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+} +.allsc { + text-transform: lowercase; +} +a:link, a:visited { + text-decoration: none; +} +@media print { + a:link, a:visited { + color: currentcolor; + background-color: inherit; + } + .fnreturn { + display: none; + visibility: hidden; + } + +} +@media screen { + body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + span.pagenum { + border-top: thin solid silver; + border-bottom: thin solid silver; + display: inline; + visibility: visible; + position: absolute; + left: 1%; + } + div.section { + margin: 8em auto; + } +} + +/* overrides for epub */ +body.x-ebookmaker { + margin-left: 2%; + margin-right: 2%; +} +.x-ebookmaker span.pagenum, .x-ebookmaker hr.ww { + display: none; + visibility: hidden; +} + +/* for full-page vertically centred: print and epub */ +/* requires "vh" unit which at the current time ebookmaker strips out + but PG will no longer accept html that ebookmaker flags with "ERROR" + Reinstate commented-out code once the css3 values get beyond just CR status */ +@media print { + .fp { + display: flex; /* https://www.w3.org/TR/css-flexbox-1/ */ + justify-content: center; + /* height: 100vh; */ /* https://www.w3.org/TR/css-values-3/ */ + page-break-before: always; + page-break-after: always; + } + .fp3 { + display: flex; /* https://www.w3.org/TR/css-flexbox-1/ */ + justify-content: center; + /* height: 33vh; */ /* https://www.w3.org/TR/css-values-3/ */ +} + .vcenter { + width: 100%; + margin-top: auto; + margin-bottom: auto; + } +} +.x-ebookmaker .fp { + display: flex; + justify-content: center; + /* height: 100vh; */ + page-break-before: always; + page-break-after: always; +} +.x-ebookmaker .fp3 { + display: flex; + justify-content: center; + /* height: 33vh; */ +} +.x-ebookmaker .vcenter { + width: 100%; + margin-top: auto; + margin-bottom: auto; +} +.x-ebookmaker div.section { + margin: 4em auto; +} + +</style> +</head> + +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76117 ***</div> + + +<hr class="ww" > + + + +<div class="section fp"> +<div> +<div class="fp3"> +<div class="vcenter"> +<h1 title="The Swimming Baths of London"><a id="png.01" href="#png.01"><span class="pagenum x-ebookmaker-drop"><span + class="ns">[</span>1<span class="ns">]<br + ></span></span></a><small>THE</small><br + >SWIMMING BATHS<br + ><small class="allsc">OF</small><br + >LONDON.</h1> +</div> +</div> + +<div class="fp3"> +<div class="vcenter"> +<p class="author ctr"><small class="allsc">BY</small><br + >R. E. DUDGEON, M.D.</p> +</div> +</div> + + +<div class="fp3"> +<div class="vcenter"> +<div class="published">LONDON:<br + ><span class="sprd">HENRY TURNER AND C</span>O.,<br + ><small>77, FLEET STREET, E.C.</small><br + ><span class="minihr">1870</span>.<br + ><small><i>Price Sixpence.</i></small> +</div> +</div> +</div> +</div> +</div> + + + +<div class="section fp"> +<div class="vcenter"> +<div class="ctr"><a id="png.02" href="#png.02"><span class="pagenum x-ebookmaker-drop"><span + class="ns">[</span>2<span class="ns">]<br + ></span></span></a><div class="ctr">PRINTED BY J. E. ADLARD, BARTHOLOMEW CLOSE.</div> +</div> +</div> +</div> + + + + +<div class="section"> +<h2 title="The Swimming Baths of London"><a id="png.03" href="#png.03"><span class="pagenum x-ebookmaker-drop"><span + class="ns">[</span>3<span class="ns">]<br + ></span></span></a><small>THE</small><br + >SWIMMING BATHS OF LONDON.</h2> + +<hr class="h2hr"> + +<p><span class="smc">Swimming</span> is an exercise at once healthful, pleasant, and +useful. The full hygienic effects of swimming can only +be obtained when it is practised in the open air, and in +unpolluted water of a natural temperature. In a close, +more or less imperfectly ventilated room, and in water +artificially heated, from which, consequently, the air has been +partially expelled, swimming, while still retaining its characters +of pleasantness and utility, ceases to be a hygienic agent of +any considerable power. Every town which aspires to be +considered at all perfect in its sanitary arrangements should +possess ample swimming baths of pure water in the open +air. The seaside towns of this seagirt land are provided +by nature with a most exquisite description of swimming +bath in the ever-changing, ever-fresh sea—ever-fresh, that +is, when not polluted by the drainage of the town, as often +happens. But our inland towns are not so well off, and +unless in the neighbourhood of a lake or a river, they +must construct artificial baths or do without them. Even +when they have a lake or a river they too often allow it +to be so polluted by sewage as to render it unfit for bathing +purposes; and when they have neither lake nor river, +they too often neglect to provide artificial substitutes, thus +depriving themselves of a powerful hygienic agent, a pleasant +recreation, and a useful accomplishment.</p> + +<p>The healthful effects of swimming in cold water in the +open air result from the peculiar exercise, the temperature +of the surrounding mediums, and the exhilaration of the +spirits it causes. Before entering the water, and each +time of leaving it, we enjoy an air-bath, the beneficial +effects of which are not solely or chiefly dependent on the +temperature, but are mainly owing to the actual impact of +the atmospherical gases, and of the light, and possibly the +<a id="png.04" href="#png.04"><span class="pagenum x-ebookmaker-drop"><span + class="ns">[</span>4<span class="ns">] + </span></span></a>direct rays of the sun upon the skin. In the water, if it +be considerably colder than the ordinary summer air, say +50° to 60°, there is a rapid abstraction of heat from the +surface, causing contraction of the cutaneous blood-vessels, +and expulsion of their blood, which sometimes produces an +almost painful sensation. If we then get out of the water +at once, there is a rapid reaction and an intense glow, +often so intense as to cause tingling over the whole surface, +accompanied with visible redness, owing to the sudden reflux +of the blood into the cutaneous vessels. If, however, we +remain in the water in spite of the painful sensation caused +by the first action of the cold, this gradually subsides, and +if the water be not very cold, and our reactive powers good, +and we keep ourselves always moving, the blood gradually +returns towards the cutaneous surface, and we thus +become accustomed to the low temperature, and can remain +a considerable time in the water that seemed at first +too chilly to be borne. When we then come out of the +water we do not perceive any sudden reaction, but unless +we have remained too long in the water, we only feel +refreshed and invigorated.</p> + +<p>The exercise in swimming is quite peculiar. The body +and limbs being completely supported by the medium in +which they are immersed, the muscles are not employed +in supporting their weight, consequently their movements +have a freedom not enjoyed in any other exercise, and are +attended with little or no fatigue. This is, however, only +the case with experienced and confident swimmers, swimming +deliberately and at their ease. The inexperienced swimmer +finds the exercise very fatiguing. This, I believe, is chiefly +owing to his unconscious efforts to keep more of his body +out of the water than would be effected by its own natural +buoyancy. The experienced swimmer lets the water do +all the supporting business, and consequently swims deeper +than the tyro. Very rapid swimming, of course, will soon +exhaust even the most experienced swimmer, just as any other +violent exercise will exhaust. The quickest swimmers show +very little above the water when swimming a race. Most +swimmers when making a spurt throw themselves on one +<a id="png.05" href="#png.05"><span class="pagenum x-ebookmaker-drop"><span + class="ns">[</span>5<span class="ns">] + </span></span></a>side. If on the right side, they make a downward stroke +with their right arm, then a horizontal stroke with their +left, and lastly the legs are forcibly extended, during which +last movement their right arm is stretched in front as a +cutwater, and the nose and mouth brought to the surface +for respiration. Swimming on the left side is done in the +same way, <i lang="la">mutatis mutandis</i>. In this kind of swimming +the only parts of the body visible above water are a small +portion of the face, and that only for a short time, and +occasionally the left shoulder and arm to the elbow. It +has a very ridiculous appearance, and as the swimmer from +his position cannot see in front of him, it often happens +that two competitors in the races that take place in our +short swimming baths will, when swimming in opposite +directions, run their heads full tilt against one another to +their mutual discomfiture. But it is not this sort of +swimming I mean, when speaking of swimming as a hygienic +agent, a pleasant recreation, or a useful art. It so happens +that swimming competitions are confined almost entirely to +rapidity of swimming, and everything is sacrificed by competitors +to quickness. The kind of swimming cultivated by +our swimming athletes, whether amateur or professional, is +neither graceful nor salubrious, and its utility, except for +gaining cups and medals, is very doubtful. The secret of +the hygienic effects of swimming in sea, lake, or river, +is gentle exercise in a medium whose temperature excites +the system to vigorous reaction. I do not attach much +importance to swimming in cold water as a means of +cleansing the body. There is no doubt that it does wash +off the grosser impurities that accumulate about the skin, +but it cannot be considered as a substitute for the daily +tub with plenty of soap, by means of which only can the +skin be kept perfectly clean and wholesome.</p> + +<p>The pleasures of natation need not be dwelt on. To feel +oneself completely at home in a new element, to lose the +sense of ponderosity, to be able to move one’s limbs in any +direction through an unresisting medium, is to enjoy, for +the moment, the pleasures of existence of a different order +of animals. To feel not the weight of the flesh which we +<a id="png.06" href="#png.06"><span class="pagenum x-ebookmaker-drop"><span + class="ns">[</span>6<span class="ns">] + </span></span></a>often find “too, too solid” on terra firma; to dart hither +and thither at will, roll over on side or back, or dive into +the depths beneath us, is little short of ecstasy; we are no +longer a terrestrial animal, we have entered a new phase of +existence, we are a fish, our limbs are fins, and the water +is our element. He who passes through life without learning +to swim misses one of the purest pleasures life affords, +and deserves to be drowned in a six-foot pond.</p> + +<p>The uses of swimming are obvious. To be drowned by +the upsetting of a pleasure boat within a few yards of the +shore—can anything be more pitiful? To see our friend, +perhaps our child, perish because we cannot swim a few +yards to save him—can anything be more painful? Think +of the number of lives that have been lost by inability to +swim, of the number of lives that have been saved by the +possession of this faculty. He who cannot swim is as far +from being perfectly educated as he who cannot walk.<a id="fn1"></a><a title="Go to footnote 1" + href="#Footnote1" class="fnanchor"><span + class="ns">[Footnote </span>1<span class="ns">] + </span></a></p> + +<p>But, it will be alleged, there are dangers connected with +swimming. And so there are dangers connected with +walking, riding, driving, railways, steamboats; but these +dangers do not deter us from making use of these means of +locomotion. But let us see what these dangers are. In +learning to swim you may get out of your depth and be +drowned:—Then learn to swim in shallow water. The +cold water may give you a chill:—Not much fear of that +unless you are very imprudent, but to avoid that insignificant +risk you can learn to swim in tepid water. There are +plenty of such baths in London and most large towns. +There is the risk of cramp overtaking the most practised +swimmer and sinking him suddenly to the bottom:—Swimmers +do sometimes sink suddenly in deep water and so get +drowned, but I doubt if they are often good swimmers, and +I doubt if it is cramp that sends them to the bottom. The +<a id="png.07" href="#png.07"><span class="pagenum x-ebookmaker-drop"><span + class="ns">[</span>7<span class="ns">] + </span></span></a><cite>Lancet</cite> lately alluded to this subject, and suggested that it +might be a sort of spasm of the respiratory muscles, whereby +the air was suddenly expelled from the lungs, and the +specific levity of the body being thus lost, the swimmer +sank like a stone. That may be partly true, but I am +convinced it is not the whole truth, nor does it explain how +the catastrophe is caused. I believe the so-called cramp to +be a spasm of the heart and respiratory organs, and that it +is produced in this way. The swimmer may be accustomed +to swimming, but he has never thoroughly mastered the +indispensable first step in swimming, of committing the +support of his body entirely to the water. He exhausts +himself in efforts to elevate his head and shoulders above +the water. As he gets into deep water these efforts, which +are of the nature of nervousness, are increased; the cold of +the water (to which perhaps he is unused from having +hitherto practised swimming chiefly in tepid water) sends +the blood in upon the heart, he feels choking, throws up his +arms with a loud cry, and goes to the bottom at once. The +cause of this often fatal seizure I believe to be a compound of +nervous exhaustion, anxiety, and cold. It is extraordinary +the difference that prevails in regard to the power of resisting +cold. I have seen a man shivering and blue after five +minutes in one of the tepid swimming baths, while others +can remain an hour or longer in the sea and come out warm +and comfortable.<a id="fn2"></a><a title="Go to footnote 2" + href="#Footnote2" class="fnanchor"><span + class="ns">[Footnote </span>2<span class="ns">] + </span></a> A dip in cold water, even a cold sponging +bath, will cause some men’s extremities to die away and +remain apparently devoid of circulation for hours. We can +then easily imagine that the cold of the sea, or of a lake or +river, may in an individual so sensitive to its effects cause +such an accumulation of the blood about the heart and lungs +as to produce all the phenomena observed in drowning by +so-called cramp. That a certain degree of fear or anxiety +is one of the causal elements is, I think, sufficiently proved +by the fact, that this so-called cramp never occurs in +<a id="png.08" href="#png.08"><span class="pagenum x-ebookmaker-drop"><span + class="ns">[</span>8<span class="ns">] + </span></span></a>shallow water. That it is not cramp of the voluntary +muscles is, I think, evident from the fact that many people +do get cramp in their legs when swimming, and this, though +painful, is not dangerous, for we can always throw ourselves +on our back or swim in spite of the pain. I have actually +plunged into deep water with a slight attack of cramp in +one of my legs, but found no difficulty in keeping myself +afloat until the cramp subsided. Although, until its nature +is precisely understood, there will always remain some risk +of accident from so-called cramp, still I believe the risk +would be reduced to insignificance if those who chill rapidly, +whom swimming fatigues, or who become nervous in deep +water, would refrain from venturing beyond their depth until +they have conquered these failings, which habit will soon +enable them <span class="nw">to do.</span></p> + +<p>But the slight risks attending swimming in cold water +should not deter a community from providing itself with +open-air swimming places. The risk from drowning will be +entirely obviated by artificial constructions on a lake or river, +such as are to be found in many continental towns. +English towns are for the most part entirely destitute of +open-air swimming baths, and if they have suitable rivers or +lakes near them it is rare, indeed, to see any portion of +them inclosed for bathing purposes. London itself, with a +population of three millions, is now without any regular +open-air swimming bath. A noble river runs through it, +but in spite of the gigantic works for intercepting and +carrying off the sewage, the Thames is still such a polluted +stream that no one with all his senses entire—especially +those of sight, smell, and taste—would venture to bathe in +it below Teddington Lock. It is true that one sees in +summer many boys disporting themselves on its grimy +bosom between the bridges, and I have even seen some +enjoying a douche at the outfall of a sewer, but such feats +will be more admired for their temerity than imitated for +their propriety; and the Thames from Richmond downwards +must still be considered as unsuitable for bathing. London +has many lakes of more or less clear water admirably +adapted for swimming purposes, but bathing is forbidden in +<a id="png.09" href="#png.09"><span class="pagenum x-ebookmaker-drop"><span + class="ns">[</span>9<span class="ns">] + </span></span></a>all these with the exception of three, and in these it is only +allowed at such inconvenient hours as practically to exclude +all but a few from using them. London has many canals, +but bathing is forbidden in them, and though it is impossible +to keep the boys out of them, they bathe in peril of being +seized by some policeman and of being fined by some +magistrate for “indecent exposure of the person.”</p> + +<p>In the absence or dearth of open-air swimming baths +London is pretty well supplied with covered swimming +baths, mostly tepid, but some few cold. With only one +exception (and that because it was closed) I have inspected, +and with six exceptions (four of these because there was no +water in them at my visit, two, because they were so repulsively +dirty) I have bathed in all these baths, so that +I can describe them from personal experience.</p> + +<p>I shall begin with the cold baths, these being entitled to +the first place by reason of their antiquity. And here let me +pay a tribute of regret to the memory of the only open-air +swimming bath London ever possessed, specially constructed +for that purpose and available at all hours of the day—I mean +the ancient <cite>Peerless Pool</cite> in Baldwin Street, City Road. It +measured fifty yards by thirty, was built of stone, and +several flights of steps led down to its bottom. It was +amply provided with open bathing boxes, and was a secluded +spot in a densely populous neighbourhood. Its water was +clear and cold, and it was large enough and deep enough +for swimming purposes. Its site is going to be built over, +the more’s the pity, as London is now absolutely without a +real open-air swimming bath.</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p><cite>Old Roman Bath</cite>, Strand Lane, Strand.—The ancient Roman +bath which gives its name to this bath is not the place used for +bathing. It is where the spring rises. It is in a cellar, is built +of brick, and is about 3 yards long by 1½ wide. It is said to be +near 2000 years old. The water, which rises at the rate of 10 tons +per diem, from a spring at one end, is cold and as clear as +crystal; it overflows through a pipe into the more modern bath, +which is in an adjoining cellar, low-roofed, whitewashed, and +obscurely lighted by a dimmed glass window. This bath is said to +<a id="png.10" href="#png.10"><span class="pagenum x-ebookmaker-drop"><span + class="ns">[</span>10<span class="ns">] + </span></span></a>have been built by the Earl of Essex in Queen Elizabeth’s time. +It is a basin 4 yards long by 2½ wide; sides and bottom of marble +slabs; steps leading down to it at one corner; depth about 4 feet +6 inches. Flags of sandstone surround the bath. There are seven +boxes for bathers in the passage leading to the bath. The water +is delightfully clear, cool, and refreshing, but the atmosphere of +the apartment is rather musty and cellar-like, and the size hardly +admits of anything in the way of swimming except mere paddling +about.</p> + +<p><cite>Old Royal Bath</cite>, Bath Street, Newgate Street.—This is a very +remarkable bath. It is said to have been built for Charles II, and +it still bears traces of royal magnificence. The floor of the +apartment is of marble, and the bath itself, which is 7 yards long +by 3 wide, is made of black and white marble slabs, forming a +pleasing pattern. The depth is 4 feet 6 inches, and in the +middle of the bath floor is a depression or trough, making the +water 5 feet deep there. In the sides of the bath are six niches +faced with Dutch tiles, in which the water agitated by the bather +makes a curious noise. On either side of the bath the marble +floor is raised a few inches. The walls of the bath room to the +height of 9 feet are covered with quaint Dutch tiles, with 4 niches +for statuary on either side, also faced with tiles. Above the +tiles on both sides of the room is a sort of balcony with a railing, +but with no visible access to it. Higher up is an octagonal +cornice, from which springs the dome-shaped roof, richly ornamented +with carved stone or stucco garlands, whitewashed over +and terminating in a round skylight. There is another window at +the lower part of the dome. It is on the whole rather dimly +lighted. The water is clear and cold and is derived from a spring. +At one end of the bath steps cut in the marble floor lead to the +bottom of the water. The boxes for bathers run along one side +of the room, and a quaint little pyramidal mirror apparently as +old as the bath serves for toilet purposes. The ventilation is +good and the bath very refreshing, but not large enough for +vigorous swimming.</p> + +<p><cite>Coldbath</cite>, Coldbath Square, Clerkenwell.—This bath, whence +the name of Coldbath Fields comes, is upwards of 200 years old. +Access is obtained to it by a steep narrow and dark staircase, +that descends to a considerable depth below the level of the +ground. The present bath was originally two baths, one for +ladies, the other for gentlemen. They have been thrown into one, +<a id="png.11" href="#png.11"><span class="pagenum x-ebookmaker-drop"><span + class="ns">[</span>11<span class="ns">] + </span></span></a>which is 7 yards square, lined with marble, 4½ feet deep, with a +deeper longitudinal depression in the centre of what was formerly +the men’s bath, making the depth there 5 feet, just as in +the old Royal Bath. Above the marble, for about 3 feet, the +wall is faced with Dutch tiles. Above this, on two sides, rises a +whitewashed wall. On the other two sides runs a platform, with a +railing at the edge next the bath. At the angle formed by +the platform the railing is pierced to allow access down to +the bath by means of marble steps. The ceiling is of wood, +whitewashed, and is low. Two dim windows afford scanty illumination. +There are two or three bathing boxes in the bath room, +and there is a dressing room up a few steps, with benches to lay +the clothes on. The water is very clear and cold, and is said to +possess medicinal qualities from mineral impregnation. It is +derived from a spring, and is constantly running into the bath +from a lion’s head in clay. It is delightfully fresh and cold, +but hardly large enough for swimming comfortably in, and its +underground situation is a great drawback.</p> + +<p><cite>Camden Swimming Bath</cite>, Hampshire Grove, Torriano Avenue.—This +bath is about 20 yards long by 5 wide. It is lined +throughout with plaster, and is accessible only from one end, +where there are wooden steps down to the bottom. The walls, +whitewashed, run sheer up from the bath on either side and at the +other end. The depth is about five feet. At the entrance end is +a platform and six quite open boxes like square church pews. +The ceiling is on the double slope, whitewashed, and pierced by +seven small skylights, which illuminate the bath but dimly.</p> + +</blockquote> + +<p>These are all the cold plunge baths London possesses. The +three first are too small for swimming purposes, and the +last, though long enough, is very narrow and decidedly +mean in appearance. Being all under cover and some of +them quite subterranean, the air feels chilly and cellar-like, +and the great charm that all swimming in cold water +should possess, namely, the accompaniments of pure fresh +open air and sunlight, are sadly conspicuous by their +absence in them all. All except the Camden bath are open +all the year.</p> + +<p>I shall now pass on to a description of the tepid swimming +baths of London, but, before doing so, I will first make a +<a id="png.12" href="#png.12"><span class="pagenum x-ebookmaker-drop"><span + class="ns">[</span>12<span class="ns">] + </span></span></a>few remarks on tepid swimming baths in general. If the +water be but moderately heated, say not above 70°, and +frequently renewed, and if the ventilation of the bath be +good, swimming in it would be refreshing and salubrious, +and if not possessing all the charm or all the hygienic +power of open-air bathing, it may still be a health-giving +exercise not altogether despicable. But if, as often happens, +the water is too warm, say about 80°, seldom +renewed, and the ventilation bad, in all or either of such +conditions swimming, in place of being a healthy exercise, +becomes just the reverse. On coming out of such a bath +we feel no refreshment, but, on the contrary, we feel limp +and exhausted from the heat of the sodden water which has +lost all its vivifying air, and from the confined atmosphere of +the bathing room, tainted with the exhalations from the +bodies of the bathers. The temperature in these baths, +even of the same bath at different times, is very unequal. +Sometimes they are fresh and cool and apparently unmixed +with warm water. I found this to be the case in one of +the best of these baths one Sunday morning. I asked the +attendant how it happened that the bath was so pleasantly +cool, and he informed me that it was often so on a Sunday +morning, as so many people came there for warm baths +that there was no warm water to spare for the swimming +bath. However, he added a piece of information not altogether +so agreeable, to the effect that when it was deemed +necessary to heat the swimming bath under these circumstances, +this was often done by letting into it the water +that had already been used in the warm baths. If this +little manœuvre, so naïvely revealed to me by this bath +attendant, often takes place, it will fully account for the +flat “wersh” feel of the water of so many of the swimming +baths. But, without supposing anything so nasty, the +water will readily acquire this unrefreshing character, with a +number of persons bathing in it, if it be not frequently +renewed. In some of the swimming baths the water is +allowed to flow off every night and fresh water admitted +in the morning, and in them a certain amount of freshness +is always perceptible. But in many baths this excellent +<a id="png.13" href="#png.13"><span class="pagenum x-ebookmaker-drop"><span + class="ns">[</span>13<span class="ns">] + </span></span></a>plan is not adopted, and the water is either very seldom +allowed to flow off entirely, or the dribbling inflow from a +meagre jet and a corresponding outflow are considered sufficient. +Swimming in baths of this character is neither refreshing +nor wholesome. Imperfect ventilation is not such +a common occurrence in the metropolitan swimming baths, +for they have mostly lofty roofs and plenty of open windows. +However, some of them are defective on this point, and all +swimming in such a tainted atmosphere must be more prejudicial +than beneficial. On the whole, however, a careful +examination of the London swimming baths has convinced +me that, as a rule, they are highly creditable to the parochial +authorities by whom they have mostly been erected. +If not equal in hygienic influence to open-air swimming baths, +they are, at all events, excellent swimming schools, and, as +they are to be found in every quarter of the town, and their +price is extremely moderate, it is the fault of the Londoners +themselves if they do not learn to swim. The art acquired +even in a tepid swimming bath will be serviceable under all +other circumstances; and though one accustomed to these +artificially warmed shallow pools may at first feel not altogether +at his ease in cold deep water, yet the power of swimming +will not forsake him under these novel conditions, and +familiarity will soon enable him thoroughly to enjoy a +swim in river, lake or sea, and lead him to despise the +languid joys of the tepid tank.</p> + +<p>In the absence of any better classification I shall describe +the swimming baths of London in alphabetical order.</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p><cite>Albany Swimming Bath</cite>, York Road, Lambeth.—Length of +bath 17 yards; breadth 12; depth from 3 to 5 feet. 50 +boxes with half doors along 3 sides of the bath. A footway all +round the bath; a rude spring-board at the deeper end. The +ceiling is traversed by great beams; is dark coloured and pierced +by few windows. The water is of a yellowish colour, and so +opaque that no part of a body immersed in it is visible. This +peculiar appearance, I was told, was owing to the quantity of +iron it contains. “Highly recommended by the faculty for its +strengthening effects,” I was informed. It would need to have +some great medicinal virtues, for its appearance is not very inviting.</p> + +<p><a id="png.14" href="#png.14"><span class="pagenum x-ebookmaker-drop"><span + class="ns">[</span>14<span class="ns">]<br + ></span></span></a><cite>Alexandra Swimming Bath</cite>, Bennett Park, Blackheath.—This +bath is 18 yards long by 8 wide. Sides and bottom faced with +white porcelain tiles. Depth from 3 ft. 6 in. to 5 ft. 6 in. +Ceiling low, whitewashed. The lighting is effected by 4 dimmed +windows in a recess at the shallow end, and 6 windows at one +side, 5 of which open on to large square bathing boxes under a +glazed roof capable of accommodating each three or four bathers. +A gallery runs along the windows projecting over the bath, and +opposite this is another elevated gallery or platform, on which +stand 13 other bathing boxes of unequal sizes, with curtains in +place of doors. Few of the boxes are provided with mirrors. +There is a spring-board at the deep end, and “headers” may be +taken from the platform on which stand the bathing boxes. The +water is clear, but the ventilation seemed to me not very perfect, +and the illumination very indifferent, for though the bath has, +apparently, plenty of windows, 5 of these windows do not admit +the direct light of heaven, but only the light reflected from the +walls of the bathing boxes, and the other windows are dimmed +and unfavorably placed for illuminating purposes. Bathing +drawers are required to be worn and are supplied by the establishment.</p> + +<p><cite>Bermondsey Swimming Baths</cite>, Spa Road, Bermondsey.—This +bath is 13 yards long by 9 wide. The sides are of white +porcelain tiles, the top row having an ornamental blue pattern. +Bottom of white glazed bricks. Depth from 3 ft. 6 in. to 5 ft. 6 in. +The ceiling, of tasteful iron work, nicely painted, forms a double +slope, in which there is plenty of glass to illuminate the bath well. +The bathing boxes, 34 in number, are at both ends of the bath, +18 at the deep end, in two tiers, 14 at the shallow end similarly +arranged. They are roomy, neatly painted, and are provided +with mirrors and curtains in place of doors. There is a broad +footway in front of the boxes, and a gangway across the water at +one side, leading from one end to the other, and which, being +about 5 feet above the water, may be used as a spring-board. +Walls painted in oil colour rise from the water on both sides. +The water is quite clear. There is a second class bath precisely +the same in dimensions, the only difference being that the boxes +are not painted nor furnished with mirrors or curtains, and that +there is no ornamental border round the top of the bath.</p> + +<p><cite>City of London Swimming Baths</cite>, Golden Lane, Barbican.—These +<a id="png.15" href="#png.15"><span class="pagenum x-ebookmaker-drop"><span + class="ns">[</span>15<span class="ns">] + </span></span></a>baths are situated in a squalid district, the teeming population +of which seem not to avail themselves to any great extent +of the facilities for ablution the establishment affords. The first +class swimming bath is underground, dimly lighted by grimy +windows at both ends and one side, which derive their light at +second hand from other windows rising from the level of the +pavement. It is about 30 yards long by 11 wide; is deepest +(5 ft. 6 in.) in the centre, and shallow (3 ft. 6 in.) at either end. +The sides and a few feet of the bottom at one end are paved +with white porcelain tiles, the rest of the bottom with reddish +tiles. The water is clear. There is no visible out-and-in flow. +The bathing boxes, 20 in number, are sufficiently roomy. They +seem originally to have had half doors, but only two or three of +these remain. These boxes stand upon a sort of platform overhanging +the bath on one side. On the opposite side is a spring-board, +and another at one end. At the other end a sort of +Chinese bridge without a parapet crosses the water. The ceiling +is of moderate height, and consists of boards, through which +project clusters of iron pipes, evidently connected with the bath +and laundry arrangements above. The sides of the walls are +painted over with pious texts, with which the language of the +bathers at my visit did not correspond. There was a close smell +about the place, which must be much intensified when the bath +is full. Although the size of the bath is great, and the water +clear, and at my visit not too warm, this bath is not very inviting, +it being dark, ugly, and ill-ventilated. There is a second class +bath here of somewhat smaller dimensions.</p> + +<p><cite>Greenwich Swimming Baths.</cite>—The first class bath is 17 yards +long by 6 wide. Depth from 3 ft. 6 in. to 5 ft. 6 in. Sides and +bottom covered with a sort of asphalte painted white. Fourteen +open bathing boxes painted light blue, with curtains and +mirrors, along one side of the bath. Footway in front of the +boxes of slate. A narrow stone ledge at deep end, and in front +of it a plank across the bath for a spring-board<!-- TN: original reads "spring board" -->. Walls of brick, +whitewashed, rise directly from the bath at the shallow end and +the side opposite the boxes. Ceiling, of iron work, double slope, +with glass let in at the top. Ventilation and lighting good. +The second class bath is almost precisely the same, differing only +in the colour of the boxes, and there being no curtains to them.</p> + +<p><cite>Hammersmith Swimming Bath</cite>, Bridge street, Hammersmith.—This +<a id="png.16" href="#png.16"><span class="pagenum x-ebookmaker-drop"><span + class="ns">[</span>16<span class="ns">] + </span></span></a>bath is 20 yards long by 7 wide. The sides are of white +porcelain tiles with round black spots at the angles, the top row +having a blue flower pattern. The bottom of white and black +glazed bricks forming a pattern. Depth from 3 ft. 6 in. to 5 ft. 6 in.; +22 bathing boxes, painted drab and blue, with small mirrors and +half doors, run along one side and the shallow end. The footway +in front of the boxes and at the deep end is of wood, and projects +over the water. A narrow stone ledge runs along the opposite +side. The walls are sized stone colour. The ceiling is moderately +lofty, arched, and whitewashed. Gaseliers depend from it. Daylight +is admitted by two large windows in the side wall, and +three semicircular windows at each end. Panes of thick unpolished +glass are let into the roof all down the side where the boxes +are. The illumination is good. There is a spring board at the +deep end. The warm water is admitted at the surface of the +water at one corner of the bath, whereby the heat is very unequally +distributed. At my visit the top of the water in many parts +was quite warm, while the depths of the bath were very cold. +The water is clear. This bath is first class on Mondays, Wednesdays +and Fridays, and second class on the other days of the +week. It is an excellent bath, of good size, well lighted and +ventilated, and very clean—perhaps because it is new, and the +only fault to be found with it is in regard to the heating of the +water, which would be better if the warm water were admitted +at the bottom of the bath about its middle, in place of at the +surface of the water at one end.</p> + +<p><cite>Kensington Swimming Bath</cite>, High Street, Kensington.—This +little bath is about 10 yards long by 7 wide. It is lined, sides +and bottom, with cement painted white. Depth from 3 to 5 feet. +The walls, which rise straight up from the bath on three +sides, are painted in imitation of stone, and are festooned all round +with chains for the bathers to lay hold of. The ceiling, not +very lofty, is of wood, whitewashed, pierced by six windows, +which admit a good quantity of light. Four chains hang from +the ceiling to near the surface of the water. The water is very +clear and fresh. There are 8 boxes for bathers, entered at the +back by doors, and with half doors facing the water. Stone +steps lead down to the bottom of the water from these boxes, +which occupy the whole of the shallow end of the bath, are +rather narrow, but clean and neat, with mirrors. At one side +<a id="png.17" href="#png.17"><span class="pagenum x-ebookmaker-drop"><span + class="ns">[</span>17<span class="ns">] + </span></span></a>of the bath is a short footway projecting about 10 feet over the +water. A spring-board in the middle of the deep end, and at +the corners ladders for diving from. This bath, though small, +is clean, well ventilated, and select.</p> + +<p><cite>Lambeth Swimming Baths</cite>, Westminster Bridge Road.—The first +class bath is 41 yards by 15. Depth from 3 to 5 feet. The sides +of the bath have a row of white porcelain tiles above, the rest of +the sides and the bottom are lined with dusky tiles. The water +tolerably clear. An elegant fountain in the centre admits the +warm water. An aquarium at the shallow end. A lofty spring-board +at the deep end, a lower one at one side. Eighty roomy +boxes for bathers with half doors, running along each side of the +bath. Above these, on each side, is a gallery supported on light +iron pillars, with 16 superior rooms for bathers. Ceiling lofty, +double slope, pierced with numerous windows, which light the +bath well. A broad paved space between the boxes and the +water. This is the largest first class bath in London, and is much +used for swimming matches. It is well lighted and ventilated. +There is a second class bath nearly as large, 38 yards <span class="nw">by 17.</span></p> + +<p><cite>Marylebone Swimming Baths</cite>, Marylebone Road.—The first +class bath is 15 yards by 8. Depth from 3 ft. 6 in. to 5 ft. 6 in. +It is paved with blue and white porcelain tiles arranged in a +pattern. The sides are of slate slabs, with an elegant border at +the top, of blue and white pattern, in porcelain tiles. The boxes, +10 in number, and provided with a complete door that closes +with a spring lock, which can be opened on the inside by a +handle, but on the outside only by a key, are roomy, clean, and +provided with mirrors. They run along one side of the bath +only, and in front of them is a footway of slate. The walls rise +from the water on the other sides, and are painted imitation +stone. A spring-board passes across the deep end of the bath. At +the shallow end is a shell fountain of white marble, whence fresh +water is always flowing into the bath with a pleasant sound. The +ceiling is lofty, ridge and furrow, with many lights. This is a little +gem of a bath, the water is generally fresh and clear, the lighting +and ventilation excellent. It is open on Wednesdays till 2 o’clock +for ladies. There are also a second and a third class +bath below the level of the street, each 23 yards long, lined with +blue and white porcelain tiles, well lighted by glass roofs, clean +and tasteful. Accommodating respectively 30 and 40 bathers in +neat, open, varnished wooden boxes.</p> + +<p><a id="png.18" href="#png.18"><span class="pagenum x-ebookmaker-drop"><span + class="ns">[</span>18<span class="ns">]<br + ></span></span></a><cite>Metropolitan Swimming Baths</cite>, Ashley Crescent, City Road.—The +principal bath is 33 yards long by 11 wide. Depth from 3 ft. +10 in. to 5 ft. There is also a smaller bath 16 yards long by 9 wide, +of a uniform depth of 5 feet. The large bath is lined with +reddish bricks, and a row of white porcelain tiles runs round the +top. The boxes, 47 in number, run down both sides and along +the shallow end. They are placed two and two between pillars +supporting arches. They are roomy, and are entered by a door +leading from a corridor at the back. A half door opens on to +the water, down to which there are wooden steps in front of +each box. The boxes have no mirrors. The corridor extends +all round the boxes, which are between it and the bath, so that +the bath can only be entered through the boxes or at the deep +end of the bath, where there is a platform and spring-board, +beneath which the water is admitted, when required, in a large +cascade. Ornamental colouring is applied to the pillars and +arches supporting the ceiling, which is moderately lofty, flat, and +whitewashed, with two circular skylights. The bath is further +lighted by 22 windows looking into the corridor, placed just +below the ceiling. The lighting is not so good as might be +expected from the number of windows, as they are unfortunately +placed. The water is clear, and the ventilation good.</p> + +<p>The smaller bath is lined with cement painted. It is surrounded +by 48 boxes with half doors placed against the wall, +and there is a broad footway betwixt the boxes and the bath. +Some of the boxes are in a recess at the head of the bath. +There is a spring-board at one end. The water is clear, and +apparently kept somewhat cooler than that in the large bath.</p> + +<p><cite>The Wenlock Swimming Bath</cite>, Wenlock Road, is the second class +bath to the Metropolitan. It is 60 yards long and 10 wide. It +can accommodate a vast number of bathers in boxes with half doors +on either side and at the top, and an unlimited number of spectators +in galleries above the boxes. This bath being the longest in +London is much used for swimming matches. The water is very far +from clear, and the arrangements are altogether very second class.</p> + +<p><cite>North London Swimming Baths</cite>, Pentonville Road.—The first +class bath is 18 yards by 7. Depth from 3 to 4 feet; deepest in +the middle. The sides are lined with white porcelain tiles with +ornamented top row, the bottom paved with red tiles. There +are 24 roomy bathing boxes, with mirrors, running along one +<a id="png.19" href="#png.19"><span class="pagenum x-ebookmaker-drop"><span + class="ns">[</span>19<span class="ns">] + </span></span></a>side and one end. Above these is a gallery which will accommodate +bathers or spectators. A flagged footway runs in front of +the boxes. At the end and side not occupied by the boxes, a +spring-board runs along the whole length, and there is another +spring-board near the middle of the opposite side. Three trapezes +hang from the ceiling for the daring flights of amphibious +Leotards. The ceiling is lofty, of dark stained wood, and glass +in sufficient quantity to light the bath well. The side walls are +of bare yellow brick. The water is clear, the lighting and ventilation +good, but the depth of the bath is quite insufficient, and +in plunging from the spring-board one must take care of one’s +head against the bottom. There is a second class bath somewhat +smaller.</p> + +<p><cite>Poplar Swimming Baths</cite>, East India Dock Road.—There are +two baths, first and second class, of similar dimensions, 15 yards +by 9. I was unable to inspect them, as the baths close at the +end of September, and my visit was made during the first days +of October, when the baths were locked up, and the man who had +the key was absent. They were described to me by an intelligent +policeman as very nice baths—I presume of the usual character +of parochial baths, of which I have examined and described +so many.</p> + +<p><cite>Royal York Swimming Baths</cite>, York Terrace, Regent’s Park.—There +are two swimming baths, one for gentlemen, the other for +ladies.</p> + +<p>The gentlemen’s bath is of an irregular shape, about 22 yards +long by 7 wide. Depth from 3 to 5 feet. A spring-board at +each end. The bath is floored with tiles of a dusky reddish-brown +colour, the sides of white bricks. The bathing boxes, 20 +in number, very narrow, with half doors, run along the top and +down a part of one side. The walls, whitewashed, support a low +ridge and furrow ceiling, with dimmed panes of glass let into it. +A narrow ledge runs along one side of the bath. Small jets of +water run in at one end. At my visit the plaster was peeling off +the walls in patches, and green mould was creeping up the walls. +This, with the low ceiling, the dim illumination, and the dismal +colour of the material of which the bath is constructed, gave a +gloomy and uninviting aspect to the place. Still, I am bound +to say, the water was clear and pleasant.</p> + +<p>The ladies’ bath is smaller, 10 yards by 7. Depth 4 ft. 6 in. +<a id="png.20" href="#png.20"><span class="pagenum x-ebookmaker-drop"><span + class="ns">[</span>20<span class="ns">] + </span></span></a>Lined with white porcelain tiles. Platform and 6 boxes with +curtains at one end. The walls, whitewashed, rise up from the +bath at the other three sides, and support a not very lofty ridge +and furrow ceiling pierced with a few windows. This bath, +which is the only one I know of in London exclusively devoted +to ladies, deserves attention on that account. It is far from +being everything that is desirable, but the water is clear, and +there is just room enough to learn swimming.</p> + +<p><cite>St. George’s Swimming Bath</cite>, Davies Street, Berkeley Square.—This +bath is 14 yards by 8. Depth 3 ft. 6 in. to 5 ft. 6 in. +Sides paved with white porcelain tiles with black spots at angles; +a top row with Greek pattern in blue, bottom of white glazed +bricks. Open boxes with mirrors and half curtains, 42 in number, +all round the bath. A sloppy, slippery wooden footway in front +of boxes. Spring-board at deep end. Wooden steps down to +the bath at the middle of one side and at one corner. Ceiling, +supported on iron pillars, of painted iron work. The light comes +from a large skylight at the top of a high narrow funnel with +painted iron sides, and from 7 small windows over the top of the +boxes on one side. The water is clear, but the lighting is very +indifferent, and the ventilation decidedly defective. The wringing +machine belonging to the laundry keeps up an almost incessant +and very lugubrious noise. This bath is first class on Mondays, +Wednesdays, and Fridays, and second class on the other days of +the week. It is under the same management as the</p> + +<p><cite>St. George’s Swimming Bath</cite>, Buckingham Palace Road.—This +bath is 20 yards by 8. Depth from 3 ft. 4 in. to 5 ft. 4 in. +Sides of white porcelain tiles with black spots at angles, and a +Greek pattern in blue along the top row. Bottom of white +glazed bricks. Forty-six open boxes, with half curtains and +mirrors, on three sides of the bath. Wooden footway all round. +Ceiling, of iron work, lofty, supported on painted iron pillars all +round the bath. Lighted by a large glass roof. Spring-board +at deep end. This bath is much superior in size, lighting, and +ventilation, to the establishment in Davies Street. Like the +latter, it is first class on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and +second class on other days. It closes the end of October, but +the bath in Davies Street is open all the year.</p> + +<p><cite>St. Giles’ and St. George’s, Bloomsbury, Swimming Baths</cite>, Endell +Street.—The first class bath has an oblong shape, broader at one +<a id="png.21" href="#png.21"><span class="pagenum x-ebookmaker-drop"><span + class="ns">[</span>21<span class="ns">] + </span></span></a>end than the other. Its length is 12 yards by 10 at the deep +end, tapering off to 8 at the shallow end. Depth from 4 ft. to +6 ft. Sides lined with white porcelain tiles with round black +spots at angles, a blue pattern on top row. Bottom of white +glazed bricks. Twenty-three open boxes, with mirrors and +curtains, on one side and along the shallow end. A wide footway +of slate on three sides of the bath. A spring-board at deep end. +Pillars, of painted iron, round three sides of the bath, supporting +the roof. A painted screen about 12 feet high separates this +from the second class bath, which is in all respects the same as +the first class, except that the boxes are not painted and have +neither mirrors nor curtains. The two baths have a common +roof of glass, very lofty, and with elegant iron-work supports. +The water is clear and fresh, the ventilation and lighting excellent. +This and the Tower Hamlets bath are the only ones in London +where a middle-sized man can get out of his depth, which is a +great charm to the practised swimmer.</p> + +<p><cite>St. James’ Swimming Bath</cite>, Marshall Street, Golden Square.—You +mount up a flight of steps to get to this bath. It is about +13 yards by 9. Depth from 3 to 5 feet. Sides of bath slate, +bottom plaster. Eighteen open boxes. A lofty ceiling, well +lighted. The water is dirty looking, and the whole arrangements +very inferior, and altogether second class.</p> + +<p><cite>St. Margaret’s and St. John’s Swimming Baths</cite>, Great Smith +Street, Westminster.—The first class bath is 12 yards by 10. It +is lined throughout, and for 3 feet above the water, with white +glazed bricks. Depth from 3 ft. to 5 ft. 6 in. Boxes 16, open, +with mirrors, in two tiers at the shallow end. A footway 6 feet +broad in front of boxes, about 3 feet above the water, to which +two flights of wooden steps lead down. A narrow gangway, about +6 feet above the water, leads to a door opening on to the second +class bath, which is very similar to this, only 3 feet longer, and +with double the number of boxes arranged similarly at either end. +The walls, whitewashed, rise from the water on three sides. They +support a lofty double sloped ceiling of painted wood, with glass let +in along each slope. The water is clear, and the bath is tolerably +well lighted and ventilated, but as it is deficient in everything +ornamental, it has rather a mean appearance.</p> + +<p><cite>St. Pancras Swimming Baths</cite>, King Street, Camden Town.—The +first class bath is 19 yards by 8. The corners of the bath +<a id="png.22" href="#png.22"><span class="pagenum x-ebookmaker-drop"><span + class="ns">[</span>22<span class="ns">] + </span></span></a>are rounded. The sides of white porcelain tiles, the top row +ornamented with blue dolphins. The bottom is of glazed black +and white bricks arranged in a pattern. Depth from 3 ft. 4 in. +to 5 ft. 5 in. A spring-board at deep end. The boxes, 25 in +number, with mirrors and half doors, run down one side and +along deep end. At the shallow end, and in front of the boxes, a +footway of stone flags. At the other side runs a screen about +10 feet high, separating it from the second class bath, which is +identical with it in all respects save the mirrors and dolphins. +The two baths are covered, to the extent of one half, by a very +lofty glass dome. The other half of the bath is overhung by a +not very lofty ceiling of plaster and ironwork, with sundry round +holes in it, displaying intricate conglomerations of iron pipes. +The water is beautifully clear, and the lighting and ventilation +good. It is one of the most recent of the parochial baths, and +does great credit to the much-reviled St. Pancras Board of +Guardians.</p> + +<p><cite>Tower Hamlets Swimming Baths</cite>, Church Street, Mile End +New Town.—First class bath 23 yards by 10. Depth from 5 to +6 feet. The sides and bottom of bath of cement painted white. +Forty-two unnumbered boxes, with doors which do not lock, and +are cut away slightly at top to admit light, run along the two ends +and one side of the bath. Above them is a gallery with seats, where +more bathers or spectators can be accommodated. On the opposite +side runs a gangway over the water, which can be used as a +spring-board. The footway in front of the boxes is of stone +flags. The walls, of brick, are whitewashed on the three sides +where the boxes are, with some attempt at colour near the top, +and a gorgeous Royal Arms at one end. The other side is of +wood painted, forming the partition between this and the second +class bath. The roof is on the double slope, of wood, dark and +grimy. Glass is let in at the top on both sides. The illumination +is indifferent, the boxes rather rickety, and, on the whole, the +bath, though extent and depth of water are satisfactory, is decidedly +shabby. The second class bath is the same as the first, except +that the boxes are open, 26 in number, and so much larger, +that each box will accommodate on an emergency ten bathers. +The proprietor informed me that he has seen 1200 bathers together +in this bath, 500 or 600 in the water at one time. There +is no attempt at colouring on the whitewashed walls, and the +water is not so deep as that in the first class bath by half a foot.</p> + +</blockquote> + +<p><a id="png.23" href="#png.23"><span class="pagenum x-ebookmaker-drop"><span + class="ns">[</span>23<span class="ns">]<br + ></span></span></a>Some of the above tepid swimming baths are open all +the year round. Some, where there are first and second +class baths, close one of these during the winter and strike +an average of the prices of admission. Some close at the +end of September, others at the end of October, to reopen +in April. The prices of the swimming baths connected +with the parochial baths and washhouses are usually 4<i>d.</i> for +the 1st class and 2<i>d.</i> for the 2nd class. A few charge 6<i>d.</i> 1st +class, some 3<i>d.</i> 2nd class, and one, the Marylebone, charges +8<i>d.</i> 1st, 4<i>d.</i> 2nd, and 2<i>d.</i> 3rd class. The non-parochial +swimming baths, Kensington and Blackheath, are 1<i>s.</i> each.</p> + +<p>Almost all the swimming baths are the head quarters of +one or more swimming clubs, which generally have one night +a week for their meetings and practisings. With few exceptions +they have all attached to them a professional swimmer, +in most cases one of the bath attendants, who teaches +swimming to beginners and coaches aspirants after prizes in +that extraordinary mode of rapid swimming adopted by the +London aquatic athletes, in plunging, in picking up eggs from +the bottom of the bath, and other equally useless feats. +The shallowness of the baths prevents all practice of the +really useful accomplishment of diving deep in water from +a height or while swimming; and I am not aware of any +instruction being given in the very difficult art of rescuing +a drowning person. I need not say that this is a +dangerous and difficult operation as long as the person to be +rescued is able to struggle and clutch at his rescuer. It +too often happens that the desperate efforts of a drowning +person drag both himself and his would-be preserver to the +bottom. In some books it is recommended not to attempt +the rescue of a drowning man until he has ceased to struggle, +when it may be too late. There is a method of grasping +and supporting a drowning person, however lively, that +should be taught to swimmers, which will enable them to +save life without much peril to themselves; and this could +be taught in our swimming baths, but no prizes are awarded +for it, and professionals, for the most part, think only of +teaching what will win prizes at the swimming competitions. +By the way, either Shakspeare understood little about +<a id="png.24" href="#png.24"><span class="pagenum x-ebookmaker-drop"><span + class="ns">[</span>24<span class="ns">] + </span></span></a>swimming or he intended to represent Cassius as a vain +boaster, which, however, is hardly consistent with his character +in the play, when he makes him talk about rescuing +the drowning Cæsar by taking him on his shoulders as +Æneas did Anchises.</p> + +<p>The above, as far as I can ascertain, are all the places +expressly constructed for swimming purposes at present +existing in London,<a id="fn3"></a><a title="Go to footnote 3" + href="#Footnote3" class="fnanchor"><span + class="ns">[Footnote </span>3<span class="ns">] + </span></a> and if they fully answered the ends +for which they were designed, and enabled their frequenters +to obtain the full benefit of the hygienic exercise of swimming, +one could scarcely say that they were too few for +even such an immense town. But they are of little +use in a hygienic point of view. I must remind the +reader that in order to derive the full health-giving advantages +from swimming, it must be performed in cool and +deep water, with plenty of room, and surrounded by the +wholesome accessaries of fresh air and sunlight. Moreover, +the mind of the swimmer should not be harassed +and anxious. Now, the London swimming baths satisfy +none of these requirements. They are, with one exception +(for we cannot count the three ancient plunge baths among +swimming baths, on account of their puny dimensions), +all tepid. This is no fixed temperature, but varies in every +bath, and in the same bath at different times. It may +mean any temperature from 65° to 80°, or upwards. The +lower temperature would not be objectionable in the point +of view of salubrity, but it would not be relished by the +swimmers, who would insist on more warm water being +added, or otherwise the most of them would forsake the +bath. When the water approaches the higher temperature +indicated, swimming in it is followed by languor and prostration, +more prejudicial to health than otherwise. To me +<a id="png.25" href="#png.25"><span class="pagenum x-ebookmaker-drop"><span + class="ns">[</span>25<span class="ns">] + </span></span></a>the water in this state feels sodden and lifeless, and though +one can stay in it a long time without shivering, the longer +one stays in the more prostrated does one feel afterwards, +and a good cold douche or shower-bath would be required +to restore anything like tone to the system.</p> + +<p>The London swimming baths are all shallow, with two +exceptions, and these are only six feet deep at their deepest +part. There is consequently no opportunity for diving +deep and experiencing the powerful influence of the pressure +of a considerable column of water on the organs of respiration +and circulation.</p> + +<p>With few exceptions the London swimming baths are +too small. When any considerable number of bathers are +in the water, then there is hardly room for the swimmers, +who are consequently continually butting against, or kicking, +or even scratching one another in a manner anything but +favorable for the preservation of good temper—a most +essential requisite in a hygienic point of view.</p> + +<p>None of the London baths have the advantage of pure +fresh air. Some of them are close, stuffy and fœtid. +The best of them can only be said to be well ventilated, +but no amount of ventilation in a covered building is an +equivalent for the caller air with its fresh breezes, that play +around and about the exposed body of the open air bather.</p> + +<p>Few of the London baths have a sufficiency of light. +Some are mere gloomy cellars. In the very best of them +the body does not receive the direct rays of the sun, the +light being transmitted through glass of greater or less +thickness, often artificially dimmed, in case it should +impinge too strongly on the exposed body. The powerful +hygienic effects of light on the body have recently received +much attention, and it is no doubt a chief agent in the +salubrious influence of open-air bathing. To construct a +swimming bath where the light is nearly excluded is to +forego one of the greatest advantages of the bath.</p> + +<p>Lastly, how can the mind remain free from anxiety, +when, according to the arrangement in every bath in +London, with one exception, the bather’s clothes and valuables +have to be left in open boxes, to which any person +<a id="png.26" href="#png.26"><span class="pagenum x-ebookmaker-drop"><span + class="ns">[</span>26<span class="ns">] + </span></span></a>can enter, while in most baths a notice is stuck up to the +effect that the bath proprietor is not responsible for clothes +or valuables, but that each bather must look after his own. +In some of the baths the ticket givers will take charge of +watches, jewellery, and money, but in many others they +refuse to do so, and one is forced to leave everything +exposed. With this alarming notice staring one in the +face, what must be the state of mind of a timid bather +under such circumstances, when the bath is tolerably full +of the extremely mixed company which frequents these +baths, I shall leave the reader to imagine. Certainly if +the conditions were otherwise hygienically good, the moral +state thus induced would suffice to neutralize them.</p> + +<p>Besides the above swimming baths, cold and tepid, under +cover, and not to be enjoyed without payment, London +has, or had, two large open-air gratuitous swimming baths, +fulfilling in many respects the requirements of hygienic +swimming baths, but objectionable in several important +particulars; I allude to the great bathing lake in Hyde +Park—the Serpentine, and the two smaller lakes in Victoria +Park.</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p><cite>The Serpentine</cite>, before the “levelling-up” operations commenced, +was in very bad repute. Its depth was supposed to be +very great in some places; a delusion its drainage has dispelled, +for it appears to be nowhere above 12 or 14 feet deep. Its +bottom was supposed to be foul with the accumulated sediment +from the sewers which discharged themselves into it for many +years; its drainage has shown it to be foul beyond all conception, +and the wonder is that its water was not more impure +than we know it to have been, resting on such a thick stratum +of abominations. The water was impure,<a id="fn4"></a><a title="Go to footnote 4" + href="#Footnote4" class="fnanchor"><span + class="ns">[Footnote </span>4<span class="ns">] + </span></a> there is no denying it, +and its impurity was often as obvious to the nose as to the eye. +And yet a swim in the old Serpentine on a cool spring or autumn +morning was not a bad thing—<i lang="la">experto credite</i>. It was a fine +<a id="png.27" href="#png.27"><span class="pagenum x-ebookmaker-drop"><span + class="ns">[</span>27<span class="ns">] + </span></span></a>expanse of water, with beautiful surroundings. The eye rested with +pleasure on the green sward of the park, the stately old elms, the +picturesque bridge, the pretty little Swiss boathouse, and the +monstrous black Duke prancing over the trees. Then if you did +not examine too minutely the green confervæ that rendered the +water almost opaque, if you kept your eyes more skyward, if +you became used to the faint ditch-water smell around you, and +“made believe a good deal,” you might almost fancy yourself +disporting in a retired lake far away in the country. The +company was not so bad as was usually supposed. The roughs +don’t like getting up early even to wash themselves, so there +were few of them; they mostly deferred their bathing till the +evening. Most of the bathers seemed quiet, steady, respectable +people. The regular bathers would generally bring along +with them a bit of carpet, or hire a rug from the Humane +Society’s boatmen to lay their clothes on, and thus save them +getting wet by the dew. There was room and to spare for all on +the broad bosom of London’s great lake, and when you could forget +the stories about the horrors below you, and refrain from looking +too curiously at the green abominations that thickened the water, +a long swim in the deep placid Serpentine, with the sun shining +down on you, and the gentle breeze fanning you, was infinitely +preferable to any cold or tepid swimming bath in London. If the +lover of the swimming bath is to gain nothing by the works now +going on in the Serpentine besides clear water in a shallow bed, +he will, perhaps, rather regret the loss of his deep but dirty lake. +Bathing was permitted in the Serpentine from 5 to 8 a.m., and +again after sunset for an hour or so; but no provision at all was +made for the accommodation of bathers, beyond a couple of boats +belonging to the Humane Society stationed near where most +bathers resorted.</p> + +<p><cite>Victoria Park Bathing Lakes.</cite>—There are two of these lakes. +The more easterly one is nearly 300 yards long, and is surrounded +by a gravel walk, beyond which are shrubs. The more westerly one +is nearly as large, and is more hemmed in by trees and shrubs, +and has several islands in it. Both have a depth of 6 feet in +their deepest part, becoming gradually shallow towards the shore. +The eastern lake is much the clearest. There is a raft on one, +and a small shabby bathing house on the other. A swimming +master resides at one end of the eastern lake, who apparently +<a id="png.28" href="#png.28"><span class="pagenum x-ebookmaker-drop"><span + class="ns">[</span>28<span class="ns">] + </span></span></a>adds to the profits of his profession by selling ginger-beer and +sugar-plums. The time when bathing is allowed is from 4 to 8 a.m. +The remainder of the day the best of the lakes is much +resorted to by the owners of miniature yachts, in order to test +the sailing powers of their tiny craft. There is, of course, here +also no arrangement for the safe bestowal of one’s clothes while +one is in the water, so that, as in the Serpentine, you bathe at +your own proper peril.</p> + +</blockquote> + +<p>The lakes in these two parks are the only places in +which the inhabitants of London are permitted to indulge +in open-air bathing.<a id="fn5"></a><a title="Go to footnote 5" + href="#Footnote5" class="fnanchor"><span + class="ns">[Footnote </span>5<span class="ns">] + </span></a> To be sure there is the river, and +there are numerous canals in which the gamins plunge in +summer, but they do so at the risk of being seized by the +police and brought before a magistrate charged with the +heinous offence of indecency, so that all who have any +respect for the law are practically debarred from making +use of these waters. Besides, in spite of the recent drainage +works, the Thames is still little better than an open sewer, +and it will be long before it is anything else;<a id="fn6"></a><a title="Go to footnote 6" + href="#Footnote6" class="fnanchor"><span + class="ns">[Footnote </span>6<span class="ns">] + </span></a> and the +canals are, with few exceptions, so dirty, that there is little +inducement to the respectable swimmer to brave the terrors +of the law, and defy the threats against trespassers, in +order to indulge in his favorite exercise in either river +or canal. So, practically, he is limited to the Serpentine +and Victoria lakes, and to these only at the inconvenient +hours, and under the uncomfortable circumstances I have +described.</p> + +<p>While almost every second-rate continental town has +<a id="png.29" href="#png.29"><span class="pagenum x-ebookmaker-drop"><span + class="ns">[</span>29<span class="ns">] + </span></span></a>ample provision for open-air bathing, it is disgraceful that +a large and wealthy metropolis like London should virtually +have nothing of the sort. How much pleasure do its +citizens consequently lose! what a powerful hygienic agent +are they not deprived of! And yet London offers more +facilities than almost any other town I know of for the +construction of open-air swimming baths of the best kind, +and that without infringing on the comfort or privileges of +any one. In the Serpentine, when the levelling operations +are completed, the finest swimming baths the world can +show might be constructed for a very small sum of money, +and I venture to say that while the convenience and wishes +of thousands who delight in swimming, and to whom an +open-air bath is a source of health and pleasure, would be +gratified, no person would be inconvenienced, nor would +anything unpleasant be presented to the eye.</p> + +<p>The arrangements heretofore in force pleased no one; +the bathing public were put to every sort of inconvenience, +and the non-bathing public were disgusted that for certain +hours in the day the banks of the Serpentine should be +handed over to a horde of naked savages, rendering it impossible +for any decent female to venture near them. It +is surely the duty of the authorities who permit bathing in +the Park to provide that it may be done with safety and +comfort, and without outraging decency.</p> + +<p>I would suggest that a first and second class swimming +bath be built at the south side of the Serpentine when its +depth has been equalised, as proposed, to 5 ft. 6 in., shelving +into shallow water towards the shore. These ought, I think, +to be, not floating baths, but permanent constructions of +light and elegant appearance. Each bath should be at +least 150 yards long by 50 or 60 wide. Round the bath +should run a platform flagged with slates, with steps +down to the water, and spring-boards. There should be +boxes for bathers round the whole bath, to the number +of 200 or 300. These boxes should be numbered, and +have complete doors, with a pane of glass let in, and +closing with a spring lock, to be opened by the attendant +to the bather having a corresponding ticket. This for the +<a id="png.30" href="#png.30"><span class="pagenum x-ebookmaker-drop"><span + class="ns">[</span>30<span class="ns">] + </span></span></a>security of the bather’s clothes and valuables. For what +right, I may ask, has any one to invite me into his bathing +establishment, induce me to divest myself of my clothes +and valuables, and plunge beneath the water, while he +offers me no security for my property, which he directs me +hang up in a perfectly open box, and cautions me to look +after myself? How I am to look after it when I am +swimming in or under the water he does not inform me. +Even if, when so engaged, I were to perceive a thief +occupied in rifling my pockets or appropriating my garments, +it would avail little that <i lang="la">de profundis clamavi</i>, “stop thief!” +By the time I could get out of the water and make towards +him, he would probably have got clear off with his booty. +Therefore, the simple plan adopted in the Marylebone first +class swimming bath, of full doors closing with a spring-lock, +is indispensable for the security and comfort of the bather.<a id="fn7"></a><a title="Go to footnote 7" + href="#Footnote7" class="fnanchor"><span + class="ns">[Footnote </span>7<span class="ns">] + </span></a> +To make the security absolute, it would only be requisite +to provide each bather with a ticket of bone or metal, the +number of which would correspond with his box; and this +by a simple contrivance might be fastened to his bathing +drawers (without which no one should be allowed to bathe), +and the attendant would only open the door corresponding +to this number. I have dwelt, in what some may think +too much detail, on this apparently trivial matter, but from +experience I can testify that much of the comfort of a bath +depends on one being assured that one’s clothes are in a +place of safety. The boxes should be closed in at top +with a glazed roof, as in the Hammersmith bath, and the +roof, either glazed or of corrugated iron, should extend over +the platform, as in a railway station, to afford shelter from +sun or rain when not in the bath. The water should be +quite open to sun and air. The prices of admission need +not be greater—might indeed be less—than those of the +generality of the parochial baths, viz. fourpence, first class, +twopence, second class. For this the bather should be +supplied with one or two towels, and bathing drawers, +<a id="png.31" href="#png.31"><span class="pagenum x-ebookmaker-drop"><span + class="ns">[</span>31<span class="ns">] + </span></span></a>unless he prefer to wear his own. And here I would hint +that the towels should always be washed after being used, +and not merely dried, as seems to be the case in some of +the baths, if I may be allowed to infer from their sickening +smell. It would surely not be too much to expect a +refreshment room or buffet in connexion with these baths, +as is often to be found on the continent; such an addition +would be highly desirable, if practicable.</p> + +<p>These baths should be open from an early hour until +dusk, so as to suit the convenience of all. Many persons +cannot take an open-air bath in the morning without +injury, but can derive benefit from, and enjoy, a swim in +the middle of the day. Again, their occupations make it +more convenient for some to bathe at one time, for others +at another time, and the tastes and convenience of all +would be consulted by having the bath open all day.</p> + +<p>When such swimming baths are built, bathing, except in +these, should be altogether forbidden in the Serpentine. +Thus the non-bathing public would gain greatly by being +spared the indecent scenes that have hitherto rendered that +part of Hyde Park impassable for women in the morning +and evening, and swimmers would have everything they +could wish for. It might be a question whether bathers +might not be permitted to swim from the bath in the +Serpentine outside of it early in the morning. In the +competitions of swimming clubs, greater space is often +desirable than could be obtained in any bath.</p> + +<p>A similar construction might be made on the eastern lake +in Victoria park, which is in size, depth, and form, quite +adapted for it. If the Lilliputian yachters should think +their vested rights thereby interfered with, the other bathing +lake might be abandoned to them entirely.</p> + +<p>Excellent swimming baths might also be made on one of +the arms at the east end of the lake in St. James’s Park, +without interfering with any one’s rights or comfort. +The water is already of the required depth, and the part +indicated is but little frequented except by a few water-fowl.</p> + +<p>The lake in Regent Park is also well adapted for a +<a id="png.32" href="#png.32"><span class="pagenum x-ebookmaker-drop"><span + class="ns">[</span>32<span class="ns">] + </span></span></a>swimming bath. There is a portion of the water, midway +between the two suspension bridges, nearly hidden from +every habitation by an island covered with trees, where +the bath might be built so as to be in nobody’s way.<!-- TN: original has comma --> +However, as it is quite easy to make the structure pretty, +I don’t see why any person should object to a full view <span class="nw">of it.</span></p> + +<p>Battersea Park possesses a large expanse of water, and a +few hundred yards of it might be very well spared by the +gardeners and aquatic birds, to whom it is at present +dedicated, for the purpose of a large swimming bath, which +would complement the gymnasia in which the park at present +abounds. The water, being only about 3 feet in depth, +would not be suitable for a swimming bath without further +deepening, but that is an operation which, I presume, would +present no difficulty. It would be a great advantage to have a +continuous and steady influx and outflow of water in all these +lakes; this would insure constant freshness of the swimming +baths. I am not conversant with engineering matters, but +I should think that this might easily be effected by means +of artesian wells in suitable situations, if the flow of water +cannot be obtained from the water companies.</p> + +<p>I have thus shown how the great want of London, in the +matter of open-air swimming baths, might be supplied by +utilizing a portion of the water in five of the existing +parks.<a id="fn8"></a><a title="Go to footnote 8" + href="#Footnote8" class="fnanchor"><span + class="ns">[Footnote </span>8<span class="ns">] + </span></a> As there are other parks projected, or in course +of formation in other parts of London, it would, of course, +be easy to apply the same principle to the lakes that might +be formed in them.</p> + +<p>These baths would not interfere in any way with the +existing swimming baths, for there would still remain a +sufficiency of bathers who prefer tepid to cold water, and +as a vastly greater number of persons would take to bathing +than do now, they would, undoubtedly, first resort to the +covered baths, in order to learn to swim, before frequenting +the open-air baths. The covered swimming baths would +<a id="png.33" href="#png.33"><span class="pagenum x-ebookmaker-drop"><span + class="ns">[</span>33<span class="ns">] + </span></span></a>also still be resorted to by those who prefer to swim in the +evening, and by those who like to continue their bathing +during the winter months.</p> + +<p>And here I should say a few words respecting the prejudice +in favour of sea-bathing, which is almost universal with +us. It is believed that there is something in the sea water +that renders it far more salutary than fresh water. This is +undoubtedly true with respect to certain morbid states of the +body—such as scrofula; but it is far from being universally +true. To many persons the seaside and sea water are little +else than poisonous, and bathing in the sea, or mere residence +near the sea, produces very prejudicial effects. To +most healthy persons it is not the contents of the water +that do good, but the exercise and the reactions caused by +the temperature and the other elements I have indicated +above. By many swimming in the sea is preferred to +swimming in fresh water for various reasons, independent of +any medicinal action of its salts. They like the charm +of bathing in the boundless ocean with all its romantic +accompaniments; they swim with greater facility and +confidence, as the greater specific gravity of salt water +floats them higher. It may be urged that medical men +invariably send people to the sea for bathing. That is +nearly true; but then medical men are not altogether free +from sharing the national prejudice in favour of the superior +salubrity of sea water. Moreover, it is for patients +their advice is sought, not healthy persons, and the maladies +these patients are suffering from may seem to them to +require the medicinal effect of sea water. But undoubtedly +the chief reason for their recommendation is, that they +know that there are facilities for bathing in the sea, but +they would be much at a loss to name any place where +their clients could obtain comfortable freshwater open-air +bathing. For my own part, though I love the sea in all its +moods, and in part because it has so many moods, I dislike +the sticky hair and generally dirty feeling it causes, and +its nasty taste when one gets a mouthful; and I would +much prefer that its waters were as soft, sweet, and cleansing +as those of a Scotch or Swiss lake. To my mind the +<a id="png.34" href="#png.34"><span class="pagenum x-ebookmaker-drop"><span + class="ns">[</span>34<span class="ns">] + </span></span></a>finest swimming bath in the world is the Lake of Geneva. +There you have the changing moods of the ocean, while +the water is fresh and sweet, and of such a lovely blue, +that your body when immersed in it seems as white as +marble, and, like Narcissus, you are ready to fall in love +with your beautified person. Give us freshwater baths in +the open air, and a removal to the seaside will not be +desired or needed by many who are now attracted thither.</p> + +<p>When speaking of the advantages of swimming in the +open air, I have not meant that these advantages were +limited to the male sex. On the contrary, I am strongly +of opinion that swimming is an exercise equally, if not more, +adapted to women as to men. Men have their hundreds +of games and occupations that keep their muscles in constant +and varied play. From these women are practically +debarred, and the exigencies of society limit their exercises +to but few, and some of these can only be enjoyed by the +wealthier classes. The tyranny of fashion, too, compels +them to dress themselves in a manner specially unfavorable +to healthy exercise, and the consequence is that thousands +fall into ill health which might be averted if their muscular +system and circulation had only a fair chance. Swimming, +which must be performed without the restraints of fashionable +garments, is of all others the kind of exercise from +which most advantage may be reaped. To most women, +also, swimming comes easier than to men. Their bodies +are generally of less specific gravity, and so float more +easily in water, whether fresh or salt. This being so they +sooner acquire the confidence necessary to make good +swimmers. Then, as the water sustains the whole weight of +the body, and as they are no longer restrained by the bands, +bones and laces of their dress, they are free to bring into +full play, without fatigue, all those muscles which have +hitherto been kept in thrall by the milliner’s devices.</p> + +<p>As a means of maintaining and even restoring health, +then, swimming in the open air is of still greater importance +to women than to men. But I have shown that even +in the matter of tepid swimming baths the wants of the +other sex have been almost totally ignored, for with the +<a id="png.35" href="#png.35"><span class="pagenum x-ebookmaker-drop"><span + class="ns">[</span>35<span class="ns">] + </span></span></a>exception of the little bath in York Terrace and the Wednesday +morning’s use of the smallest of the Marylebone +baths, there is actually no provision in London for women’s +swimming. As far as regards open-air swimming they +have been left out of consideration altogether. Now, if +open-air swimming baths are to be established in London, +the interests of the softer sex should be considered as much +as those of the rougher gender. With this view I would +give up the Regent’s Park lake to the ladies, for which it +is already adapted by its inferior depth—4 feet, I believe. +For the same reason it may perhaps be thought best to +make the proposed bath in St. James’s Park one for ladies +only, and if the bath in the Serpentine be only made large +enough, there is ample space there for all the wants of the +male sex at that end of the town.<a id="fn9"></a><a title="Go to footnote 9" + href="#Footnote9" class="fnanchor"><span + class="ns">[Footnote </span>9<span class="ns">] + </span></a> The water in Victoria +Park in its present condition is, of course, better adapted +for a men’s bath, but in the event of a women’s bath being +required there, which I doubt not will be the case, one of +the other lakes might be given up for the purpose, or a +new lake altogether constructed, for which there is room +enough in the park.</p> + +<p>When women take to swimming, as I have no doubt +they will eagerly when opportunity offers, they will, of +course, have to abandon their useless and inconvenient +bathing gowns and adopt the dress universally worn by +their sisters on the continent, or something equally well +adapted to allow free play to the limbs.</p> + +<p>When London sets the example, our provincial towns +will soon follow its lead, and when once open-air swimming +baths become general throughout the land, we may hope +one day to cease to deserve the reproach—that though we +live in a sea-surrounded and lake and river-abounding +country, a much smaller proportion of its inhabitants can +swim well than is to be found in many continental countries +which have none of our aquatic advantages.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"> +<p><small><span class="unjust"><a id="Footnote1"><span class="ns">[Footnote </span + >1<span class="ns">:</span></a> </span>I believe that no arrangements exist for teaching our soldiers or sailors +swimming (except in the training ships, whence a few of our sailors are +derived), the consequence of which is that a very small proportion of the men +in either service can swim. In some Continental countries, particularly +France, every soldier is taught to swim just as he is taught his drill, and yet +French soldiers are not nearly so much exposed to “perils of waters” as our +own.<span class="ns">]</span> +<a title="Return to text" href="#fn1" class="fnreturn" + ><i>Return to text</i></a></small></p> + +<p><small><span class="unjust"><a id="Footnote2"><span class="ns">[Footnote </span + >2<span class="ns">:</span></a> </span>The power of resisting the cold of the water often depends very much on +the condition of our body at the time of immersion. If we enter the water +feeling cold we soon become thoroughly chilled, but if we are warm from the +heat of the weather, or still better from previous moderate exercise, we can +much better resist the cold of the sea, lake, or river.<span class="ns">]</span> +<a title="Return to text" href="#fn2" class="fnreturn" + ><i>Return to text</i></a></small></p> + +<p><small><span class="unjust"><a id="Footnote3"><span class="ns">[Footnote </span + >3<span class="ns">:</span></a> </span>There are, I believe, several additional tepid swimming baths in the +course of construction in London and suburbs, and one has been recently +opened at Stratford, but that town can scarcely be considered as part of +London, though within the postal district, and as Mr. Sweedlepipe says, “we +must draw the line somewhere.” Some may think I have not drawn the line +narrowly enough, when I have included in my survey Hampstead, Hammersmith, +Greenwich, and Blackheath, but I preferred to make it possibly too +wide than to incur the reproach of having made it too narrow.<span class="ns">]</span> +<a title="Return to text" href="#fn3" class="fnreturn" + ><i>Return to text</i></a></small></p> + +<p><small><span class="unjust"><a id="Footnote4"><span class="ns">[Footnote </span + >4<span class="ns">:</span></a> </span>I suppose it was this impurity of the water which produced a remarkable +disease among the young sticklebacks and minnows, many of which I have +found with deposits, apparently of pus, on various parts of their bodies, +rendering their movements languid and awkward, and in some cases, especially +where these deposits were on the head, causing hideous disfiguration.<span class="ns">]</span> +<a title="Return to text" href="#fn4" class="fnreturn" + ><i>Return to text</i></a></small></p> + +<p><small><span class="unjust"><a id="Footnote5"><span class="ns">[Footnote </span + >5<span class="ns">:</span></a> </span>I do not forget the lower ponds of Hampstead, which were once magnificent +sheets of water, but then they were the property of the New River Company, +and bathing was strictly prohibited in them. Now they seem to be abandoned +by the Water Company, but they have been allowed to drain away or +evaporate, until they are little better than muddy pools with a broad margin +of sticky clay which would deter any one except a London street Arab from +attempting to bathe in them. It would be possible to convert one or more of +them into excellent swimming baths of any required depth.<span class="ns">]</span> +<a title="Return to text" href="#fn5" class="fnreturn" + ><i>Return to text</i></a></small></p> + +<p><small><span class="unjust"><a id="Footnote6"><span class="ns">[Footnote </span + >6<span class="ns">:</span></a> </span>Were the Thames once more the “crystal stream” that poets used to call +it, I fear its tidal character would offer some difficulties to placing on it, between +the bridges, floating baths, such as we see on the Seine; for these, if +placed near the side, would be left high and dry at every ebb, and, if stationed +in mid-stream, would seriously interfere with navigation.<span class="ns">]</span> +<a title="Return to text" href="#fn6" class="fnreturn" + ><i>Return to text</i></a></small></p> + +<p><small><span class="unjust"><a id="Footnote7"><span class="ns">[Footnote </span + >7<span class="ns">:</span></a> </span>The proprietor of a swimming bath which has full doors inveighed against +them to me as affording facilities for thieves, but then his doors have neither +locks nor numbers.<span class="ns">]</span> +<a title="Return to text" href="#fn7" class="fnreturn" + ><i>Return to text</i></a></small></p> + +<p><small><span class="unjust"><a id="Footnote8"><span class="ns">[Footnote </span + >8<span class="ns">:</span></a> </span>I have purposely said nothing about the extra-urban parks of Greenwich, +Wimbledon, Richmond, and Wanstead, all of which offer great facilities for +the construction of swimming baths, all having fine sheets of water. I confine +myself to the more pressing wants of the teeming millions of London +proper.<span class="ns">]</span> +<a title="Return to text" href="#fn8" class="fnreturn" + ><i>Return to text</i></a></small></p> + +<p><small><span class="unjust"><a id="Footnote9"><span class="ns">[Footnote </span + >9<span class="ns">:</span></a> </span>If it is considered desirable to limit the construction of swimming baths +at first to the Serpentine, a ladies’ swimming bath might be made in the +portion of it contained in Kensington Gardens.<span class="ns">]</span> +<a title="Return to text" href="#fn9" class="fnreturn" + ><i>Return to text</i></a></small></p> + +</div> + +</div> + + +<div class="section tnote"> +<h2 title="Transcriber's Note">Transcriber’s Note</h2> + +<p>Apart from one instance of punctuation normalisation, the text +is presented as printed in the original, including inconsistent +hyphenation (ironwork/iron-work/iron work, open-air/open air, +spring-board/spring board, spring-lock/spring lock), period spelling +(accessaries, asphalte, gaselier, Shakspeare) and northern dialect +words (wersh, caller).</p> + +<p>New original cover art included with this eBook is granted to the public domain.</p> + +</div> + +<hr class="ww" > + + +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76117 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + diff --git a/76117-h/images/cover.jpg b/76117-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b012ea3 --- /dev/null +++ b/76117-h/images/cover.jpg |
