The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-19
Ii Is Only i'm Recent Years that New
York Has Done Anything for
Its .sUnwashed Masses"
LADIES DAY AT THE BATHS
THEY HAVE Fun on MONDAYS,
WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS.
Children of the Poor ReveI i'm the
water-How They Are Cooled
Hot Days.

stan Correspondence OF the Journal
NEW YORK. July l7.-Although New
York city is almost entirely surrounded by
water and is visited by constantly recurring
seasons of almost unbearabe heat, IL has
been only within recent years that system
of free swimming baths has been organized
for the benefit of the suffering poor. Fifteen
years ago the 'unwashed masses" enjoyed
little opportunity for a river or ocean bath.
The law told them. in no uncertain terms.
that they would get into trouble If they
attempted to go a-swimming on the sly in
any of the waters that are open TO the pub
lie view. There was always a restraining
hand outstretched whenever a sweltering
mortal. overcome with Irresistible i'm
pulse. threw off his outer garments and took
a plunge into the inviting stream from an
East Side pier.
Previous 10 the time that the free-bath
system was inaugurated the policemen in
charge of the docks found that their lot in
life not easy one during the summer
months, for the small boy-and ofttimes the
small boys grown-up relatives-insisted
upon taking a swim, in spite of everything
and regardless of consequences. II was an
other case of stolen fruits. and doubtless
these stolen fruits, like all Others were
sweet enough while they lasted. but IL was
pretty hard on the swimmer when he
climbed out of the water on TO the dock
only TO find blue-coated officer of the law
standing guard over his clothes and asking
him to hurry up and put 'em on. SO as TO
hustle to the police station"
The big city at last awakened TO a realiza-
ton of the necessity of affording the over
heated and perspiring masses a chance 10
take advantage of the delights offered by a
rolling surf or a smooth beach. In 1890 two
free lighthouses were started-one at the
foot of East Fifth street and the other at
the foot of Bethune wharf. They were en-
tirely free. the bathing suits being supplied
by the Department Of Public Works. which
had taken charge of the movement. With
each succeeding summer new bathing
places have been erected, until to-day there
are sixteen floating baths,' as they are
called, dotting the water front on both the
East and West sides, beginning at one
hundred -fifty-second street and ending
at the Battery. A new bathhouse at Bat
terry Park was thrown open to the public
this week, giving thousands OF residents
of the lower part Of Manhattan convenient
opportunity to take a plunge without going
uptown or to the shores of the East or
North rivers. 1t costs the city of New York
something over $500 a year TO build and
fully equip bathing place. Each one of
the lighthouses is supplied with male and
female attendant and large stock OF bath
ing suits of all sizes.
HAVE LADIES DAY.
On Mondays. Wednesdays and Fridays a
large placard attached to the front OF the
bathhouse announces Ladies day" All
other days OF the week, including Sunday
from o'clock until noon. are ieyoted TO the
men and boys. The baths arc always more
crowded on gents days" than when the
fairer sex is holding sway. During the
cent hot spell in New York all of the free
bathing places were crowded TO their ut
most capacity from early morning until 10
o'clock in the evening. Upon occasions such
as this. when the bathing places are filled to
overlooking with perspiring humanity. the
bathers are allowed to remain twenty min
utes only in the water. in order TO make
room for other bathers. and throughout the
day and evening the patrons OF the baths
so into the water in groups Of one hun
dred or more. according to the capacity of
the houses. and leave the water together at
the ringing of a bell.
1t Is indeed an interesting sight TO visit
one of these free bathing places on a scorch-
ing hot day. especially in the afternoon.
when the children of the poor arc enjoying
one of the greatest treats that ever comes
their way. There is no doubt in the world
that these little people from the tenements
learn to swim In much shorter time than
do the children OF wealth and luxury. You
will benold, to your amazement tiny
chap of six years-a mere bit of humanity
i speeding with a bold, overland stroke
through the waves. floating TRANQUILITY on
| his little back where the water is deepest
| and doing stunts" as he loves to call his
acrobatic antics, from the spring board. The
| children OF the poor seem TO take TO the
water naturally and rarely have TO be given
more than two or three lessons in SWIM
| ming. The boys love the sport so much
that they are apt to stay in the water too
long and the attendant is kept busy watch
ing for symptoms of chills. when the bather
| is Immediately ordered TO ''get out and put
on his clothes.
| The free baths are becoming more and
more popular with each new summer
son. The attendance at the baths during
the recent spell of unbearably hot weather
| broke all records. Seven thousand young
sters took dips In the baths at the foot OF
East Third street in the course OF single
day. Three hundred bathers every twenty
/ minutes was the rule. and the capacity
| of the place-one of the largest public baths
/ of New York-was tested 10 the limit from
/ early morning until long after 10 O'Clock
/ at night. the usual closing hour. This Third
street bath is most convenient TO the tene-
ment districts. ard that is the explanation
/ for the enormous number OF patrons there
| On this same torrid day there were inn
nense crowds at the public baths at west
! Eighty-second street. West Thifty-hfth
street. East One-hundredth street, West
! One hundred-and-twelfth street. West One
hundred nd-ifty-second street and Vest
/ Thirteenth street. Rather than await their
turns for baths i'm the public institution
many Of the little fellows OF the tenements
fed from the hot streets and oven-iike
houses TO jump into the water at ANY old