BATHING FOR LONDONERS.
Tws public mind in London does not seem to be made up on the subject of bathing ; for the most contradictory proceedings are ob- servable. At Lambeth Street Police-office, on Monday, four youths were charged with bathing in the Eastern basin of the London Dock,—a very unfit place, no doubt. The Magistrate, Mr. Unsay, had a leaning in favour of bathing, "a wholesome and necessary practice at this season of the year "; and he discharged the youths with an admonition, and a threat that they should be punished severely on a repetition of the offence. Some little time ago, bathing on the Northern bank of the Serpentine river was prohibited ; but now, according to the complaint of a person who writes to the papers, the Police have orders not to interfere with those who may infringe that prohibition. There is a society in London for the encouragement of swimming, and its meetings are -occasionally mentioned in the journals. Thus, encouragement and discouragement, permission and prohibition, go on simulta- neously. On the whole, however, prohibition preponderates. The opportunities for bathing, both as to time and place, are limited. The Serpentine, one of the most popular resorts, was lately pro- hibited as to its whole Northern bank ; and a considerable part of both banks is announced on painted boards as "dangerous." It is only to be used, also, very early in the morning or late in the evening. The Thames may be used early in the morning; but, except for good swimmers, the bathing-places are only available at certain states of the tide; and, under the vigilance of the Police, they are becoming gradually deserted. The river Lea is notoriously dangerous; and other places, used by stealth, are in fact prohibited. There is an excellent new plan of tepid swimming- baths ; but the admission is Is. or at least 6d.; and they are tepid, and therefore not the best suited for swimmers. Some other pri- vate baths are top cold. One of the best is that of Peerless Pool ; but that is, for the majority, in a remote quarter of the town ; and it only opens at the usual rates of charge. With nearly two millions of inhabitants, and abundance of water, London is desti- tute of really public conveniences for safe and pleasant bathing. It is only in defiance of the Police that the Londoner can enjoy the salubrious and laudable luxury of a bath in open water tempered by the sun, and dress in the healthy glow of a summer mid-day air.
Must it always be thus ? Splendid plans have been under con- sideration for improving the embankments of the Thames : why should the scheme not include several places, at convenient inter- vals, set apart for bathers ? Without any great additional expense, probably with no sacrifice of materials or valuable space, but only with the exercise of a little honestly zealous ingenuity, places might be contrived, open to the flow of the tide, yet so enclosed that bathers should not be swept away ; of graduated depth ; secluded from the general view, or at least from the too close view of pas- sengers, yet patent to the survey of the Police ; and capable of being used at any time of day most suited to our climate. With such places of resort at accessible distances, youths would be less likely to force their way into London Docks; Magistrates would be leas puzzled in punishing a practice which they reluctantly con- demn; and one social virtue, cleanliness, would have a high en- couragement ; to say nothing of contributing to the healthy and Innocent recreation of our crowded city population.
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