BATH, England, city in Somersetshire, 107 miles west of London. It is beautifully sit uated on the Avon, in a narrow valley bound ed on the northeast and southwest by hills and widening on the northwest into rich and extensive meadows. The Avon is navigable from Bath to Bristol. Bath is noted for its places of amusement, its fine streets and the magnificence of its public buildings. The houses are of superior construction, built of freestone, obtained from the hills about the town. The Abbey Church ranks as one of the finest specimens of perpendicular Gothic architecture. The beauty and sheltered char acter of its situation, the mildness of its cli mate and• especially the curative efficacy of its hot chalybeate springs have long 'rendered Bath a favorite fashionable resort. The four principal springs yield no less than 184,000 gallons of water a day; and the baths are both elegant and commodious. The temper ature of the springs varies from 109° to 117° F. They contain carbonic acid, chloride of sodium and of magnesium, sulphate of soda, carbonate and sulphate of lime, etc. Bath
was founded by the Romans and called by them Aqum Solis (waters of the sun). Among the Roman remains discovered here have been some fine baths. The height of its prosperity was reached, however, in the 18th century, when Beau Nash was leader of the fashion and master of its ceremonies. Since then, although it still attracts large numbers of visitors, it has become the resort of val etudinarians chiefly. Jointly with Wells it is the head of a diocese and returns two mem bers to the House of Commons. Bath has many handsome public buildings, among them being the Guild Hall, technical schools, an art gallery and reference library, and the Royal Literary and Scientific Institution. There are several fine parks, including the Victoria Park, of about 50 acres, contaimng a fiotanical garden and an excellent theatre. It also mamtains a musetun and public mar kets. Pop. 50,729.