The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-04-19
An Oriental Ablution.

An Oriental Addition.
An article IN the Cornhill Magazine Of
March describes the baths Of Turkey. We
extract the following description Of the sen.
sations OF bather:
ENTERING THE BArn.
sOn entering the bath. the iirst apartment
consists of spacious hall, or rotunda. tho
central summit Of which is open, admitting
u gentle but free circulation OF air. and Is In
form not unlike the cupola OF ST. Stephens,
WalbrOOk. Running round by the wall is
raised dais or platform. covered with car
pet, and divided into compartments, one OF
which is appropriated to each visitor. In tho
centre of the building is fountain, which
plays reireshingly into marble basin, raised
ON q pedestal of masonry. On a couch, ON
the platform above mentioned. you undress
and your clothing is tied up in napkin,
and you are attired in three scaris ot towel
ing, Of q peculiar fabric, warm and rough,
but vet soft and gaily bordercd with blue or
red raw silk one Of these. the subligar' or
subliga. ulum' Of the Romans, girds tho
loins; another Is thrown over tho shoulder,
aud the last is twisted up Into turban Tor
the head. Throughout this operation, every
care Is taken To preserve decorum (; and with
a scrupulousness and delicacy almost un-
known, We regret to add, to Europeans. Two
attendants hold cloth before you until
you have undressed. and properly adjusted
| the bathing attire. You then arc furnish
ed with wooded pattcns, and quit the un.
dressing room (apodytcrium) for the heated
| chamber. tho two attendants walking boz
hind, still accompany you, and rs you arc
on pattens, each holds you by tho arm.
BEGINNING or TIE BATH.
The swinging doors give access to mar
row passage, where the heat strikes upon
tho face, aud announces very sensibly that
the bath has begun. This passage makes
sudden turn at q right angle, and tho heat
then increased. though the temperature 10
still not high, and the mist Of yapor Is very
slight. if ut oil perceptible. You now enter
the tepid chamber, tho tepidarium' OF tho
ancients. Sometimes tho passage above al
luded to, Is dispensed with, and the tepid-
arium itself forms the junction between the
two halls. In tho latter case 1t is oblong in
form, and has marble platform on each
side. raised about foot and half above tho
central part, this, serving rs passage, Is Of
course on the same level with tho two cham.
bers which 1t connects; but whether as .
passage, or as hall in itself, 1t is oil paved
with marble. Tho mattrass and cushion
which are carried before you are laid upon
the dais and against the wall; the parapber.
MALTA of other guests being similarly disposed
all around. Coffee and pipcs arc now
brought. In this apartment, dimly lighted
day sometimes being quite excluded, flick.
ering light reveals uncertainty the nature
OF the place and lis occupants. The per-
spiration gently starts irOm its myriad ducts,
whilst the sOlumn murky air tranquilires tho
spirit, and seems to exclude with lull Of
cilmness thoughts Of the iretiul world. Il
is here that stranger from town or village
first ininges with the inhabitants, and glides
imperceptibly, and divested Of the ADVENT.
tious aids OF dress and attendance, into tho
social niche which his social status qualities
him to fill. A gentle iorctaste Of shampoo
ing is given in this apartment; an aiteni-
ant chaiIs the feet, or lightly taps the neck
and the limbs to start the perspiation.
When 1t Is fully broken out. you are ready
for the hot chamber which you now enter.
TIE hot CHAMBER.
This is somewhat similer in form 10 tho
first hall. and is generally covered in with
dome, the light being admitted through
loop-holes filed with stained glass. Early
in the morning the place is quite clear, and
the atmosphere is dry. but as tho washing
takes place here, 1t betomcs at u later hour,
filled with yapour; this has led many 70 sup
poss that the Turkish bath is, like the Rus
sian, essentially yapor bath; which is not
the case. The Turkish bath IL in principle
and in Tact, u hot-air bath; the yapor being
almost AN accident. Here the towels are oil
removed, except that which encirclcs tho
loins Abluiion Is then performed. TO which
the sounds Of dropping water and clahking
bowls duly correspond. Thro' the light
grey mist the attendants and bathcrs Git In
spectral manner, and ever and anon there
nrisc- clapping Of the hands, which 10 the
bathman's method Of signalling. Tho pro.
cess Of shampooing which Is here undergone
is most peculiar, and is that part Of tho
hath which Of all Others will be found most
difficult Of adoption into this country. IL
is in itself an art Of no mean attainment,
and proves m has been we'll remarked. that
animal magnetism has been practised In the
East for centuries, and rendered 10 practi.
cally manageable as to bc fairly designated
the handmaidcn Of health.
Mr.. Urqubart's description OF the perfot.
nance, as Il IL given In bis work The pill
lars Of Hercules, is as follows :: Under tho
dome there is an extensive platform OF mar.
bic slabs: on this you get up; the cloths are
taken from your head and shoulders, ono 10
spread for you TO lie on, the other Is rolled
Tor your head; you lie down on your back,
the tellak, 1.-TWO if the operation Ia properly
pcrforrned) kneels at your side, and bending
over, grips and prc-s your chest, arms and
legs. passing from part to part like bird
shifting its place OF o perch; he brings his
whole weight on you with Jerk, follows
the line Of muscle with anatomical thumb,
draws the open hand strongly over the sur.
face, particularly round the shoulders, turn.
ing you half up In 80 doing; stands With HE
ieet on your thighs, and on your chct. and
sliIs down your ribs, then up again three
times, and, lastly, doubling your arms one
after tho other on the chest, pushes with
both hands down, beginning at the elbows.
and then, putting an arm under the back,
and applying his chest TO your crossed el-
bows. rolls on you across till you crack.
You are now turned on your lace, and, in
addition TO the operation above described, hs
works his elbow round the edges of your
shoulder.blsdes, and with the heel piles the
.r,ls of vour neck. he concludr~ I,v h.,,L