Evening star., 1902-03-22
AN ELECTRIC BATH.
A Lu1uary That Members of Congress
May Now Enjoy.

To be literally sprayed with electricity
from head to foot. rolled with an electric
roller. the wrinkles ironed out Of face ana
brow with an electric glass bulb as a fiat
iron. and to have the spark OF life impaired
to any particular section Of the anatomy
through wooden ball Is one OF the luxuries
which senator or representative in con-
gress can enjoy by simply descending In the
elevator to the magnificent marble bath
rooms at either end OF the Capitol. step
ping on to a zinc plate and ordering Chief
Electrical Engineer Gliem to turn on his
lightning"
The electrical adjunct to the legislative
baths is a comparatively recent addition.
and as yet seemingly few members have
learned Of its wonderfully invigorating
effect on tired legislator. Those who
have, however, are constant patrons, and
the static machine is creating for itself an
envfable reputation as a next morning
antidote. And for putting a member into
condition for speech in the Senate or
House 1t has no equal
The static machine creates its own cleo
trlcfty right before your eyes. The machine
In the House end stands in a small. marble
walled room. 1t is driven by quarter horse
power motor. attached, and stands in a
glass case. 1t consists of ten circular glass
plates thirty inches in diameter. These
plates. which are placed a little distance
apart. revolve on a single shaft through
Of double metal combs. with the tips OF
their teeth close to the plates. gather the
electricity as it is generated by the re-
volving glass. a positive and a negative
pole extend out of the case. A platform, in
sulated by being placed on glass legs.
stands near by. On this platform Is the
zinc plate on which the statesman stands
Over his head is suspended a round brass
crown which is connected to the positive
pole by a slight brass rod. The different
apparatus for administering the electricity
are at hand on a board suspended on the
WALL
The bath" generally proceeds in this or
der: First. the "chain shower''-two round
metal bars about eighteen inches long are
connected to the respective poles Of the
machine by a small brass chain. The elec-
trician holds a bar In each hand and holus
his hands about three feet apart. The
chain connects the two by running loosely
through a metal loop near the far end Of
the bars When the current Is turned
the one operated on has a sensation as Of
warm breeze blowing on him. .ne oath
Is taken with all the clothing on. but the
breeze seems to penetrate 1t as though
there were no obstruction. The breeze soon
changes to a warm. prickly sensation. The
hair begins to crackle like bunch Of Chi
nese firecrackers. and when the current Is
suddenly allowed to descend from the brass
crown also there seems to be a general
confla grafton in progress. However, there
is nothing violent or unpleasant expert
enced.
After the shower and head sprays. IL the
statesman is in a bad way from the might
before. he takes chair, and glass bulb,
not unlike an electric light bulb. but with
the big end fiat, is caressingly brought In
contact with his face and brow.
The current for this Is obtained through
Tesla coil, and produces very little sensa-
tion. A polished metal resembling a small
coupling pin Is the throat ironer, and
wooden ball, about as big as a base ball,
as the terminus to metal pole. acts as
mild distributor to any given locality while
brass roller irons pains out Of the bac6
or shoulders simply by rolling 1t along the
clothing.
1t only takes few minutes to take an
electric bath. but the results obtained are
said to be eQualed only by a summer va
cation.