Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-11-02

enced in getting grant from parliament
Tor suihclent tInd to commence his gre at
metropolitan undertaking,
Baths were now planned after Turkish
models. The money voted was most faith
fully appropriated; and more ingenious
or useful establishment could not be form
ed in any metropolis. But the cash, 1t was
soon discovered, ran too short to enable the
doctor to complete his scheme and on the
ensuing session further vote became ne
cessary, which was by no means opposed,
as the institution was good, fairly executed
and charitably applied. The worthy doc
tor kept his ground; session after session
he petitioned for fresh assistance, and nev-
er met with refusal. His profits were good,
and he lived well, while the baths proved
of the utmost benefit, and the poor receiv-
ed attention aud service from his establish
ment without cost. An immense cold bath
was constructed, to communicate with the
river: it was large and deep, and entirely
renewed every tide. The Eeatest lodging
rooms, for those patients who chose to re-
main during course of bathing, were ad-
ded to the establishment, and always occu-
pied. In short, the whole affair became so
popular, and Doctor Achmet acquired so
many friends, that the annual grants Of par
lament were considered nearly as matters
OF course.
But, alas fortune is treacherous, and
prosperity unstable. While the ingenious
Borumborad was thus rapidly aourishlng,
an unlucky though most ludlcrous incident
threw the poor fellow completely aback,
and, without any fault on his part, nearly
ruined both himselfand his institution.
Preparatory to every session, 1t was the
doctors invariable custom to give grand
dinner, at the baths, to large number OF
his patrons, members Of parliament who
were in the habit of proposing and support
ing his grants. He always, on these occa-
Sions, procured some professional singers,
as we'll as the finest wines in Ireland; en-
deavoring to render the parties as joyous
and convivial as possible. Some nobleman
or commoner of note, always acted for HIM
as chairman, the doctor himself being quite
unassuming.
AT the last commencement of session,
whereupon he anticipated this patronage, ii
was intended to increase his grant, in order
to meet the expenses Of certain new works,
Sc, which he had executed on the strength
of the ensuing supply and the doctor had
invited nearly thirty of the leading mem
bers to a grand dinner in his spacious sa-
loon. The singers were of the first order
the claret and champagne excellent; and
never was the Turks hospitality shown of
to better advantage, or the appetlteS of his
guests administered to with greater success
The effects of the wine, as usual on all such
meetings in Ireland, began to grow obvious
The elder and more discreet members were
for adiourni7g; while the juveniles declar-
ed they would stay for another dozen !-and
Doctor Borumborad accordingly went down
himself to his cellar, to select and send up
choice dozen by way of 6onne bouche fol-
finishing the refractory members Of parlia-
ment.
In his absence, SIR John Stuart Hamilton,
though very dry member, took it into his
I head that he had taken enough, and rose
to go away, as is customary in these days
of freedom when people are so circumstance
ed but at that period men were not always
their own masters on such occasions, and a
general cry arose oi-Stor, Sir John =
stop him the bonnie bOuche the bonnie
6ouche P The carouscrs were on the alert
instantly. Sir John opened the door and
rushed out; the ante-chamber was not light
ed some one or two-and-twenty stanch
members stuck to his skirts; when splash
at once comes Sir John, not into the street,
but into the great cold bath, the door of
which he had retreated by, in mistake =
The other parliament-men were too close
upon the baronet to stop short (like the
horse of Cos$ack) : in they went, by fours
and fves and one or two, who hearing the
splaSh:ng of the water, cunningly threw
themselves down on the brink to avoid pop
ping in, operated directly as stumbling
blocks to those behind who thus obtained
their full share of bonnie bouche none of the
parties had bargained for.
When Doctor Borumborad re-entered,
usher;ng a couple of servants laden with a
dozen Of his best wine, and missed all his
company, he thought some devil had car
ried them off; but perceiving the door of
his noble, deep, cold, salt water bath open,
he with diSmay rushed tmther, and espied
eighteen or nineteen Irish parliament-men
either floating like SO many corks upon the
surface, or scrambling to get out like mice
who had fallen into BASIN The doctor
posse of attendants were Immediately set at
work, and every one of the honorable men,
berS eXtlicated. The quantity of salt wa
ter, however, which had made its way into
their stomachs, was not so easily removed,
and most of them carried the beverage home
to their own hedchambers.
1t was unlucky, also, that as the doctor
was Turk, he had no Christian wardrobe
to substitute for the well-soaked garments
of the honorable members. Such dresses,
however, as he had, were speedily put
into requSition; the bathing attendants
furnished their quota Of dry apparel; and
all was speedily distributed among the
swimmers, some of whom exhibited in
Turkish costume, others in bathing shifts ;
and when the clothes failed, blankets were
pinned round the rest Large fires were
made in every room; brandy and mulIed
wine literally resorted to; and as FAST as
sedan-chairs could be procured, The Irish
commoners were sent home, curSlng all
Turks and inidels, and denounciag cru
sa1e against anything coming from the
same quarter of the globe as Constantine
Iple! !
Poor Doctor Achmet Borumborad was
distracted and quite inconsolable ! Next
day he duly visited every suffering mem
Der, and though well received, was acute
enough to see that the ridicule with which
they had covered themselves, waslikely tc
......l. nr,tLl,ll,: L.. li nIliii:i-