MIXED BATHING.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 303, 19 December 1912, Page 8

MIXED BATHING.

AN TJNEVKMI'UL IN-NOV-AITON AX CH___rrC_TJKi**_L The inauguration of "family bathimat the Municipal Baths, C_ri-te__c_. \. thus described in the *I__at*rb_rr Press":—'"With the th 90 in the shade, the new scheme of family bathing, inaugurated at th_ Municipal Tepid Bath on Saturday night opened most auspiciously. But how w_J this bathing scheme to be written about —in an en-closed bath, and tepid at- thatt This was the question that vexed the mind of a 'Press' reporter as he entered the building, provided with a nexes__— passport in the form of a lady companion. ""Napier, now, and it is easy for the mind to grow hungry ior the be»c_ where there are Norfolk Island pines, and the cle_m little town, with the white roads running out to where the green maize stands shoulder high. Or nearer home, a curve in a tiny O-nterbury stream, the bush running down to t__ cool, slippery stones, where the wekia stared in wonder at the white bodies in the water. Greymouth, even, with the long, wind-driven Pacific rollers crooning sonorously* against the pebbles. "People went with forethought to lave themselves in warmed water in a beautifully clean white-tiled pool, beneath the bluish light of incandescent lamps; obviously this was not a. matter that could be thought out beforehand. It would have to be left until one hadeeen • what the evening held. "Soberly, isd with grief in his heart, ; the reporter made his preparations, and, j at a little after the -time appointed, wis ;at the baths. The municipality supplied. ■ the costumes and the towels, st a price, j and there was an official to point ladies |to the right, gentlemen to the left.' __ i confided quietly that everybody was very nervous that night—ever so many made mistakes in asking for things. A_4 his further remark, that they were all keeping very quiet, -was rather unnecessary, as it seemed that they wwe aU afraid to jump, on account of the noise of the splash. The only spectator was a 3 high civic official, and one ■would think I he was busied counting the heads. Them r was absolutely nothing to watch. Tht r water refracts at quaint angles, and aS. * the blue-dad bodiejs in the shallow end seemed squat and mi—hapen. AH that I distinguished women from men were their i caps. One only was e_qu_ite_y at east : —a tiny child, which laughed in ita c fathejr- arms. "By the time the reporter had changed, r there were about eighty in the taster, far 3 the most part true family parties, leavened by a due proportion of children. One f or two men, more daring than the rest, - actually were teaching we-raien to swim! Slowly the restraint wore off, and bej fore the first hour was over it was —_r ;- that the city's latest s_erne was to be a successful. Men and women were langhf in" now, and there was a —rtain ordered - freedom such as the folk doubtless alo lowed themselves when t_y 4athed to D gether on the beaches."