New-York tribune., 1922-03-05
Historic Tablets by ALBERT LEVERING

Eureka! / have found it' He had acci-
dentally punched a hole in the bottom of the
tub and he meant he had found way to let
the water out Of the thing without carrying
the whole tub out and splling it in the
garden. That was a great day for plumbing
on see, was slave and a son of a slave.
coming from a family we'll vcrsed in plumb
ing. MY family had a part in the construc-
tlon and repair Of most Of the fourteen auue-
aucts, varying in length from eleven to fifty
nine miles, that provided the water for the
imperial city of Rome. About fifty million
gallons a day, by the way. Some of it was
used for irrigation much for bathing and
some for drinking.
Now as to these baths that came so much
in vogue. One of the stories has it that there
was a leak in of the emperor's apartments
one day, due to nearby aqucduct not being
kept in proper repair. The plumbing slaves
responsible, knowing that their lives were for
felt, hit upon the desperate expedient of plac-
ing lot of pottcd palms around the leak NOV
ing III statue or two and hanging fine fabrics
around the wall on racks
Divine Caesar, it is a novel sort of BATH
the slaves announced. And Cesar going in,
pronounced the water fine
Personally, / subscribe to the theory that
1t was none other than Horatus who was re-
sponslble for the Roman baths You remem-
Der how he defended the bridge against the
Etruscans attacking Rome. His two compan-
IONS retreatcd while the conscript fathers were
chopplng down the bridge Horatius, however,
was 100 late and crashed through into Father
llber Now, we Romans attach good deal of
sentiment to the Tber, but when Horati,1s
emerged ne was more mad and muddy than
sentimental. 1t is said that Horatius at once
Informed the conscript fathers that if that
was the best bath they could furnish in Rome
he was going to move Immediately to the proud
house of Tarquin. Hence the Roman baths"
"Cum grano sails" l said, skeptically.
"Well, perhaps" the plumber admitted.
I'VE plumbing slaves were kept busy in
those days. he went on. my wife used to
help nic-many of the plumbers in Rome
were female slaves"
MY wife now," declared the plumber, re-
lapsing into the present, docs nothing of the
sort. Catch her helping mel All she does
is ride around in our limousines"
"Ad mauseam," / suggested
"Undoubtedly," he agreed.
IN all the Roman baths, the narrator con-
tinued, eve had to keep the water warm in
the tepidarium and cold in the f,ig;dnr,iu,n.
And the water in 'the callidn Lavutio had to be
very hot indeed. For fuel for that purpose
Nero used to use up good many persons
with whom he disagreed. / must say they
didn't burn very well.''
"Dc mortuis nihil msi bonun,' I adj
monished.
Il stand corrected" the plumber apoogized
The crowning point OF my plumbing ca
reer," the plumber boasted reminiscenty "oc-
CURED in the reign Of Nero. The Emperor con-
ceived the idea of a great water spectacle in
the Coliseum, and l instructed to work
it out. We made huge tank in the center
Of the circus and turned one of the aqueducts
into it. III never forget that day All Rome
there. 1t was gala OCCASION
"The Emperor led the orchestra with his