The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-26
ORIENTAL BATH HOUSE
UNIQUE RESORT PROVIDED FOR IN
DIANAPOLIS WOMEN.
A st. CIair-Street Structure of the
Moorish Form of Architecture
Provided with a Pool.

In his Oriental bathhouse on ST. Clair
street just west of Illinois street, W. J.
Mather has provided for the women of In
dianapolis a desirable resort. The building
three stories in height, is after the Moor
ish form of architecture and has an attrac-
tive appearance with its fantastic windows
and porch in the center built behind Moor
1sh columns surmounted by circular arches
The house is in quiet spot and everything
outside suggests rest and repose.
Within doors the place is even more at
tractive and more than one Indianapolis
woman has looked with admiration on the
unique hangings and beautiful furnishings
with longing eyes. All of the floors are of
polished hardwood, the wainscoting and
other wood being of quartered oak. Enter
ing from the street the visitor is in a hand
somely appointed reception hall, orna-
mented with a broad stairway leading to
the upper floor A single rug of large pro-
portions partially covers the floor while
the furniture is of high backed colonial
style The hangings are in subdued colors
hamonizing with the sage green tint of the
walls. To the left of the hall is the recep-
ton room, the chief attraction of which
is large cozy corner with window seats
on three SIDES A handsome white tile
mantle ornamented with an Oriental clock
and bits of statuary in nices on either side
faces the door entering from the hall
Here, as in the hall, are more rugs and CO.
lonial furniture. Both are set off with
potted tropical plants. Immediately to the
rear of the reception room is a large ap-
partment with private dressing rooms. each
provided with comfortable touches for the
beauty sleep after the bath.
To the right of the dressing room is the
Turkish room-the apartment on which
the most care has been lavished The room
is of ample dimensions. It's walls are tinted
in the rich hues of the color known as
Turkey red" About it are great touches
with Turkish draperfes. On the floors are
a Turkish lamn is he
burning.
Behind the two rooms last described are
the hot room, Vapor rooms, shampoo
rooms and the plunge bath The plunge
bath is provided with a pool about sixteen
by forty feet, the water in which is from
three and a half to six feet deep. 1t is
reached at one end by flight of white tile
steps for the use of bathers who are too
timid to dive in from the deeper end. The
floors of the plunge room are laid in white
encaustic tile while the pool itself is tiled
throughout with glazed tile of the same
color White marble slabs are placed in
the shampoo room, each of which is pro-
Vided with a shower.
Every convenience that can be thought
of is provided for the patrons of the place,
and Turkish, Roman vapor and all forms
of indicated baths are given under the
supervision Of skilled attendants MANY Ia
dies of the North Side have already visited
the baths which have been open about two
weeks The house is furnished throughout
under the direction of Mr.. Mather's wife
who has been complimented on the good
Until this house was built there was no
public bathhouse to which the ladies could
go. Mr.. Mather has conducted the Turkish
baths at the Masonic Temple for several
years The forenoon of each day was re-
served for ladies, but many who would like
TO have taken advantage OF them, objected
to the publicity OF the place. Since the new
house has been built many ladies have ex-
pressed regret that it was not provided
SOONER. Nearly $4,000 will have been ex-
pended on the building and furnishings by
the time everything is in place. Mr.. Math-
er expects to make considerable improve
n1ents in the downtown place this summer.