MR. IANSBURY'S LIDO
[To the Editor of Me SPECTATOR.] Swi llll sting in the Serpentine seems to me the most natural thing to do. London provides for the relaxation of her family a large and beautiful park, containing a lake of considerable size. What is more right than that her office- wearied, pavement-tired parasites should swim in it ? Perhaps your readers will be interested in my own venture.
One evening this week, at 6 o'clock, I made my way to the Albert Gate and eventually discovered the entrance to t he stretch of the banks of the Serpentine where bathing is 1,erinitted. There were two long queues of people, one of own and one of women and children, waiting until there was room in the tents and bathing huts to undress. At last, after about three-quarters of an hour, I paid my 8d, and went off to get a key to a locker, where I could leave my chilies. After waiting another few minutes, I was given my key and, after waiting again another few minutes, I found an empty cubicle. At last, tired, hot and rather cross, I plunged into the water and forgot all my troubles.
The water is comparatively clean : it is certainly DRICI1 wanner than I have ever known the sea to be on our windswept coast ; there is a joyful silence as the noise of the traffic is hushed by the surrounding trees. I bad a glorious swim, getting as snitch healthy exercise in a quarter of an hour as it would take two hours to get by walking round the lake. I did not hurt myself getting out of the water, although the bottom is not as smooth as one could wish. It would be a good plan to have steps constructed at the landing stage so that there would be no risk of bruising one's feet.
- After another few minutes' ivait—whieh would be intolerable
on a cold day—I seized upon another cubicle, and dressed myself as quickly as I mold. When I left I found my bathe had taken me exactly two hours !
" Lansbury's Lido" is obviously the most popular innova- tion of the Labour Government. But now that bathing in the Serpentine has been made possible for Londoners, it should be organized on such a scale that there is room for everyone. Surely, non-bathers would not object to a great deal more space being devoted to this pastime. For one thing the many coloured bathing-caps dotted about in the water are decorative, as are also the orange bathing tents, silhouetted against the trees. Since London has made a gesture of hospitality, let that gesture be generous. She will be repaid by the possession of a more healthy and a more happy family.—I am, Sir, &c., [We agree with our correspondent that Mr. Lansbury's Lido is a splendid innovation and that more space should be provided for the bathers, but there are limits beyond which even worshippers of fresh air and sunshine, as we are, cannot go. We fear that the real difficulty is the question of space ; the claims of non-bathers must be considered.—ED. Spectator.]
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