The Detroit times., 1910-06-24

I'm its short existence has proved a
boon, the value of which can scarcely
be estimated except by the people
who have benefited by its existence.
II is the only public bath house in
the city aside from the one at Belle
Isle. Two pools are provided. one for
the men and boys, and one for the
women and girls. They are A feet
long by IL 1-2 feet wide. 5 IL feet at
the greatest depth, and 3 feet at the
shallowest. Men are taxed five cents,
with soap and towels thrown in: wo-
men and children one cent. with free
towel. and an extra penny for cake
OF soap, with the privilege OF bringing
their own soap IL they prefer. Walter
II. Behlow, for years at the Belle Isle
bath house, has been In charge of the
Clara since IL opened. Two months
ago the Federation of Women's clubs
and the Twentieth Century club raised
a sum OF money by subscription TO
pay for the services of Miss Cordelia
G. Currie. OF A1gonac. Mich. as swim.
ming instructor for the women and
girls. Unfortunately this money will
be exhausted the end of month and
unless further subscriptions ire forth
coming or municipal provision is made
Miss Curries efficient services will
have to be dispensed with. much to
the regret of the clubwomen interest
ed and the pupils.
Miss Currie is young girl still in
her teens. who can't remember when
she did not know how to swim and
who has gold medals galore for her
swimming feats In the ST. Clair river.
She Is particularly pretty young wo-
man. vivacious and bright and to one
who has watched her work at the
swimming pool, the conviction Is
borne in that she Is a born teacher.
Since came here two months ago,
have had about 200 women and girls
under instruction, not one of whom
knew the first thing about swimming
and were simply scared to death of
the water" said Miss Currie in ex-
PLANTATION to a visitor. between COM
mands to the girls gathered at one end
of the pool for their lesson" "Of
course a great many who use the pool
do not care for the swimming lessons,
but the majority are keenly anxious
to learn. AS rule have found them
quick to pick up my instructions and
dttti tnt lllSl UP VI tWO QuitC ICdi iCoS
in the water. | have enjoyed the ex-
perience more than I can tell and
wish | were going to stay all summer.
| had never taught In this way before
Just shown the summer boarders
and visitors at Algonac how to swim
In the river, but ! don't call that the
real teaching this work has proven to
be-"
Miss Currie took great pleasure in
putting several girls, about IA years
old, through their swimming PAGES
and said they had become quite ex-
pert In very short time. The young
sters were delighted to show or
their accomplishments and dived and
somersaulted and went through upper,
lower, side back and every other kind
of stroke. Miss Currie's pupils are
Of all ages and nationalities, many of
them speaking very little English so
that the difficulties of her work are
legion. Mothers with babies in arms
and other children clinging to their
skirts come to the bath house, and
while the woman takes her dip in the
pool the older children mind the
babies. II Is a merry, laughing, sput-
tering "pool-full" of dripping humanity
that visitor will peep In upon these
hot afternoons at the Clara. The chill
dren always stop their play In the
water when Miss Curries shrill
whistle blows to announce lesson"
and scramble through the water as
fast as they can to where the pretty
teacher Is describing and illustrating
the mysteries of the Australian
"splush" and other Annette Kellerman
feats, all of which are said by Miss
Currie to be the easiest stunts In the
world. when you know how"
Last Saturday. June Is, was the big
gest day in the history of the bath
house. 1870 using the two pools dur
ing the day with many hundreds turn
ed away.
I'VE could use twice the room every
day in the week. said Mr.. Behlow.
while the majority OF the adults and
children coming here are residents OF
the neighborhood, large number
also come from distant parts of the
city and there is no question In my
mind but that Detroit ought to have
great many more bath houses like
the Clara"