The New York herald., 1874-09-27
SUMNER LIFE IN EUROPE.
THE GERMAN SPRINGS.
REC0LLECTIONS OF KIsSINGEN.
It's Beauties, Mountains, Histo-
ries and Legends.
Bismarck as a Mower
of Grass.
Life and Allurements at
Vichy.
HoMBURc AND ITS SPRINGS.
The American Colony on
the Rhine.
VICHY.

these lingering summer days at vichy There are
people here who have been to Spa, and who hav-
ing done so, think they justified in Struggling
their shoulders at tAis little town and declaring
that its casino and theatre and amusements gen.
orally pale before the splendor OF that celebrated
watering place; but they cannot repudiate these
golden glowing days-days when a vast peaceful
ness falls upon everything and all the harsh and
ugly things Of lie seem to be padded in wadding
and slowed away. At least two meanings are
given to the word season. as used here. The one
is that which is applied by the average visitor who
insists upon coming in July, because then the
hotels are at snelr fullest, the toilets at their
'fashonabest," and the opportunities Tor nirta-
ton free and frequent. But this is an inter-
probation that is despised by the resident phys-
clans, OF whom there about twenty employed
by the thermal establishment administration
What vichy physician means by season is any
duration which will effect cure, or an ameliora-
ton where a cure is impossible. He will tell you
that ii there ia any choice OF months 1t lies within
the six weeks extending from August Is to Oc.
tober /. The vast majority OF those who come
here do for health, and the grand difficulty
which the physician has TO combat Is that OF IL
tucing them to remain long enough to give the
bathing and drinking fair trial. ofncial writers
Bet down twenty-one days as the minimum
IN most instances, aud sixty as the aver
age term in serious cases. But this Is
kind OF advice to which the ordinary
Invalid refuses to listen. Alter few tumberfus
from Les Celestins or La Source dHauterive the
rheumatic sufferer is apt TO ignore that network
OF pain IN which he has been labyrinthed and In
elsts upon having his walking papers after the
lapse OF fifteen days. He acts though ne believes
that gallon or 80 OF mineral water has the power
OF creating a constitution that shall supplant
the old and enable MIN 10 rebegin LIE under the
most brilliant conditions II is the same with the
white looking American ladies, who throng hither
with figures etiolated, like skeleton flowers. You
see them coming to the table d'7a0te without appe-
tite, pretending to swallow soup and tr1ing with
bit OF chicken. Fresh air, early hours bathing
and drinking the waters begin, after fortnight,
to do something for them; but by that time they
are tired of vichy and become enamored Of Ems
or Carlsbad or some other famous watering place.
and forthwith the bills are paid, the trunks are
packed the doctors claims are settled and pro-
testations disregarded and the waters Of vicby
Know tnem no more.
INVALID FLIRTArT0Ns.
Looking down the long lines OF full table dhote
who has not been struck by the contrast between
the maadies Of the individual guests and the Rusto
with winch they attack the bill OF fare have
never seen tnis contrast more strikin2ly exempli-
fed than at vichy, where only Two meals per day
are furnished, the deeurler at ten O'Clock and the
dinner at hslfpast five. These are the regulation
hours and you may be sure that at those periods
appetite comes into fun play. You may walk
through the parlors or visit the baths and springs
orrepair 10 the casino and It's numerous salons at
all oaner hours and find them crowded; but at the
epochs | have mentioned every public resort be-
comes suddenly deserted and life at Vichy is con-
centrated in the sdsle-d-ndnger. am at loss to
think what the theories OF the physicians here
are in regard TO the diet necessary for
dyspepsia; for | have seen with my own
eyes patients suffering from that disease abandon
ing themselves madly TO the delights OF rromGge
Ia creme and apparently without suffering any
So bsequent inconvenience. | have seen the pain
iuly obese Cutting themselves through nalf
dozen courses and then folding their napkins and
rising with the air OF having performed duty for
which society will the better. And If the appe.
tite OF sick people is singuarity then nrtatons
and other varied efforts alter enjoyment are stlll
more Notwithstanding, | mean as
psychological study, showing how much even
morbid human nature VIII 90 through for the sake
partly OF amusement, parity oil conforming TO con-
venCionalty. Here Is the gentleman w1o Is OBJ
uQed loot 1t in list slippers quoting poetry TO the
lady whose maiady cor strains her 10 constant
OF the iron spring de Mesdames and there Is
the youth with an affection OF the heart MAKING
love 70 the young lady WITH an ahecuoh OF
the liver. In the PARK you see the
monsieur whose blood has become Impoverished
win too muca aloumeu hodlug sentimental
conversation with the demolselle whose illness
arises from vicious assimatiOn of sugar. Tne
party with engorZed yiscera cannot De happy
without the presence OF the friend with shattered
digestion, and NJ. Pavilion, who suffers rom ar
ticuar rheumatism Is miserable unless he has the
company OF 'mon ami Pnard,n who Is almost
desperate with oouque hepdtbQue. Let US be
that aff1Iction, not less than prosperity, draws
people together. II late locates me at Vicny 1t Is
pleasant TO know that people from all the nations
Of the earth are there too; tnat gentleman GRIM
soned by the torrid sun OF sumatr1, Is on ny
right; that beautiful leader Of fashion, sickly
naTn m my latt Uu-u utan
princess sits opposite, and that alescent South
Americans, Spsniards, Canadians and Americans
are scattered mlscellaneously around. II would
be an excellent idea TO pass around a poyglot
edition oil Popes universal Prayer" ior grace at
meal time.
season at Ylchy means something different
from season at saratoga. saratoga is little city
full OF big hotels, and the chief difference between
IL and city proper Is that IN the latter are no
mineral waters gushing fresh from their native
springs. The greater part OF those who 90 70
saratoga do not 60 there after health IL has an
almost unsurpassed reputation. alter Its kind, as
fashionable watering place, and of the few who
go there really to drink the waters many remain
In order 10 show tneir toilets. But Nchy Is one
otthe great raiying points in the word Tor the
afnlcted, who are not en- bonne sGntG and who are
willing TO make some sacrifice in order TO attain
naneToas TnS pessns In ss o. 1s ni
srHc'eht sr,aI t5 patience TO give the place good
ing places OUT of ten At saratoga you drink
promlscuously and misceaneousy, and 1t does
early and often or whether you never drink at all.
But at Vichy your incomings and outgoings are
watched over by service medical; or at any rate
you repair thither SO Impressed with the reputa
ton OF the place ana with your own ignorance re
sLecting the KIND anu quantity OF water you are
TO imbibe and Datbe In, that q matter OF cours,
YOU apply for advice TO one OF the OF doc or
VINO constitute the administrative service. II yol
are English or American and do not speak French
OF course you select one OF the several physician
familiar with your vernacuar. II you are willin
TO proceed helter-skelter, without advice, no ain
Guilty viii be found so far as The springs are con
cerned for all you have to do Is
present yourself among tue crowd
Dnt In