The weekly ledger., 1857-06-06
Lapland Experiences.

bdPldul 1xpellenCeS.
BAYARD TAYLoRs letters to the New York
Tribune, recording his experiences in Lapland,
are quite spicy, as the following extracts will
show
TAKING vAPoR BATH WITH SERVANT GIRL
ASSISTANCE.
Mr.. Wolley proposed to us another luxury,
in the shape of vapor bath, as Herr Fors-
from had one of those bathing houses which
are universal in Finland 1t was little
wooden building, without windows A Fin
nish servant girl, who had been for some time
engaged in getting it in readiness, opened the
door for us. The interior was very hot and
moist, like an Oriental bathing hall In the
centre was a pile of hot stones covered with
birch boughs, the leaves of which gave out
an agreeable smell, and large tub of water.
The floor was strewn with straw, and under
the roof was a platform, extending across
one end of the building. This was covered
with soft hay, and reached by means of lad
der, for the purpose of getting the full effect
of the steam. Some stools, and bench for
our clothes, completed the arrangements
There was also in one corner pitcher of wa
ter, standing in little heap of snow, to keep
it cool.
The servant girl came in after u.s. and Mr.
W. quietly proceeded to undress, informing
us that the girl was bathing master and would
do the usual scrubbing and shampooning.
This, it seems, is the general practice in Fin
land, and is but another example of the un-
embarrassed habits Of the people in this part
of the world The poorer families go into
their bathing rooms together-father, mother
and children-and take turns in polishing
each others backs. 1t would have been ri
diculous to have shown any hesitation under
the circumstances-in fact, an indignity to
the honest simpe-hearted, virtuous girl-and
so we deliberately undressed also. When, at
last, we stood like our first parents in Para
disc, ''nahed and not ashamed" she handed
us punches of birch twiggs with the leaves on,
the use of which was suggested by the leaf of
sculpture. We mounted to the platform and
lay down upon our backs, whereupon she in
creased the temperature by throwing water
upon the hot stones, until the heat was rather
oppressive and we began to sweat profusely
She then took up bunch of birch twiggs
which had been dipped in hot water, and
switched US smartly from head to foot When
we had become thoroughly par-boed and lax.
we descended to the floor, seated ourselves
upon the stools, and were scrubbed with soap
as thoroughly as propriety permitted The
girl was an admirable bather, the result of
long practice in the business. She finished
by pouring hot water over US, and then dry
ing US with warm towels. The Firms fire.
quently go out and roll in the snow during
the progress of the BATH ventured so far
as to go out and stand few seconds in the
open air. The mercury was at zero, and the
effect of the cold upon my heated skin was
delightfully."- refreshing.
LESSONS IN DRIVING REINDEER.
Mr. W. sent for his reindeer in the course
of the morning, in order to give us a lesson
in driving. After lunch, accordingly, we pre-
pared ourselves for the new sensation. put
on poesk of reindeer skin, and my fur-lined
Russian boots. Ludwig took pulk also, to
assist us in case of need These pulks are
shaped very much like canoe; they are about
five feet long, one foot deep, and eighteen
inches wide, with sharp bow and square
stern. You sit upright against the stern
board, with your legs stretched out in the
bottm The deer's harness consists only of a
collar of reindeer skin around the neck, with
rope at the bottom, which passes under the
belly, between the legs and is tasted to the
bow of the pulk. He is driven by single
rein, attached to the base of the left horn.
and passing over the back to the right band
of the driver, who thrusts his thumb into a
loop at the end and takes several turns around
the wrist The rein is held rather slack, in
order that it may be thrown over to the right
side when it slips to the left, which il is very
apt to do.
| seated myself, took proper hold of the
rein, and awaited the signal to start. My
deer was strong, swift animal, who had Just
shed his horns. Ludwig set off first; my
deer gave a startling leap, dashed around the
corner of the house, and made down the hill.
| tried to catch the breath which had been
ierked out of me, and to keep my balance, as
the pulk, swaying from side to side, bounced
over the snow 1t was too late; a swift pre-
sentiment of the catastrophe flashed across
my mind but | was poweress to avert it. In
another second | found myself rolling in the
loose snow, with the pulk bottom upward be-
side me- The deer, who was attached to my
arm, was standing STILL facing me, with an
expression of stupid surprise (but not of SYM
pathy) on his face. | got up, shook myself,
righted the pulk, and commenced again Off
we went, like the wind, down the hill, the
snow flying in my face and binding me. Ny