conservatory. But
it is a fact. nevertheless, that under the
glass roof there are numerous queer things
in flowers and exoties. and still queerer in
people who visit the hothOuSe.
Quite early yesterday morning man en-
tered the hottest room, in which the lily
pond is set. He carelessly admired the
ferns and foliage OF tOrrid cImes and con-
tinued admiring them indefinitely.
He was we'll dressed, if not fashonably,
his eye was bright and bespoke business
discreetness, and bis face an intelligence
above the ordinary. Before entering the
warm department he left a comfOrta BILE
overcoat outside. Then he simply waited.
No visible reason could be observed for
his patient waiting, and still he kept on at
his monOt0uOus vocation. That was in
the early morning before people be-
gan to arrive N Golden Gate Park. Three
hours later aud tie man with staying pro-
clivities was still in the house, then red as
a lobster and perspirng like fat indivd-
ual in Turkish bath. At last when it
appeared that he was beginning to dry up.
he dOnned his OyercOat and walked away
rapidly with brisk and airy step.
He is one of our sweaters" remarked a
workman in the greenhouse. "ue comes
out here often and always stops three
hours tn the hothouse. We talk to him and
find hin pleasant gentleman.
N what is sweater ?" asked an in
sstbystapdeT.
voluntary informant smiled rather
81 lusly.
b you come out here often enough you
WllfS0on learn" was his answer.
we have crowds of them" he contin-
ued, Who come to the con servatory for
swear. They take a hammam bath at the
expense of the Park Commission. This
-gedtieman is bo0kkeeper in wholesale
house. / never asked him his name,
though he takes hot bath every week
and talks to US every time he comes. He
says he walks home, takes n salt water
bath afterward, and tells us nothing does
him so much good as the three-hour
sweat"
What do the other people say?"
well. they say that it makes them feel
like athletes. and they would not miss it
for anything. Some of them bring out
books or newspapers and sit on the steps
for hours while they read and perspre.
Don't they ever catch rold?"
mo, they say not You know they
bring coats or mufflers aud walk fast after
going into the open air. Sometimes they
cool of gradually by going from one room
to another aud winding ND with a half
we'll as men among them, and they all
appear 10 think their plan is better than
doctors medicine. You can't see them
here on Sundays because the crowd is too
great, but almost every week day we have
visitors who take a Turkish bath. They
know what the regular hammam is. and
say that this does them more good.
I'm addition TO the effects of hot air on
the human system they claim that this
atmos here, impregnated with the odor
and gases of the FORA has a peculiar and
srecial medicinal effect on the organs,
tending toward buoyancy and strength,
and also soothing to The nervous system.
Zone thing has been noticed these pro-
pie as a rule do hot break or injure the
plants, and won't let other people pluck
anything"
Evidently the eccentric hot-air bathers
feel an interest in the conservatory and
are grateful for the effect its warm atmos.
phere has upon them.