The New York herald., 1922-05-17
Bathing Boys.
City Fountains as Substitutes for the
Old Swimmin' Hole. \

TO THE New YORK HERALD: May Is
rather remote from December. and
from the spell OF Dickens's christmas
Carol" Yet I caught an unmistakable
glimpse of Scrooge in the letter printed
in your paper under the head Of Bath
ing Boys" 1t wasn't signed by Scrooge.
but Scrooge I shall call the writer.
However unpleasant and unusual, II
is profitable for one to know that there
are still in the world men who have
grown so fast or so far as to forget
that they were ever boys themselves.
When ! was boy ! was fortunate
enough to live on a farm and had no
less than four swimming holes in which
to regale myself during the torrid sum-
mer months.
haven't forgotten those days. My
grownup's cold shower, morning and
night, plus the big pool at the club.
scarcely make up in luxury what lose
in fun. But at least 1 can have, In
some form or other, the ecstasy of
movement in cold water on a deadly
hot week day And there is always
the prospect Of week ends GONZALES
cence at some beach along the Sound.
Is your blood so cold, Scrooge, that the
thought Of cold plunge in midsummer
doesn't quicken your pulse?
Those boys whose last years antics
in the City Hall Park fountain, you say.
were so offensive to all right thinking,
sensitive people''-these boys are blessed
with no swimming holes other than
those furnished voluntarily or mad
vertently by = the city. They have no
round trip tickets to a free beach, no
convenient shower baths, many Of them
no immediate access even to a mere
tub. But they have warm young bodies,
coursed with throbbing red blood. how
ever circumstances may clog their pores
with dust and CRIME. In the interests
of their contentment and health and
comfort. then. why in heavens name
forbid them any opportunity for a much
desired, much deserved bath?
I know Of no single feather in the
municipal administration cap that Is
brighter than last summers practice Of
making available to the children of our
streets the fire hydrant showers and
the fire house pools. And IL these meas
ures fail to accommodate all the chill
dren who want and need a cold bath In
summer. then l say open wide all the
silly driveling fountains in the city to
a full geyser blast and let in the kids
A beautiful fountain may be joy for
ever; but. beautiful or no. its success
is assured il it is allowed a utility be-
yond the watering of a few thirsty
sparrows.
Without doubt the degree of the boys
nudity is rather exaggerated. But these
youngsters have no extra dollars to
invest in the luxury of bathing suits
and their summer wardrobe is too
slender to permit wholesale clothes
drenching and the resultant forced dry
ing. Anyway. the heavier the swim
ming attire, the less the enjoyment.
Necessity and comfort. then, decree the
wearing of as little as possible.
AS I remember, the Scrooge in Dick
ens's story had no children: bachelor
dom and business, long continued, had
soured him against his .fellowmen. But
before we left him he was saying with
Tiny Tim, God bless us ALL" And to
the Scrooge of your letter should like
to say. snap out of it, Stop being a
crab and remember that you too were
kid>when You started out-no matter
how far you've Travelled since them
But IL you've ever been blessed with
boy and with boyhood of your own,
and can still write a letter like that
especially after n whole winter in which
to reconsider and get over your crouch,
then feel tremendously sorry for your
boyhood, your boy and yourself-all
three RICHARD w. GRrswoLp.
BROOKLYN, MAY 49,