Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-08-18
WHERE BOYS BATTLE.
Places In the RiYer 10 Which Our Young
Swimmers Resort.
y,Yo>.s PONDS AND MANY LAKES
Take Your Choice Between merry
Heaven. He'll. Rainbow. soda' 'h'"
Deep, Dutchman's Wr"c"' """
snIIy HocL-Pubiic Bnth-h""'''
..re.n % NV fnlhers, sweetly still.

Sally uocl.-pubIic Bnth-IIouse.
| Stream OF my fathers! sweetly sum-
The sunset rays 'hy valley M al.
Poured slantwise down the long ueiie,
Vave wood. and spire beneath 'hem
smile. u.,.t,,to,
Many heart IS sIaddened at the pros
meet Of strictly frs,-olass public pain
bousc being erected In Richmond. ana
all Will unite In rendering our enterP''s-
ing councilman what aid we can IN MS
thoughtful scheme. Ii erected IN
! convenient locality. and made strlcty
| nrst-olass. It will prove great blessing
to the people OF this city. and meet WIN
! the hearty approval 81 all.
! More than A dozen cities In he United
| States can boast Of their lighthouses
/ and swimming schools. both public ana
private. where one confined and rtpned
m I'm the hot town can take a refresh
ir. bath when the hour Of toll Is over. In
these cities. spring doesn't open with
sad drowning; for here the i1eXperi-
ercel can 20 10 elegantly-equipued and
we!l-managc schools. and receive tho
rough training under competent instrLc-
tors for a mere compensation. Yet. Rich
mond with her .-any thousands mas
never deemed II necessary 10 have such
luxury; but. no doubt II We wee Ilegs't
with such. the small boy and many others
would still adhere 10 the oil historic
James and seek the dangerous holes
with which Il is filled. ard 81 is this of
which the writer wishes to speak--the noble
James ana its May pools which coust-
tute the greater part OF our bathing
spots-the baths Of Richmond.
The rich may be given the power T.
surround themselves with luXuries. ami
have their fine. private baths. but The
small boy can derive more pleasure from
a dip into the placid waters OF the James
than he could find IN the finest Of III So.
He IS not the only freqUenter 81 these
parts. and when the days work Is done
YOU can see his larger brother and I'm
all probability his father. vending their
way towards one Of the dozens II places.
and. l am sorry 70 say. Sunday IS a lead
ing day with this class Of hathers.
OUR ONLY BATH-HOCsE.
From the Bel,-I.ine bridge 70 Nay9's
Island VIII be- found the haunts Il the
truant boy. and from the Wharvos 20
prawry's creek the rest seek s-ciu.i0n
whore IL IS too public iJr the
suitless Iathsr. IS Richmond's nearest
approach 70 a public hath-house. This is
In its second year OF existence. ami takes
vary favorahly with the public. Here. in
4 placid stretch Of water. tiTei by rs
battling. rejoicing IN having outwitfed
the mighty barriers. and resting before
taking another mad rush down !ss tor
tuous race 20 the sea. is Wcs'mln's hath
house. whore an hour can zoe Wei spent
and nice bath enjoyed. A. stated
above. this f. The nearest appyolon -
public bath In this. our dear CID Rich
morl.
Bathcrs Of both sexes frequent the bath.
and separate days or hours ere set arart
for each Every day finds the proprietor
husily engaged I'm ACCOMMODATING visit
ors from I'm the morning until II O'Clock
AZ night. Ladies' hours are on Mondays
Wednesdays. and Fridays II each week
. 10 o'clock the first TWO. and 20
on the latter. GentlcW 20 are admitted
during these hours If in company with
ladies, otherwise they are MOI.
The remainder Of the wesk IS set apart
FOR men and boys. sunday enjoys the
largest patronage. The proprietor In
formed me that he would probably be
closed on Sundays hereafter. as MS VEGA
ton came in contact with Major Howard
orders. but" said h., Il won't mind il
in this late day. as tn season IS uefrirg
an end" The swimming pool prcpcr is
. feet wide and - feet .ons arl at
high tide IL 10 u feet de-p. low tide.
> 20 ~ feet deep, being arranged so
as - rise and fall with The tides ID the
river. On the north. west. ana south
side are 20 be found the dressing Yo0ms-
Il in number. These are built Ulon five
box and about p or 80 barrel Heats.
The structure les in close proximity TO
the north side Of MayO's Island and is
approached by smaf bridge. one can
enjoy Il good bath at a small cost, and
remain In as long as they wish. ana
while IL only costs the small boy tile sum
Of j. cents TO battle and frulic On the
spring boards. and an S-hour stand from
: in the morning until 3 o'clock T. NJ.
provided he has his own suit. yet he
VIII rather take himself - some more
secluded spot and while away hts tine
because there he can enjoy his freedom
and natures works Of beauty, and care
say that nowhere I'm the whole course
OF the James. from the Inion q the
Jackson and the C0wpasture TiveIs 10
Hampton Roads. can there be- found such
enchanting scenes as the falls II this
point AFFORD. Here is waterfall, there
a sublime vista. whore the noble James
has cut its way through the rocky barriers
which stcmmed its course; everywhere
views which are enhancing and be-
witching.
OVER IN NIXON'S PONDS.
Engaging a boat at the foot Of south
Ninth street a trip was made 10 what
are known as Niyoh's Ponds. which are
next in prominence 20 Westmans. and
which lie just between the southern
railway and the Free bridge. The boat
man, who proved 10 be the regular ferry
man, took me over in company with a
party Of youngsters. varying IN age from
. TO To- who were "a bright and merry set
and laughed and chatted all the way
Fares, please" said the ferrymin. and
with a mighty plunge the youngsters
went down deep into the pockets Of their
trousers, pulling forth their hard-earned
nlckels while a little fellow handed over
pennies, and paid for his round trip.
Pocketng the shining shekals, u smile
Of approval spread over his weather
beaten face. and the fcrrymln, with one
desperate plunge, drove his bOat-pole to
the rocky bottom below. sending the boat
far into the swift stream. IL was bat
the work OF few minutes before we
had crossed the swift current. and found
ourselves entering Il peaceful little bay.
only TO disembark upon the shores OF
Heirs Island. which is the principal land
ing TO Nixon's Ponds Not far from the
water Is a comfortable dressing-room FOR
tho more modest. but most Of the young
sters stopped upon the rocks, and. with
lightning like rapiiity, dlsrObcd them
selves and plunged into the cool. refresh
ing water Of Cherry" Most Of the
ponds. as they are called. have Il separate
and distinct name, and lie south Il Heli's
Island. with the exception OF Heaven"
and Hell" These are At The extreme
eastern portion OF the island. and jest In
the rear OF Haxairs mill.
Heaven" is rough. as IL Is. though