Anything that tends to add either to the prosperity or comfort and convenience of the foreign residents in a place like Shanghai, is worthy of notice; and a subject coming under the category of usefulness and comfort, has within' the last few days Leen Lrought to our notice, consequent doubtless upon our publicat of a paragraph describing theintrduction of large public swimming baths on the Thames at London, Lhe provision of sud places within easy reach of the masses of the population felt, for sanitary rea-sous, to be ideratum at home; and though the same reason does not exist hore—evory foreigner having bath apyliances in his own house, the want of a swimming bath for purposes of recreation tantly urged, and more than for ecreati boon They have however all fallen through, and it has been reserved for individual enterprise to carry out the project.
For the past year and a half, Mr. Silverthorne hins been occupied with the excavation ming bath, just at the bend in the river at the present termination of the Yangtsze-poo road, and th to it, Its di gil by 99 fest in width; with a graduated depth, from ubout 3bft, to 12ft. Soon after the excavation was begun, hard blue clay, much hike the famous London clay colour and texture, was found quite unipectedly, and thus the bath is naturally almost impervious to percolation either from the inside or outside. Its water will be constantly fresh, the mode of supply being through what is termed a settling-pond, excavation of 90 feet by 50, into which the water runs direct from the Fiver at high lide, and where it is allowed to remain for a time sufficient to settle and become clear.
It is then conducted by means of iron pipes into the bath proper, the surplus water in which is discharged at the same time from the lower end into the river again. Thus constant purity is obtained, and the water now in the bath is so clear that in the shallower parts the bottom can be seen. The bath is hardly ready for use yet, but is rapidly approaching completion. Ibis surrounded by a closely-planted helge of willows, now just bursting into leaf, and, outside these, evergreens have been set, and beyond these again flowering shrubs and plants are to come. The soil excavated lins also been utilized to fill up the intervening space between the bath-hedges and the road, along the margin of which more willows are growing, which will prevent overlooking from the road or elsewhere, and render the whole place a quiet retreat. The space between the bath and the rond is being sown with grass-seed, and will as soon as possible be converted into a croquet and lawn-Lilliardsground. Spaceisalaoreserved {for a smaller bath for ladies, distinct from the larger one in every particular, and enclosed by a triple hedge of the same kind as above described. Bathing boxes are to be erected, facing the river, and each one will be separate; in fact the greatest care has been taken to ensure complete privacy. For the further accommodation of visitors, a convenient chalet has been built, including tiffin-roome, bar, and billiard-rooms, ladies? and children's room, &e., and altogether the place seems likely to become one of passing excellence of its kind. Not One of its least recommendations is the unobtrusive manner in which the work has been projected and so nearly carried to completion, It is not atoll times either pleasant or safe to bathe openly in river or creek, and therefore, if for no other reason, Mr, Silverthorne's undertaking is to be the more welcomed.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.