The Washington times., 1936-06-16
NOW
Supreme Court
Our Palace
OF BATHS
By HELEN ESsARY

member? "a vamp" and 1T,
vamp."
The word "vamp," L. R., ha
been replaced by the word ICON
tact"-"a contact" ito contact.
After enjoying IS delicious
breakfast cherries, it is dishearten
ing to discover peronally that tht
sixteenth and last cherry has hac
. past.
Representative Bertrand H
Smell, the Minority floor leader
obviously has been taking a course
In French. He is pronouncing the
governor of the next door State
Harry Whinna Niece" If il
weren't for the middle name
MarylanderS would think a dan
gerous alien had stolen Nice'E
chair.
''How do you like our palace"
asked an Associate Justice of
the Supreme Court of the
United States, "the beautiful
new one, up by the CapitOl?"
The distinguished gentleman
was eating crab flake mayonnaise
garnished with thin slices of to
mato and cucumber. He had for
gotten for a moment that he was
sitting next to columnlSt so
couldn't now reveal his name.
''It's perfectly magnificent" I
said.
Magnificent is the word" re-
piled the Justice, biting a creS-
cent into a brown bread and
butter sandwich. 1--WE have
everything but Roman baths
and bookcases.
what. No bookcases in the
Supreme Court"
"NOt nearly enough to hold
all we need for references. The
library there is about half as
large as the one in my own
home"
'DO you enjoy having every
body in such state Of excite
ment about yOu," l asked pur-
suing the interview.
Don't like it at all. What
we want is to be left in peace so
we can do a little work"
had a sudden recollection of
the nursery fable in which the
Little Small Red Hen said, as she
rocked and knitted, "Au 1 want is
q quiet life" A nice role for the
Supreme Court-that!
The thought of Roman Baths
in the Supreme Court Building,
or anywhere in Washington, has
delightful possibilities. It should
be considered prayerfully by the
promoters of the classic pediments
and pillars on Constitution
Avenue.
It's true that all the new Gov.
ernment buildings have showers.
But who could be philosophical
or profound in the Roman man.
0ef OnQer a shower?
Why not use some leftover
space near the Capitol for a bath
such as Caracalla built? That
one, you've probably forgotten the
details, measured one mile around
and accommodated $4,000 people
ct one time. It was a combina.
tion gymnasium, club house and
library.
There the National Notables OF
the day met for gossip, the prac'
tice of their orations and possible
improvement of the mind. There
was also handy, soap and water
and masseurs, but no beach um,
brellas.
Imagine such an institution in
Washington. Here are more
statesmen than any place in the
world, perhaps.
I can think with pleasure Of
certain among them. Arthur Van
denberg, Harry Byrd, giving their
reasons why"
Huey Long would have been
superb in Roman Bath thun
dering against civilization.
Carter Glass, holding forth in
an adjoining cubicle against
Huey, would have entertained the
populace at the key hole.
Such bath would be a beauti
full hunting ground for lobbyists
and gentlemen of the press. A
great man, resting on a stone after
the ardorS of a ScrubdoWn, coulC
then be caught helpless and un
protected.
There would probably be danger
of sabotage in a big bath. Spies
and villains would creep in. Turn
the hot or cold pipes on unexpect
edly, causing statesmen to emerge
red or frost bitten. Such expe
rience, naturally, might cause
grave international crises. Also
blisters and chills.
The religious significance Of
bathing might possibly be revived
in the lofty atmosphere of Gov
ernment.
In order to persuade their peo
pie to take baths the early Egyp
tianS made washing a religious
rite. To revive in Washington pub
lie baths, this theory of purifica
tion would be neat touch. The
law, the press and the lobby woulc
soon turn white as snow and purel
lilin.