Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-11-18
HOT TUBS A LUXURY
Fuel Shortage I'm Germany Makes Bath
ing n Ceremony

One Of the many scarce luxuries in
Germany is the hot bath, owing to the
coal shortage in German cities. An
American school teacher recently re-
turned from trip through parts Of
Germany, discovered that making ar
engagements for warm bath was not I'M
like gaining admission into Lhassa the
Forbidden.
~ believe that these conditions are
uniform throughout Germany" remark
ed this Young woman. land perhaps my
adventures are typical of the predca-
ment of the visitor who does not happen
to take up residence with persons who
have boarded coal.
was stopping with friend. an eld-
erly woman, fairly wel-to-do A few
davs after my arrival, ! intimated that
I would like to take warm bath. Ny
request seemed to embarrass her, but
she said that she would see about It,
The next morning | was informed that
my bath was ready in the master bath
room--a particularly elaborate chamber
handsomely appointed.
Here I found a small bowl of warm
water placed in Il spacious tub.
rs this all?' ] asked the maid.
when you are ready replied the
maid your bath will be-
"a few minutes later she brought mo
strange device consisting of metal
receptacle, full of hot water. which she
hung on the wall. A tube led from this
vessel into perforated iron collar,
which was placed around my neck And
with great solemnity the water was per-
mitted to flow from the vessel into the
collar, making "A shower bath of short
duration. And ! was told that this was
an unusual favor and that few Germans
could enjoy such a bath. For that mat
ter, didn't enjoy it any too much my
self"
After that experience. the American
woman decided not to strain hospitality
to this extent again. and, despite the
protests Of her hostess, she started off
early one morning to the public baths.
Hoping 10 avoid the crowd. she arrived
AT Q o'clock. only TO find n placard an
nouncing that the institution did not open
until. noon About noon she returned to
the huge building.
"Outside the building" she relates.
Il found a line, several hundred feet
long Of eXpectant bathers. | asked an
attendant how long | would have to stay
in line
&" The pool doesn't open until g. she
said, but II you want a private tub, you
can apply at the window below.
apparently. the public wasn't so en-
thusiastic about private tubs. for I was
the only person to approach the window.
perhaps the reason was that n private
hl'r costs about 70 marks which at
present is only a few cents in our money
The manHFer old me tHnt could have
first, second, o. third class a~commois-
lions or salon bath I thought might
as vel. treat mysel. handsomely and
asked for Il salon bath However. all OF
these werc alrsa'v reserTed, so l con-
tented myself with a first.class tub.
When arrived in the first-class section.
an attendant directed me TO go back 10
tHc window for towel. Here mad
10 pay deposit Of 10 marks.
" we have 70 stop them from stealing
eur towels the attendant said graciously,
as he took my deposit
Finally got into my first-class bath,
which YVES pretty satisfactory as Ger
man baths so. But IN about fifteen min
utes there vas II knock at the door OF
my compartment
Hurry uo called the maid. DO you
think you can stay in all Gor7tng?
There's another customer waiting
II had hardly flnaled dressing when
the maid walked in and began tidYing
up for my successor.
by the way 7 inquired, what is the
difference between this and salon
BATH
" You get solid mahogany furniture
with the salon bath answered the
maid. This room has wicker That's
all. Don't forget TO take back your
towel or you'll lose your 40 marks.
80 | had to carry back the wet towel
and present II in person al the office to
receive back my deposit. And outside,
the lire waiting for the pool extended so
far back that | couldn't see the end.
tell you, taking a warm bath in Ger
many is something 10 write nome
about'-itobert a. Simon in the New
| York Post