Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-20
a Chat fin a Turkish Bath.

From the Chicago Record.
What becomes of the society woman on
Friday? has always been about as much Of
a mystery as what becomes Of snow birds
I'm summer? Aside from the comparatively
small number who drop in on a musical or
attend some little club reception. scarcely
an echo remains Of the gayeties which pre-
cede hangman's day. Now however a part
at least of the mystery is cleared UP. They
go to the Turkish bath.
They go in quite different spirit from
the men. Men go because they must Ii Is
a sort OF duty or necessity with them.
Women go for recreation and gossip. Not
gossip in its vulgar sense. but just for a
good. free. comfortable chat.
Men drop in singly and are usually silent
and sullen. Turkish baths are a great place
for reflection. Women go in parties.
Yesterday number of prominent west
side women were missed from their homes.
They were traced TO the Turkish baths. An
excursion through this palace. below the
level of Lake Michigan, discovered as many
congenial spirits from the north and south
sides. Discreet groups of white-robed fig
ures sat or lounged about in easy attitudes.
An intelliglble word now and then found
its way beyond earshot of its own group.
Two rosy-cheeked girls-all women grow
rosy under The seductive influence of
sioe by side in the cooling room. Ii was
not easy to decide just who or what they
were. From their conversation IL was GER
tain that they did not have as much money
they would like TO spend. But that sig
mites nothing. No girl ever has.
They talked about tire January sales" In
the big shops, while a maid stood at the
head OF each drying and brushing her hair.
Il wish 1 had saved up all of my pin
money for a year ahead. so that could buy
everything 1 see" Girls have that extrav-
agaEt way of talking. But they under
stand one another as perfectly as an old
hen does her chicks
Il wish had not bought a single Christ
mas present'-from the other-"when 1 see
everything. so lovely and so cheap" Ac-
cen5 on the cheap
DO you know what / was wishing the
other day?'-this in stage whisper An
inquiring, encouraging look from the other. =.
We'll, l was wishing that. just II such a
thing could be, you know-but OF course It's
too terrible-I know il never could be-" An
encouraging nod. Il was thinking that IL
only man could with propriety give TO the
young lady the money, some of II. that he
spends on her for dinners. flowers and car
riages You See" this daring maiden hur-
ried on. this year | divide my own allow
ance and give nearly half Of it TO different
Yes" said the other that would be .
state of things. But. now you have con-
fided in me, j will tell you an awful thing
which I thought about just at Christmas
time. Really. [ got so many Christmas
presents that didn't suit me: many of them
were duplicates of things ] had already.
And do you know 1 wanted to sell those
things"
The first maiden sat straight up on her
divan. She yanked her hair clear out OF
her maids hands and brought tears TO her
staring eyes.
But you"
mo. Of course didn't do IT, but II made
me feel wicked. 1 sat and looked at silver
toilet articles and quart bottles Of cologne
and thought how much they would bring.
At holidays one needs so much money!
Well. I finally put the things on the top
shelf OF the closet. and there they will re-
main for Some time"
BY this time most OF the matinee bathers
had finished their toilets and disappeared
into the cafe ABOVE. And the two msldens
were left talking to each other over the
partition between their dressing rooms.