BATHING AT BATH.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 226, 30 December 1920, Page 6

BATHING AT BATH.

. CUSTOMS K-UVivwJ. ’ se|xes in~uot springs. s -For tho first timp flippy .tlje' 18th century/ mixed ! bathing' hja l : boe i • rej-inltoduccd nt Bath’s hot iniijcrul. watej, Mhs?. v 1110 eyes of ilfo cllwen*; •it is a great innovation, but, in fact, it is no more than tho resuscitation'of a custom honored at 'the‘ citV at tho time of Bnini tNiish (tew--graphs kho Daily; Chronic!©; cfflf?6ponaeptK t Although shorn of iW one-time ceremony,, when a 1 faSbipnablo crowd: fathered. to no-.

mire tiro. bi&frif,' arid n. build .of selected t in-. Htruinejltallift diwoiirVod irniwp,; thtrofccasmri. did notf was largely patronised by both sexes; tina all \tv3ce in hj igh . spirits ’ ' 'That nilttQa bathing\ivAs the vogue;at, Bafli iii l tho iTth xtjiitury is gl}p\\iU)y,u.cop/ pf ith o|d sketch by J, Johnson, dated. 1675; Vhfch' now .-hongs’. m ..the .-.oinrancb .to ..Bio Queen’s' Bath; men and women! boys •and girls,' being seen together in the King’s ami fyiWfi’s: Baths; -V’ 1 > Pepys, ivltd visft'id tlib city in 1668, notes hi .his Diary:— ‘ ’ , ,T 'into the bath, anfl . found tljio King and jQtideh; full of'a mixed. lot, good ’idl'd.) bad, apd'dlo the gentry.’’' f-‘ ’%■ - -'i.'? V The scone wu? too good for JKowlpridspri and other'cariqiilirists of llib period to tiiiss,hpd>manyt t 'dld prints still hang bit the ’ walls, of’jmo; bathing ' establishments, -Iwwingt. all soi;ls and conditions of .'persons' hi tho hot springs, •In thb 18th century there was a recognised bathing .dress, consisting of a canvas wruitcodt and’ shorts for pagn.- .while wohjen’t bathing robes were decorated with ribbons.] ; - ’’' -iv-.--- -y,. ■., 1 Ttoyi bearing sweetmeats and scents floated 911 the surface of the water for-.the- - ro/rMhhiont of tho bothers. ■- * "