New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-29
BROOKLYN'S FIRST Bath.
Public Accommodations Opened Yes
terday-TRree More to FolIozC.

The first O. TIE four public baths that vii event
ually fail to the share OF Brooklyn Borough out o.
the city appropriations OF the last two years was
formally opened yesterday Afternoon. Il BEGINS It's
career Of active work at s a. m this morning
From that hour until Il p. daily. throughout the
year. it VII. without money an1 without price,
give all the comforts O. home. SO Tar as cleanliness
is concerned 70 the citizens Of the sister borough
Among the speakers q yesterday who welcomed
the pubic to these newly acquired privileges we're
Commissions Of Puric Works Redield. super
intendent Of Public buildings Heim!e. Mrs Tunis
G. Bergen. Father Fitzsel1id. Edmund g Lee.
of the Chi!dren's Court. Dcp-ty Commissioner
Otto Ksnuaer. CorEreSs-r3n-si Elmer BaSSett,
and the Rev Horace X Fell Mayor Low and Con
troIer Grout were expected, but ether e1ga gsents
prevented their presence.
For blocks along Eficks-St.. the new building Is
midway betxeen Degrav and Harrison SITS. the
steps and pavenents were crowded Children went
out OF their way OF their return from school, and
tired looking men q nj women paused moment on
their hurried erralds TO get peep az the broad
inviting entrances ana marble walled interior.
Market and delivery wagons were halted near and
all the windows il the vicinity S0routed with heads
Comparatively few OF tie interested could set ac-
tusly inside % hear the hosrtta5le Speec171allnS
into the open space bero-s ire row 81 showers were
hlled and al the standing room inside and outside
OF The baths WIS racked.
A small platform had been erected at one end. and
audience. The-e were daintily ga-bed women. who
had worked Tor THIS emo. and ~eJIiCe1
their hard success. and there were the bonnet
less benetcia-ies Of the future. who cIaDped as
loudly IT merton OF the extreme and ir1Ueliatc
need In va.ch many % ths inEaeitant- q the
vicinity stood OF this particular place ~ refer
90 the city'S f-r siEhtedness irs erection
There were IooaCcl -esHilg old men. who looked
IS il they might hardly know how 10 the 1p-
planes OF the place. and there were prosperous
looking citzers, who fairly raciatet To- gospel OF
cleauii7e-s- Side by side they sat, while speaker
atter speaker presented The various views Of the
suspicious occasion.
= place like this - a centre of moral and men
tai health. as vel as physical said Cor1rcis-
siorer Eeldcld. and Horace X Eel referred TO
instances not far distant. geographically. where
mothers refused 20 UUSew tE0lr youngsters and
give them the bathing urged BY teachers, etc
She's sevveC uo for the winter was the indie-
uanr protest an shell Kit pceur-orta, II teen
water 20 he~ Serh cold DAYS an nights rs these
This should be the beginning OF crusade agaiust
sUCn conditions said Mrs Bergen, "a1a in the
name Of the generations 70 come ColErc tulote
the sponsors Of the borough and speak my grau-
tude 70 Tire city Of Newly orl-'
The building is OF Indiana lir1es+one. two stories
and accommodating about sixty b1thers at 4
time. For the SUN OF cent towel and soap
may be had and for I've cents private room.
plus these and a tub. Otherwise the place =
wholly free