The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-12-30
BATHS IN TURKEY.
Our So-Called Turkish Variety is
Unknown in That Country.


as the Turkish bath known in
Turkey?" This curious condition is
not unfrequently put to travellers from
the east by people in this country. 1t
is true there is not much resemblance
I between the external appearance and
management of the so-called Turkish
bath in England and those of the
"hammam' in Turkey.
Outwardly the "hammam" usually
presents something of the appearance
of IA domed sepulchral editice. OF the
little domeS or Cupolas which rose from
it's roof that in the middle is the high
est, and is set with many small WIN
dows for the purpose of lighting the
bath. The massive walls that form the
sides of the "hammam' have no Win-
dows and it is thought that if the
walls We're pierced the outside air
would penetrate into the interior and
cause variations in the evenness of
Temperature which it is held desirable
to maintain. The interior thus often
becomes very close. as ventilation is
very slow. being only through the
opening by passers to and fro of the
double doors of the passage which
leads to the cool entrance hall. Every
now and then the attendants burn
frunkncense in the interior OF the bath
with the idea of purifying the air.
The great warm hall under the CEN
trul dome has generally three large
inches, two on each side and one in
front as we'll as two little chambers.
Each of these inches and chambers has
a roof in the shape Of n half hemis-
phere, which contains Il few tiny glass
apcrtures, and which is Joined to the
central dome. III all these inches and
chambers there are. according to the
size of the bath tub, two or three mar
BILE basins which are fixed in the low
part of the wall, each basin being pro-
vided with hot and cold water taps.
Round these basins people sit on mar
BILE or wooden seats which are raised
about five or six inches above the
floor: and seated thereon they have
their bath. The little chambers can be
engaged for private use on application.
The entrance hall is square shaped,
and has galleries running along on
each side in which are many beds. The
bath keeper is always to be seen in his
place close to the door, smoking his
pipe or nargulleh, and saluting the GUS
toners who come and go. In the mid
die of the entrance hall Is a fountain.
the pure and cold water of which is
ceaselessly plashing into its marble
tank. In this water fresh fruits and
bottles of lemon squash are kept cool
in summer time for the use Of CUSTOM
ers. Near it man may be seen al
ways busy making coffee on the char
coal fire, for most people are veryready
to take'a tiny cup of coffee at almost
any time of the day, Many of the
Turkish baths are built double, one
portion being assigned for the use of
ladies. In some places ladies go to the
bath only on certain days of the week
which are consecrated to them. Ger
tain baths, again, are used by them
every day until 7 o'clock in the evening,
after which hour they are made over
for the use of men. The charges are
very reasonable. A man can have a
complete bath. and may stay on the
premises of the establishment as long
as he pleases, by paying about Is. Sd,
Ladies' pay much less than this sum;
their expenses can hardly be much
over siXpenCe, as they take all their
own soaps, towels and clogs with them.
What they pay is really the "water
fee" and penny or two for the attend
ant.
A new feature which has been intro
duced to the old Turkish bath is the
cold water douche which it is becoming
customary for the pe"Nle to take after
their hot bath.