The record-union., 1896-10-25
MIXED BATHING.
Mrs. CranniS Sees No Improperly
in Il.
In Sweden the Bath Attendants Are
Women and it is All
Right.

When Mrs. Elizabeth 3. Grannis.
President of the National Christian
League for the Promotion Of Social
! Purity. was asked for her opinion on
the question of mixed bathing" which
is just now agitating England she fur
nished the following statement for the
Sunday World:
| The correlation of the sexes is, in NV
| opinion, one Of the main factors in the
future development, enlightenment and
Improvement of mankind; therefore /
can see no possible harm in mixed
| bathing" as it is called.
| To ma it seems almost impossible that
an American could object TO the custom
on American beaches. At the same
time L can readily understand that it
might seem to be improper in England.
for a great many of these distinctions
| between propriety and impropriety are
a question simply of country and eli
mate.
1t depends altogether on local customs
and traditions where the line is drawn.
The same thing that in one country is
considered not up to the standard Of
dignified propriety is considered proper
enough in another.
Look at the inconsistency of this non
sensical agitation about so trifling a
matter Now, why don't the moralists
of England look nearer England than
America before they rush so violently
into print and denounce the American
way as wrong.
BATHING IN SWEDEN.
How about Sweden? That is certain
ly Christian and civilized country.
There is no nation in Europe where the
standard Of morality is higher or where
the people on the average live better
or purer lives, and yet it is the custom
IN numerous Swedish steam baths to
employ none but women attendants. |
mean the baths Of the same grade as
the several excellent and reputable
| turkish baths for men in this city
Remember, the baths in Sweden are
| thoroughly respectable places and are
| patronized by the best class Of citizens
They are not resorts for the depraved
or dens of vice and debauchery. On
| the contrary, they are healthful and
| well-conducted luxuries
| Women are employed simply because
| they make better attendants. They are
| neater, quicker, quieter and generally
more efficient than men servants would
| be. They are also much more deft in
| giving massage. In way. they are
| physicians and are selected for their
| special fitness for the work, just as
nurses in our hospitals are selected.
| They are trained for their work much
the same as are nurses. Even in Eng
land they can see nothing out of the
way in having women nurses for male
patients and male doctors to attend
| women The difference between the
two customs is only a step.
NO IMMORTALITY IN SWEDISH
BATHS
| To be sure, in Sweden the male
| bathers are unclothed and the female
attendants are but partially clothed,
| yet, SO far as | can learn that fact
has not resulted in any known detri-
| ment to the morality Of the nation, as
| the women behave like automa tons
| am aware that they are limitations
| OF these Swedish baths right here in
New York but many of them are per-
maps, not run for any good purpose,
and are simply bait to lure the Curl
Gus and depraved
Of course, this Swedish custom is
shocking to a foreigner. and the fact
that 1T is so universally countenanced
and approved seems inexcusable
Now, why should our English cousins
create all this commotion about the
very sensible way in which we take
our ocean dips when there is mixed
bathing with vengeance on the great
northern peninsula right at her back
deer. Doesn't it seem far-fetched?
THE ENGLISH SYSTEM CRITI-
CISED.
l believe the English method of sep
aratlng the sexes is not only detri-
mental, unpleasant and uncongenial
should not go in the surf without be-
ing accompanied by men or women who
can swim. But l believe in their going
i'll anyway, and not being dependent
upon men if it is not convenient for men
to accompany them. The majority of
men are enough at home in the water
to rescue woman in danger, and so
are a great many women.
Then, again, under the English rule,
husband cannot teach his wife to
swim, nor brother his sister. I don't
believe in lovers going in with their
| sweethearts. 1t is simply absurd to
deny husbands and brothers this priyi-
lege and pleasure.
MIXED BATHING NOT DEPRAvING
| cannot see how mixed bathing in
public places, as a custom, can result
in any evil. Now and then there may
be individual exceptions, but they are
far outweighed by the benefit and
pleasure derived from it.
With this general association be-
| tween the sexes we would never hear of
| young girls running away with their
fathers coachmen, falling in love with
a waiter or disgracing themselves in
any similar manner. There would then
| be no occasion or temptation to do it,
There is only one phase of the asso-
Clatlon of the sexes that / object to or
believe results in any evil That is
fancy dances as they are danced now
in fashionable society.
Sensible people should aim to avoid
inconsistencies. Let US not watch for
errors on the beach so closely that we
become blind to the fragrant evils of
high teas, fashionable receptions and
cabinet banQuetS. The ultra -decollete
style of dressing is neither pretty nor
attractive. 1t caters to the low taste
of the participant and the observer I
cannot imagine anything in the unat-
tractive bathing suits so detrimental in
its effects as the indecent exposures AT
fashionable functions. - Elizabeth r.
GranniS, in New York World
The game of draughts made its an
pearance in Europe, it is said, about 400
years ago.
81 04to Uoncobon II I. E