Year: 1874

Gathering OF the Great Unwnshed--


Plunging and Diving by New York's


Street Boys.


Sunday being the only day in the week on which
the workingman can have time for rest ana re.
creation, it was expected that great nuIhe5,s
would avan themselves Of the pn'sNI,ennities
ata.aea " the tree baths s9r hsorougn cleansing
q the body after tns swsss and toll Of the week.
As yesterday was the first Sunday in the year on
which they were open, 1t was natural to expect
regular rush, but the result was contrary to the
general expectation. The morning being rather
cool, comparatively few felt inclined to take
their first 'dipn of the season, and the adult
portion OF the bathers was principally
composed Of that class whose amphlbious
propensties impel them to take to the water at all
times when plunge will not necessitate the per-
fOration Of q stratum or ice more or less thick.
But mainly the crowd was made up OF juveniles
whose swimming ardor could not be damped by
fall OF few degrees in the temperature, and in
many instances OF those who stood sadly in need
Of wash. In some cases they were accompanied
by fathers adult relatives but many OF the latter
did not choose to try plunge, on account OF the
coolness OF the weather, and deferred their first
swim to some future occasion.


At the Fifth street baths, East River the bathers
were almost all boys OF from ten to eighteen years





diving was quite refreshing. Some were capital
divers, and showed great pluck and
even recKlessness in the height and
length OF the jump. Not satisfied with
jumping from the platform, which IS high enough
Tor ordinary swimmers to jump nom. some Of the
more adventurous mounted on the railing by
which 1t Is surrounded and plunged boldly in,
amid the applause OF their admlring comrades
whose knowledge OF the art was not so extensive
as TO encourage them to follow. Every form of
dive was tired; some going III with head down
lerred to drop down with feet crossed. Much
animated discussion took place as to the relative
merits OF the different systems and the courage or
dexterity OF the individuals, and several in
teresting matches came on TO the no
boys plunged and swan and sported in the water
to their hearts, content, and they were evidently
much refreshed by 1t, but the last thngs that
seemed TO enter their heads was the necessity OF
thorough scrubbing ana cleansing OF the body.
Many also were content with baf drying them
selves before putting their clothes, and some
used no towel at all, but simply ran around naked
and chased each other about till they considered
themselves dry enough 10 dress. In some In
stances this was prolonged to positively dagger
Gus extent, especially after twelve O'Clock, when
the baths were closed, and several naked boys vol
unteered. for the lun OF the thing, TO scrub and
wash down the boxes and platform for the attend
ants Many also remained much too long in the
water ana looked blue and chilled in consequence.


As II was not generally known that the baths
would close at twelve O'Clock, groups o. boys Kept
coming tisong alter that hour seeking admission;
and, as the day began to get warmer, much re-
gret was expressed that they were not open all
day on sunday. Many lull-grown men also pre-
sented themselves about midday and felt sorely
disappointed on being denied admission.


From the number Ol people bathing in so small
a space the water gets dirty very quickly and pre-
sents anything but an inviting aspect for any one
anxious Tor q clean, refreshing bath. This shows
the necessity for an increase in the number OF
these wholesome and health-giving institutions,
ana the sooner the promise OF building more OF
them lis carried out the better


The scene at the other bath differed in nothing
from that at Filth street, except that at West
Eleventh street. North RIVER there was a rather
larger proportion OF men.


Not the least interesting feature in the scene at
Fifth street the soda water stand, where soda,
in all Its varletles-lemOn, vanilla, strawberry,
&c.-was sold to the delighted youths at the rate
OF two cents glass, and clans were served out at
q cent piece. The air Of consequence assumed
by the urchins as they deposited their penny and
called Tor their clam was amusing, and the taste
displayed in the selection OF the KIND OF soda by
those possessed OF the necessary two cents was
laughable In the extreme.


Next Sunday it is anticipated the attendance
Will be very large.