Evening star., 1922-06-11

gong GOWN 10 lHt iitsti p't'''' 49, -
swim? Got your new suit? ! bes'f '
a peach. and | want to take the pret-
tiest girl in town with me on Satur-
day afternoon, when the crowd Is
big All right, see you at l "clock.
Scene shifts to + street Two
prosperous appearin. citizens r1eet.
a..h Of them possessing figures inat
k,-a evidence of lack of exercise
First Citizen-Henry. have you
been down to take dip Yet TINS
year"
Second Citizen-Not yet. John
First CitiZen-Supposc we run over
after golf on saturday morning
will kind of put some pep in us t"
take a swim out beyond the ropes
and dive from the float.
Second Citizen-Ill go you.
Say. do you remember the old days
back home when we used TO go down
to the OF smimmin' hole:" This and
other similar remarks can be heard
every day on the streets and in the
homes of Washington. for the tidal
basin Uncle Sans aquatic play
ground. has been open for the benefit
of the public for the season or l92Z.
and while the number of bathers has
not yet reached the proportionate
maximum figure of last year, yet
last Saturdays attendance demon
strated most forcefully that Wash
ingtonians intend to make this a
banner swimming year.
Not only have the managers and
guards recognized many of last
years patrons. but they have been
surprised at the number of new faces
of those who have taken advantage
of the opportunity afforded them to
enjoy the sport OF swimming.
): x
THERE were $4,000 swimmers and
bathers at the tidal basin last
year, and more than million have
disported themselves in its waters
during the three years that it has
been in existence. During that time
there have been but three fatalities.
one occurring before the beach was
formally opened, while an eNamira-
tion of the body of another showed
but a very little amount Of water in
the lungs.
While the tidal basin is the prop
erty of the United States and is un-
der the supervision of Col. Sheriff., 1t
is a concession let to l.. Gordon
Leech and Sidney W. Leech.
Extensive improvements have been
made in the locker rooms, as well as
on the beach and in the water. and
400 of the fair sex can be accom-
modated in the wing devoted to them.
while $500 men and boys can be
taken care of in the southern end of
the building.
In addition to the ice cream stand,
hot dog plate. candy counters and
soft drink department, there is
lunch counter. where the appetite
caused by swimming may be salts
fed. In the locker rooms the latest
sanitary appliances have been in
stalled and the floors cemented.
Y y = i:
THERE are fourteen regular life
guards on duty at the beach, un-
der the direction of w. NJ. Apple, who
has been connected with the tidal
basin ever since its opening in 1919.
Nearly all the life guards have also
served for a period of two or three
years These guards have a daily
drill and all are experts in resusci-
tation work. Two efficient members
Of the police force are detailed at the
beach, and on Saturdays. Sundays and
holidays an extra force is on duty
from early morning until the hour of
closing.
The beach is open from I until 11:15'
am, when the doors are closed, and
, thirty minutes later all bathers must
leave the water. This is done in or
der to give thorough check of the
lockers and also to enable the attend
ants to place the locker rooms in
ship-shape order for the afternoon
sport.
The beach is again opened at l pm.
and bathers may disport themselves
in the water until 6:15, when the
doors again are closed, and a half
hour later the beach formally closes
for the day.
Three physicians are in attendance.
Maj. w. d. Baker. L. S. A, has charge
of the chlorination process, while
Drs. f. D. Cudney and Terrill Moody
make tests for acidity, also examin-
ing the men for any skin or other dis
eases, as no bather is permitted to
enter the water who exhibits any evil
dence of a contagious or infectious
disease similar scrutiny is per-
formed on the women's side by the
matron.
The beach. under improved condi-
tions, has a frontage of six or seven
hundred yards In the water are two
new floats and a three-deck diving
station, from which the experts may
flash through the air into the water
below. The boat which uses the Wal
lace Turner process of chlorination
! ia provided with pipes that extend
three and a half feet down into the
water, and it Is through these that
the material used to purify the water
is forced. A lungmotor. which is said
by swimming experts to be better
than the pulmotor. has been installed,
On that in case of an accident the
natient receives immediate attention.
X
IN June II there will be a style
~ show and numerous local stores
will exhibit on beautiful living models
the latest creations in bathing suits.
This show is to be held under the di-
rl,,h ix