The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-31
BATHING THAT IS LUXURY.
NEW YORK WOMEv ADOPTING CTS
TOMS or ANCIENT ROME.

FIOWeft NOW EOphhNf INV Nt'h
and Fashion abie-Chlidrep, Too, and Old
Folk Frequently Seen Mt the Turkish
Bathing Establishments OF tho City.
The Turkish bath habit has won place among
the fads Of the New York woman, and appears
TO be running neck and neck with the woman's
club as n time consumer. Al least, that Is the
impression one obtains by frequent visits to GER
tain wcll-known Turkish baths for women. For
more than a year, this particular establishment
has given New York the distinction " possessing
the finest baths for women In the United States:
and, in that year, the PROJECTORS knowledge Of
feminine character has been justified
"Ifa thing is to take with women who have money
TO spend, IL must be chic" he said, and he proved
his point By changing the Turkish bath for women,
which was, formerly, rather a fororn perform
ancc, 10 u luxurious function. with numerous
incidental opportunities for self Indulgence and
money spending. lie didnt lose any of his ascctic
worshppcr Of cleanliness or his rheumatic and
nervous patients, and he gained n carriage ellen
tc!c that makes the street in front Of the baths
suggest an afternoon reception or an matinee.
IL was social innovation much commented
upon several years ago that gave the philosophy
cal proprietor his suggestion A well-known
woman gave Turkish ba tn pa rty at his old cstab
lishmcnt. and. after the women had gone on to a
dinner and dance. and the bathrooms were dc.
serted the deus OK machina entered, sat down
among the scattered flowers and violet scents.
and lost himself in ufish thought" when he
came out Of the trance, he said To the pier glass:
why not more Turkish bath parties" The
pier glass, having seen grcn, many surprising
things that evening didn't offer any argument,
and that's how 1t all came about. The old rooms
were torn out Marble and onyx aud nickel
plate replaced tin and iron and lead in the plumb
ing. Hard wicker and leather and iron cots
gave way 10 luxurious diyans: velvet carpets
and oriental rugs and thing showed aside ocloth.
Effective hangings, soft lights and mirrors were
scattered about promiscuously. Private rooms.
with accommodations for luncheon parties were
provided. Then the women were left Ia do their
part, and they did IT, Now Turkish bath pa rites
are a. common as matinee parties Indeed.
the two go hand in hand; for every Saturday
morning, the bathrooms are flied with women
who come IN groups Of two or three or four take
their baths and massage. have their hair dressed
and their nails manicurcd, and then. appropriate
the diyans In one Of the private rooms rest and
gossip. have luncheon served to them. and finally
make lcislrcly toilets In time for the matinee
Sometimes, the party is mutual affair and each
member pays her own expenses but the same pco-
pie meet at certain hour each week More often
some one woman eDtcrtains the others and the
entertainment is elaborate. according 10 the host
css's INCLINATION aud income. The matinee girl
chicken salad or there may bc huge punches Of
NlOlcis on the pillows Of each diyan. and an cpl.
cutcan luncheon served on the little tables Flowers
have become quite n feature Of the bath. There
was a time when n Turkish bath was something
occult aud mysterious referred TO only ia whispets
ana iudulgcd III with SENSATIONS 81 guilt but that
tim" Ia past. So II a woman dcyucS certain
morning or afternoon each week 10 the Turkish
bath her friends are likely 10 know II, and IL Is
quite the proper thing 10 send flowers 10 her at
the bathrooms. When she has been steamed and
secured and plunged and massagcd and per.
funcd, she snuRglrs down upon n couch with her
NlOlptS roses anu uuygA and dreams Arab
ian Nights sort 81 comfort aud the relaxation does
more f"r her nerves than all the tones that could
According To the hath attendants, however.
the women think more about their complications
acme II every wOm0n : desire and there $ a theory
ahpHi 10 the elect that steam and water and mas
sage, applied t. The whole, body VIII do more
i"f The complexion than all the cold cream and
cosmetics on the market Hence these bathcrs.
Mn" out VI ten women, says "a bath attendant.
come ~ US in the hope II improving their com
pcNipns They stay with uS because their skin
! does improve aud bccausc they learn to enjoy
, the baths and depend upon them instead Of mcdi
! cine, We have almost all the actresses mud sing
| ers They have tu use cosmetics in ,hrir pro.
! irsrion and they know the things will ruin their
skin ~ not often thoroughly removed SO they
} come here and take an extra dose Of the steam
Z room That opens inc pores 81 the face and
/ takes ont all the paint aud powder aud that sort
I 81 thns pi course those professional people
, think great deal ABOUT the figures. too, and
! the baths an, special Massage keep them in shNIc
ana then. any one whose work is u yous strain
needs just such relaxation rs the bath gives"
isn't there danger q! too great relaxation
That's a bugabup. there is danger II one is
| subject t. heart disease. hut none even then II
| proper precautions are taken md the baths are
employment al bath attendants who do not know
J their business y" wumon with chrome and
/ VI lnnunCcd heart trouble has any right to take
, Turkish baths without warming the attendant
I or bringing doctors prescription: but, on the
. uiH'r mana. an attendant should watch her rs.
tent carefully end should be competent To- detect
. the slightest symptom III danger We do not
employ any woman here who has n" taken u
. CrrtheG course in massage and electrical treat
ment ana most 81 our attendants have taken
/ at least part oi ~" cours" required of trained
| nurscs We Try H. give regular patrons the same
attendant csch tnc. So that the Isrcr mny und, ?.
stand the care icr!ectlS. With strangers We
eNcIcsc the greatest care, md n, the leas, sug.
! Gcstion Of exhaustion, whitening nt the lips
take the patient out Of he heal and give S s slim
drcH. We do not allow any cxtreu'c degree OF heat
10 IL apI lied; Hnd often. We omit the steam room
s%Ss sSsre, and nr. ' Smr% To" III.
! stand the shock and we do not take amy licences
There have been cnscs % hear, trouble in Turkish
baths. but not $" many. as al dances and on the
streets: and, because % the precautions there is
You s;pokc q old peopic. ID YOU have any
" 'Do we We? Wei. rather. Any numbr Of them
On" 81 years I'd comes here every Thursday,
, Sh" saws her Turkish baths and her Grauichi
drcn are the greatest pleasures she has in life
Her doctor brought her here first Ia bc treated
| The old lady had Ia hr carried in from her err.
, riakc Now she comes irntting In. with her maid
! as m"rrily as You please hasn't had a touch
81 rheumatism for two years, and does more al
yrrisinE for us than our regular agent. Sh,
gave her Little granddaughter n bath party here
| last month--hni six little tois about or 4 yrnr,
| old andihcy had the greatest lark imaginable
| YOU ought 10 have seen them ~ i'm in the pool
The grandmother ORDERED lovely lunch for them
and Ind the cuicsl ii" dolls done M in sheets -
| Turkish bath fnShlUn-for souvenirs and then
| sent them all oil with the gOvcrnrss"
The number Of children who 20 regularly to th,
| Turkish baths is surprising, A large pcrcrn
tagc II them are sent hccaus" their mothcrs be
licv" is good for their general health: rad nllrs,
who bring them, urn them over TO the attendants
| with signs 81 relief But still more slrpris me-
than thr number 0f healthy children sent ~ th'
baths, Is the NUM- her Of them taking the baths as a
| curc for rheumatism md nervous trnuhlrs
| II don't know whether the condition IL new
| said the attendant, "ur whether the same &, ndi
lions have existed for n LONG time and nnlY r.
! course 10 the bath treatment IN new; but II Is Il
fact that. within the lasl few years We have had
a most astonishing number Of chdrrn. often moi
| more than two ~ ;hrr" wears old, brought To us
| suffering seriously from rheumatism and nrrvnli,
| diseases. I'm inclined 10 think that great deal
81 the trouble IL hereditary, hu, Uf our doctors
insists that nin"tcnihs Uf Il IL due 10 thin. SOlcI
.l.,tIt