The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-28
THE WATERS" AT Ems.
The Great European Gu
rative Resort.
HISTORY AND HYDROPATHY
What the Believers Say the Springs Are
Good FOr-Iligh Priced Hotels.
HOTEL GUTENBERG, EMS, June II. 1874.

HOTEL GUTENBERG, EMS, June IL. 1874
i have been thinking what Is the most useful In
formation which can give to American readers
about the baths Of Ems, and will now attempt to
classify the result OF some attention and research
THE HISTORY OF EMS
can be brieny told or, rather, should say, that It
cannot be printed at length In a daily newspaper
or read with patience over their break asst tables
by busy people, mostly in search OF the price OF
stocks and theatrical advertisements, that they
may know how to pass their day with most profit
and their evening with most pleasure. Men OF
business and beautiful women seldom look beyond
to-day; and it is quite well that they should not
bother themselves very much with iuturity. But
even the brightest intellects and the most perfect
loneliness Is apt to get out OF gear at times with
the wear and tear OF lie; and then both business
and pleasure Tor while must come to a stop. 1t
Is Tor sucn cases that now write dor the afflicted,
the overwrt ught and the weary, who are in search
OF health or rest and know not how to WOO either
back to them They are very likely 10 come upon
the traces OF these iugltlves at Ems and as every
reasonable person feels desire to have some
knowledge OF place which he or she intends to
visit, claim space for few words about the ante
cedents Of
THE MOST FASHIONABLE WATERING PLACE IN THE
WORLD.
Ems If pretty little town, charmingly situated
on both banks of the Lain, In somewhat narrow
valley enclosed by woody and vine-clad rocky
heights. 1t was well known to the Romans, and
many objects of antiquity found in the neighbor-
hood stu record the presence Of that mighty race
which conquered ruled and passed away. Now
and then, as The Prussian peasant trudges behind
his plough, ne still turns up broken urn, which
perhaps contained the ashes Of q warrior; or he
finds part OF lamp which, may be, lit some lover
to his lady's bower; his eyes gladdened with
the glitter OF an ancient piece Of money which
bears the efngy Of one Of the Caesars. Arms and
bricks, too, have been dug up, en- raved with the
mark OF the Twenty-second Legion, which seems
to have been encamped or quartered not Jar IRON
the hot springs now in use, and to have consti-
tuted part of that military colony which, under
the Emperor Titus, was drafted into the army taat
marched to the conquest of Jerusalem. No ruins
OF Roman baths have been discovered as yet at
Ems; but considering the passionate love for
washing themselves which naturally characterize
great people who wore no shirts. 1t is probable
that they selected it as sanitary station lor their
sick soldiers. 1t Is first mentioned as warm
BATH however, In a document dated A. D. 1854,
which In any case gives 1t satlsac-
tory character as place for getting well IN.
The name OF Ems Is derived from the German
"Uno" or "En," signifying abundance, duration,
riches. Ums or Ems may be translated as source
or spring OF abundance. Ems was first designated
In old parchments under the appella'ion of
"Umetze' and "Onze," whence later were derived
the names OF "Einmetz, "En,bS'' and Ems" 1t
was early celebrated Tor the lead and silver mines
which were situated in the neighb0rhood, and
which may still merit the attention OF enterprlsng
SPECTATORS; the soil abounds with ore. In the
fourteenth century it was conferred by the Arch
bishop william of Cologne, In deed OF gilt upon
Count Jonn, Of Nassau. 1t passed from his heirs to
the family Of Hesse Darmstadt, and then. by mar
riage, to that OF Orange Nassau In 1903 Ems became
the properly of the Walram branch OF the Nassau
family, under decree of the Diet of Ratlsbon and
finally, alter the Austro-Prussia war OF 1866, the
whole district passed under the domination of
Prussia. The most interesting episode In It's an
nails Is the Congress of the Penpoentiaries OF the
four German princes OF the Catholic Church, the
Electors OF Mayence, Treves Cologne and saz-
burg, which was held there In 1855. The bath
house still standing was built by the Austrian
Field Marshal Baron Hans de Thtngen towards the
close OF the seventeenth century. 1t IS worth
mention, as historical fact showing to what an
extent Germany was formerly subdivided that
nom the bridge over the Lahn which commands
but limited view OF the country surrounding
Ems, the dominions OF no less than eight different
independent princes could once be seen.
THE CLIMATE OF EMS
is the mildest, and, perhaps the best IN Germany,
for the heat is agreeably tempered by soft south
erly breezes and 1t is protected from the north
and east winds by Its sheltered position in the
heart Of valley Visitors who are prudent, never
theless, do well to clothe themselves warmly
in the mornings and evenings, when the
air is somewhat chill ana damp, owing
to the mists which hang over the woods
before the sun disperses them. 1t Is better
to live on the left bank OF the river than on the
right because the drainage is more carefully at
tended TO. 1t should be mentioned, however, that
this place has been generally free from prevailing
epdemics especially those which are often fatal to
children, such as the scarlatina, the measles and
the whooping cough. Cases OF typhus fever are al
most unknown at Ems; and when the cholera was
ravaglng the whole OF Germany In lS49 and
1885, tor some reason or other, not satisfactorily
explained by science, there was no single case at
Ems, while the neighboring towns of EhrenDrelt.
stein and Coblence suffered cruelty.
THE EMS WATERS.
The water from all the springs of Ems comes
from the earth pure as crystal, and Is mixed with
little bubbles Of carbonic acid gas. When 1t has
been standing little while 1t deposits a brown
sediment, composed OF oxide OF iron and lime, and
1t changes to faint opal color 1t has an agree
able taste, slightly pungent and is very soft to the
touch. The temperature OF the springs over
which the change OF the seasons exercises no In
nuence, varies from q deg. Reaumur to Al deg.
Reaumur. The springs are twenty-five in number.
The Ems water contains no animalculg when In
fresh state have been enabled to give the follow.
ing reliable
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS or THE SPRINGS AT Exs WHICH ARE
USED FOR DRINKING, WITH THEIR NAMES AND rExPERA-
; i e IS g