The Survey, Volume 30, Number 3, Apr 19, 1913Various
History
The Survey, Volume 30, Number 3, Apr 19, 1913
Various
Charities -- Periodicals; Social problems -- Periodicals; United States -- Social conditions -- Periodicals
Travelers from almost all foreign countries describe the public
convenience stations of foreign cities. In London there are many places
where crooked streets converge, leaving perhaps an irregular open space
or plaza. These are not all occupied by statues, as the city has
attempted to provide comfort for the living as well as honor to the
dead. Two modest iron stairways with suitable signs lead to two rooms
below ground, one for women, the other for men, where toilets and
urinals are found.
On the continent the provisions are usually less complete and in many
instances in the eyes of Anglo-Saxon observers seem much too public. For
instance in Paris urinals for men are located at convenient points, but
some of them only cover the user from the breast to the knees. In
Antwerp and Brussels urinals are attached to posts at the edge of the
narrow sidewalk, and some of them have no screen at all. In Rotterdam at
frequent intervals scrolls of sheet iron shaped somewhat like a letter C
are located in the gutters of the sidewalks; the open side of the scroll
facing the street. They reach from a point above the head to about a
foot from the ground. In Italy there are places, notably Naples, where
two slabs of slate set in a wall at an angle serve the purpose of a
urinal. They are usually at the entrance to a small street or alley, and
are not screened. The custom of ages causes the natives to pass by these
without a glance, but to use them is embarrassing to the tourist.
It is not the intention to advocate such crude contrivances, but to
present a plea for the establishment at frequent intervals of
convenience stations designed for the use of both men and women, and
with such surroundings that one may enter and leave without feeling the
blush of shame.
Many American cities have provided a few such places, for instance in
parks, and some of these are admirable in conception and in structure;
but one cannot always remain near a park, and in winter when the kidneys
are most active, these stations are often closed. One of the most
practical stations of this kind that I have seen is in the Boston
Common. It is underground in a small hill, with a wide stairway leading
to it.
As one approaches it he sees that the room is lighted and is lined with
white tiling. There are urinals, closets, washstands, and a
shoe-blacking establishment. It has the appearance of a toilet room in a
hotel, and the place is well ventilated and kept clean. I do not recall
how it is heated, but such places could be heated with steam from
adjacent buildings or by stoves.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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