Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-28

HOW. PARIS POOR ESCAPE HEAT
IN HUGE SLEEVES AFLoAT.
The "Grenouilleres" Open in Summer
for the Working Population Of
French Capital.


For the working population of Paris
summer begins only when the "grenouil-
leres' open. How many foreigners know
the term. know 1t, that is, not in the die
tionary sense Of marsh or frog pond"
butt In the significance 1t has for Parisians?
Grenouillere is the siangy appellation Of
the floating baths in the Seine. Possibly
many visitors have never even noticed
them. They emerge from oblivion with
the advent of hot weather, when most peo-
pie are leaving the capital. and disappear
again. like the swallows, at the first hint
of approaching winter. From October to
mid-May they hibernate. During this pc
Rod the sole indication Of their existence
is series of arkike structures exceed
insly long and narrow. moored to the
banks of the river at intervals within the
city limits.
About the middle of May these odd
looking edifces reawaken to life. They
decrease in length and increase in width;
jut out arrogantly into the Seine instead
of lying unobtruSfvely inshore; are made
inviting with bright-hued paint and cheer
full with bunting. This, not the calendar,
tells the artisan class of Paris that sum-
mer is at hand, that the season when a
bath may be taken has arrived. The
NOR spreads: The grenouilleres are
open!' Thenceforward until September,
particularly in the dog days. these estab-
lishments do a fourishing business, are
crowded like a popular circus at certain
hours, and echo with merry cries all day
long. In short visit to grenouillere
is the Paris workmans equivalent of an
afternoon at Brighton Beach
Construction Of Baths.
= Nothing could be simpler than the or
ganization of these river baths Broadly
speaking. they consist of two long pom
toons, measuring from sixty to one hun
dred yards in length and some seven yards
in wild tn, and two shorter ones of the same
width, but about twenty yards in length.
The first form the sides, the second the
ends of the baths. BY means of stout
beams and mornings the longer pontoons
are anchored in the river parallel to the
bank, opposite each other, and separated
by an interval of water measuring, say.
twenty yards in width, that being the
length of the short pontoons, which are
fitted into the separating Interval at the
ends of the long ones.
The whole thus forms sort of frame or
platform around a swimming pool of va
rytng dimensions, according to the length
of the pontoons. Around this floating par
alleRgram is built a superstructure of
small cabins, in two tiers for the bathers
The bottom of the bath is a movable oak
floor that is forced down to the requisite
depth by means of system of cogged
slides and toothed wheels. Generally
speaking, this floor slopes from depth Of
about two feet to some six or seven yards
at the deepest end.
Rent to the City.
The proprietors Of the baths pay river
rent to the city authorities, the price va
rying. for the season, from about ] cent
to cents square yard. Naturally, the
establishments in close proximity to or
within easy reach of densely populated
quarters are more remunerative. One Of
them, for example, the National Swimming
Academy, to translate its high sounding
title, near the Point de la Concorde. has
"bathed" as many as $500 in a single day.
This is rather an aristocrat among the
grenouilleres. bathing ticket here costs
20 cents At neighboring establishment
the earlier baths, the entrance fee is only
6 cents, though, as an old swimming mas
ter assured me gravely the water is Ia
meme que chez lie yoisin" (the same as
next door,. For the additional sous, how
ever the bather may watch or participate
In games of water polo, may experiment
with an ingenious system of vertical and
horizontal douches or showers, and after
his bath may enjoy a stimulating drink at
little bar while he watches the other
swimmers, and, possibly, allow the vague
ly Saracenic architecture and decorations
of the establishment to suggest visions of
eastern magnificence to his imagination.
One form of the grenOuillere Is for dogs.
Close to many of the big river baths there
is sort of unofficial annex. 1t consists
of an expert in bathing, clipping and, if
the word is permissible. manicurng dogs.
His outfit is merely camp stool, tub of
water, a hair clipper, a pair of scissors
and one or two surgical instruments,
tweezers, a lancet and so For couple
of cents he will carefully battle your dog,
for a few more will cut his coat In compl-
Gated patterns, leaving frills around his
paws, tuft at the end of his tail and
ARTISTIC side whiskers" upon his haunch-
es; viii overhaul his claws, ears, eyes and
turn him out well groomed and smart a
credit to any proprietor.