Yuri Singleton
Member
Hi all,
Ever had to stand in line to go to the restroom at a public place, like a movie theater, or sports event? Ever stood in a hallway outside the bathroom while wearing your PJ's, holding your towel, and shaving kit; waiting for the person occupying the room to vacate. (Think of when the in-laws stay over at Christmas, or that weekend at the bed-n-breakfast with one bath)
Lets face it, it happens. Today its not such a big deal to see people in their night clothes,or less, while staying at a hotel. I confess, I've made a few dashes for the ice machine in my undies over the years. (Sorry for that imagery)
But what about the passengers on Titanic?
(I know they didn't have ice machines or coke machines in the halls)
Especially the ones in first class. Did they have to line up in the corridores outside the bathrooms waiting their turn? If we could be a fly on the wall of the first class stateroom areas, would we see the prim and proper elite passangers milling about in their robes and slippers?
The reason I think of this is that while studying the deck plans on this site,(as well as the copies of the originals for Olympic that can be found on the web), I noticed that the arrangement of the public baths and toilets in first class seemed to be few and far between. Also, the bathrooms, i.e. rooms with tubs, seem to open to the corridors. No foyer or waiting areas.
Now I know many first class staterooms had private facilities, but most did not, right? Besides, the ones with private facilities only had a toilet and sink, right? Isn't that what a "WC" is, a toilet and a sink? In the states we call that a "half-bath" or a "Powder room". (In Texas we call it an out-house by the creek. Put a basket of old corn cobs by the seat, you'll be talking like John Wayne in a week!)
So I can imagine myself as a first class passenger with a modest stateroom without a private WC. In the morning when I awake, I grab my toothbrush and razor and head to the sink in my room. (I believe all rooms onboard had a sink) I plug the sink, pour into it some water from the jug that the steward left yesterday. I brush my teeth and shave and wash my face. (not in that order)
Now, I need to bath. (no shower?!!) I pack up my soap and other items into my kit and put on my robe and slippers. It feels a bit drafty in only a robe and slippers, on a ship, in the north Atlantic. I open the door and peer down the hall toward the bathrooms. Seeing only an empty hallway, I discretely slip outside and quietly step down the soft carpet to the first door of the Gent's bathroom. (not the restroom mind you. I'm talking about the little room that has the tub.) As I approach, I see that the room is occupied. (maybe there's a note on the door or a sign outside?) So I walk on to the next one. Also taken. Finally I discover that all three are being used. So I stand there for a moment, in silence, waiting anxiously for a vacancy. Then, I hear a door open nearby. Footsteps! And Kate Winslet and Leo stroll casually by. She flashes a look of surprise. My eyes go wide with embarrasement from being seen by a strange lady, me in only my intimates. ...er, uh, robe that is.
Then from inside one of the bath rooms, I hear a man's voice singing loudly as he baths. (Paveratti SR. ?) Unwilling to endure this further, I quickly go back to my room. I'll have the steward bring me a jug of fresh, hot, water and sponge off in my room. But, dash it my room has locked behind me and I didn't bring my key! I fear someone will see me like this! Then, as I assault the doorknob to vent my aggresion, my kit falls open spilling its contents all over the floor. Including my bottle of itch cream for that rash in a hard to reach spot that people in 1912 don't mention to anyone! I see it roll along the persian rug and I give chase. Stumbling after the thing until it is stopped by the shoe of a fellow passenger. I rise to see Mrs. Brown, (yes THE Mrs. M. Brown of Denver), reaching down and picking up my medicine and giving me a look as she offers it back to me. I am unable to speak. Taking back the adventurous bottle from her, she says only, "Next time Ya might find a room with a private bath more to your liking sir. Should I encounter a steward, I'll be sure to send him your way." She swaggers off and a moment later my steward appears with a coffee set and flowers on a cart. (not for me unfortunately). He opens my room for me. I request some hot water and inform him that I'll be taking my breakfast in my room, as well as lunch and quite possibly all subsequent meals till New York. As I look out the porthole over the sea outside, I am thinking of a polite letter I am going to send to the White Star Line regarding their need to improve the design of the Gent's bath rooms.
Ok, maybe nothing like that ever happened. But with that many people in such tight quarters and with the plans indicating so few facilities available, without going up or down a deck; I have to think that such a senario is quite possible.
And that's just in first class. What was it like for those in 2nd, or third?
Why, the thought of such encounters is simply scandalous!
Yuri Singleton
Ever had to stand in line to go to the restroom at a public place, like a movie theater, or sports event? Ever stood in a hallway outside the bathroom while wearing your PJ's, holding your towel, and shaving kit; waiting for the person occupying the room to vacate. (Think of when the in-laws stay over at Christmas, or that weekend at the bed-n-breakfast with one bath)
Lets face it, it happens. Today its not such a big deal to see people in their night clothes,or less, while staying at a hotel. I confess, I've made a few dashes for the ice machine in my undies over the years. (Sorry for that imagery)
But what about the passengers on Titanic?
(I know they didn't have ice machines or coke machines in the halls)
Especially the ones in first class. Did they have to line up in the corridores outside the bathrooms waiting their turn? If we could be a fly on the wall of the first class stateroom areas, would we see the prim and proper elite passangers milling about in their robes and slippers?
The reason I think of this is that while studying the deck plans on this site,(as well as the copies of the originals for Olympic that can be found on the web), I noticed that the arrangement of the public baths and toilets in first class seemed to be few and far between. Also, the bathrooms, i.e. rooms with tubs, seem to open to the corridors. No foyer or waiting areas.
Now I know many first class staterooms had private facilities, but most did not, right? Besides, the ones with private facilities only had a toilet and sink, right? Isn't that what a "WC" is, a toilet and a sink? In the states we call that a "half-bath" or a "Powder room". (In Texas we call it an out-house by the creek. Put a basket of old corn cobs by the seat, you'll be talking like John Wayne in a week!)
So I can imagine myself as a first class passenger with a modest stateroom without a private WC. In the morning when I awake, I grab my toothbrush and razor and head to the sink in my room. (I believe all rooms onboard had a sink) I plug the sink, pour into it some water from the jug that the steward left yesterday. I brush my teeth and shave and wash my face. (not in that order)
Now, I need to bath. (no shower?!!) I pack up my soap and other items into my kit and put on my robe and slippers. It feels a bit drafty in only a robe and slippers, on a ship, in the north Atlantic. I open the door and peer down the hall toward the bathrooms. Seeing only an empty hallway, I discretely slip outside and quietly step down the soft carpet to the first door of the Gent's bathroom. (not the restroom mind you. I'm talking about the little room that has the tub.) As I approach, I see that the room is occupied. (maybe there's a note on the door or a sign outside?) So I walk on to the next one. Also taken. Finally I discover that all three are being used. So I stand there for a moment, in silence, waiting anxiously for a vacancy. Then, I hear a door open nearby. Footsteps! And Kate Winslet and Leo stroll casually by. She flashes a look of surprise. My eyes go wide with embarrasement from being seen by a strange lady, me in only my intimates. ...er, uh, robe that is.
Then from inside one of the bath rooms, I hear a man's voice singing loudly as he baths. (Paveratti SR. ?) Unwilling to endure this further, I quickly go back to my room. I'll have the steward bring me a jug of fresh, hot, water and sponge off in my room. But, dash it my room has locked behind me and I didn't bring my key! I fear someone will see me like this! Then, as I assault the doorknob to vent my aggresion, my kit falls open spilling its contents all over the floor. Including my bottle of itch cream for that rash in a hard to reach spot that people in 1912 don't mention to anyone! I see it roll along the persian rug and I give chase. Stumbling after the thing until it is stopped by the shoe of a fellow passenger. I rise to see Mrs. Brown, (yes THE Mrs. M. Brown of Denver), reaching down and picking up my medicine and giving me a look as she offers it back to me. I am unable to speak. Taking back the adventurous bottle from her, she says only, "Next time Ya might find a room with a private bath more to your liking sir. Should I encounter a steward, I'll be sure to send him your way." She swaggers off and a moment later my steward appears with a coffee set and flowers on a cart. (not for me unfortunately). He opens my room for me. I request some hot water and inform him that I'll be taking my breakfast in my room, as well as lunch and quite possibly all subsequent meals till New York. As I look out the porthole over the sea outside, I am thinking of a polite letter I am going to send to the White Star Line regarding their need to improve the design of the Gent's bath rooms.
Ok, maybe nothing like that ever happened. But with that many people in such tight quarters and with the plans indicating so few facilities available, without going up or down a deck; I have to think that such a senario is quite possible.
And that's just in first class. What was it like for those in 2nd, or third?
Why, the thought of such encounters is simply scandalous!
Yuri Singleton
