The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-03-31
FREE PUBLIC BATHS.
A DEMAND FOR THE INSTITUTION
IN MANY CITIES

The editor of the Democrat at Daven-
port Io.-R. F. Tillinghast-Was in ST.
Paul last summer and saw how popular
the public bath system inaugurated by
DR. Ohage had become, and was more
than impressed and pleased with the in
terest manifested in it by all classes.
Recently Mr. Tillinghast read paper
on the subject of free public baths be-
fore the Contemporary club, of his city,
from which the following is taken:
According to all the light 1 have been
able to find, the world and the particular
part of it we live in is almost il not
quite as much in need of baths as of
books of water and soap i'll liberal guam
titles, as of art galleries, Of swimming
pools where all may plunge, as of parks
which are available for use but half the
time
II am not Indifferent to any institution
which makes for the public good 1t is
not easily possible to overestimate the
value to a community of free libraries
and reading rooms, of public parks with
free concerts in them, of all the express
sions that show the kinship of the peo-
pie They are ali worthy and absolutely
essential to the higher social balance"
But who would think Of building
museum before provision had been
made for an abundant supply Of pure
water or of putting the peoples money
into q driveway before the establish
ment of fire department? So when 1t
comes to paying out the revenue derived
from municipal taxation there must be
discrimination between necessities and
luxuries 1t does not follow, however,
that all necessities-those of the more
practical sort, I mean-are to be acquired
before considering the cultural, the orna-
mental and those which look toward the
cheerful side of life. A symmetrical city
is like a well balanced man. 1t is not
given to one-sided development.
"In further explanation of the posi-
tion taken in this paper it should be I'M
derstood from the first that the public
bath advocated is not summer play
thing for children or winter charity
for their elders. 1t is given the dignity
it deserves. that Of an educational IN
stitution. one which may properly be
made part of the public school system.
ore which would not be Inconsistent Or
incongruous if brought under the same
roof with library. The ultimate as we'll
as the immediate aim is the public health
and it's preservation. II any municipal
function transacts this III vital interest,
T must plead ignorance of 1t.
1--WE have thousands of toilers who
spend their days in the shops and facto-
rias. They live in modest, too often not
the most cheerful, homes. A bath will
uplift them, make them more selt-re-
speeding. A plunge after the day in their
dingy working places will be an inspira-
ton. 1t will invigorate, it will stimulate
ambition. All this can be demonstrated
beyond any question. 1t has been proved
as often as it has been fairly tried.
1.-The we'll TODD citizen in building his
home provides for his bath This often
comes before the library. But it is fact
that here in Davenport, with an abundant
supply of pure water, there is nothing
better than the private tub. This Is mad
eouate even in the best of homes. The pri-
yate home, however we'll appointed, can
not have the swimming pool.
''The need of improved conditions Is
urgent. Thousands among us suffer the
personal discomfort and moral de2ra-
dalton of want of cleanliness, at the
same time rendering themselves the more
liable to disease. So / put my claim on
the fourfold basis of wise public policy,
of health. of physical development and
of wholesome recreation.
Nothing more appropriate to cut In
stone over the entrance to such an inStl-
tuition as Davenport ought soon to have
can be found than this, which appears
above the archway of the ideal bath at
Brookline: "The Health of the People is
the Beginning of Happiness