The times., 1899-05-21
BEAUTY AND THE BATH.
MaSnificence of Old Rome Outdone
by Gotham.


New York, May 20-Modern art with
modern science, has done more for the
bathroom in newly built American pal
aces than for any other apartment. IL is
quite safe to assert that never before has
luxury-loving humanity known anything
10 equal the sumptuous little natatoriums
in such houses as Mrs. Pagets, Mrs. Ger
rvs. and dozens of others in New York
city. The prize bathroom is in the Gerry
mansion, on the corner of Sixty first
Street and Fifth Avenue. There are five
provided for the use of guests and family,
with two handsome ones in the servants
quarters; but to the daughter of the house,
Miss Angelica, belongs the exclusive JOY
OF the most beautiful in the lot. This is a
square room measuring about ten feet
each way, walled and floored in cream
white tiles, decorated profusely and grace
fully with violets. The door itself is over
laid with similar ornamented tiles. SO that
when it is closed the symetery of the walls
is preserved, and it requires sharp eyes 10
detect the way by which entrance and ex-
1t Is made. dome of heavy rosy violet
glass sheds all the light needed into this
cool, dainty grotto, and no tub occupies
any OF the fiowery floor space. Instead, a
portion of the tiling is slightly depressed
and here the bather stands to receive from
tubes. heavily plated with silver. a spray
or shower bath at exactly the temperature
desired -fef
In Mrs. Jules Vatable's new home, in
which the perfection of appointments is a
wonder even to the admirably housed New
Workers, the mistress own bathroom is a
little octagon chamber walled with mirrors
of the deepest. richest French plate, and
no fhn cha Nf
tai Joined that the room seems to be en-
closed with an unbroken sweep of silvery
reflection. One large mirror forms the
door, single sheet of glass covers the
ceiling, and all the basins, handles, etc.
necessary in the fitting and trimming off,
are done in cut crystal, while at night cut
crystal globes enclose the branches of
electric light.
A colonaded circular room, in pure white
and gold. is Mrs. Hugh Almeric FACETS
Roman bath. Charming nereids are sculp-
tured on the walls; by three steps the
bather goes down into an unusually large
bathing pool. into which water spouts from
dolphin mouths, and all the faucets. knobs,
etc, are mounted In the best silver gilt.
Though every convenience is supplied in
this natatorium, the air of antique SIM
plicity has been admirably preserved, and
one might easily believe it to be the bath
of a Roman princess in the days of ku-
gustus.
Mrs. ]. S. Moor is the happy possessor
also of a distinctive and beautiful bath
room. Here the walls, floor. tub basins,
etc, are all of the most polished pink
marble, and Diana, with her nymphs at a
forest pool appears on an admirably paint
ed ceiling canvas. Pink in the flowers ard
draperies prevail in the picture. and then
about Mrs. Moor's ample marble tub are
hung voluminous pink silk draperies. This
tub is cut in the form of a huge shell,
and sets high on dais of marble, while
the rosy curtains, lined with oiled silk,
can be drawn about the tYb to protect the
rest of the room when the bather wishes
to use the spray bath.