April 2012 Auction Ends Monday, April 30th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/30/2012
Oliver Wendell Holmes autograph letter signed ''O.W. Holmes''. The Fireside Poet and physician humorously complains in a letter dated 25 June 1866 to an unnamed party. He rants: ''...The plan of public bathing-houses is admirable, and nobody values it more than I do, but...The most shameless exposure of adult persons is a matter of daily occurrence at the West Boston bath. Naked men...stand on the beams over the middle bath, stark naked, every attribute of male humanity on gratuitous exhibition...for the benefit especially of the young women...who have been in the habit of enjoying the Western view, which is the one attraction of all our neighborhood. What do I propose? 1. Printed notices...that all persons doing...these things...shall be forbidden the bath, or perhaps prosecuted...2. Catch one or two of them and carry out the threat. 3. If nothing else will do have a dozen good long strips of board made ready with sharp wrought nails sticking and have them placed so as to put a stop to these outrages in public decency...'' 4pp. letter on card-style stationery measures 4.5'' x 7''. Creasing and a small pencil notation to verso, else near fine.
Oliver Wendell Holmes Letter -- ''...at the West Boston bath naked men...stand on the beams over the middle bath, stark naked, every attribute of male humanity on gratuitous exhibition...'' -- 1866
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