The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-04-19
THE EXPERIENCE OF A BATNEn.
An Old Contributor Takes Roman
Bath.
WHAT HE HAS TO SAY ABOUT |


WHAT HE HAS TO SAY ABOUT IT.
MARITIME EXPERIENCES ON DIAMOND
STREET. =
MEssRs. EDITORS
| had been up in balloon, crossed
the Atlantic, was a Son Of Malta, was
shot once, had seen several murlerers
transferred to another cline, twice ran
for the Legislature, and once was in a
railroad accident that laid me in my
little bed for three weeks, but l had
never taken Roman bath. Imet bro
ther Hague on Fifth Avenue and he
suggested a Roman bath as the proper
thing. I had been upset in the sea,
taken in the Turkish bath, jumped
from the top bucket of stern wheeler
into the Allegheny, but I never had
taken Roman bath. Hague said that
I could never appreciate life until I.bad
bathed according to the style of Gin
cinDatus and Romulus, Nero and Bish-
op D0menec. vas about to decline
positively when Hague thrust COM
plimentary ticket into my hand. That
settled it, and l consented. 800
$50 around now" says Hague, "apd
you will avoid the rush."
I babe him adieu and wendell my
footsteps to Diamond street. Entering
the Office a gent1emaply looking brig
and asked me for my valuables.-
Thee were no police in the Deighbor-
hood, so there was no chance of aid
from that quarter. The thing looked
square enough and I transferred ,cou
pie of thousand dollars, revolver, my
watch, Office key and other articles OF
vertu to the youth, who deposited
them in the safe and gave me check
for their recovery. -~
"This way, sir" said he, and I fol-
lowed like lamb going to the slaugh
ter. "Step in there aud prepare to
battle" As ! stepped into the little
two feet square place l still lad my
misgivingssabout bathing in Latin, but
I had gone too far to retreat. I had
taken off md hung up,eyery article of
clothing that | had along on the occa-
sion, when gentlemanly looking sort
Of a capnibal clad in a towel, which
was short at both ends, presented him
self. "Pull down your ,vest'' wonld
have had no more effect on him than
"Look at that BUTTON He dressed me
in towel and requested ME to follow
him. I did 80. As he assembled the
stairs I had serious intentions of max !
ing a rnsb FOR the door and crying "po-
lice," bnt | didn't followed him. At
the head of the stairs the airy individ-
nal opened the door Of a room about
fifteen feet square.
"step in" said Ire. I did so, and he
immediately closed the door.s
"a little warm in here" said /, al
most snfncated with the heat.
sob, no." was the reply, and he
glanced at the thermometer; ats only
10 degrees. Sit down." and he point.
ed to q w"pden rocking chair. ! sat
down, hrt for a brief period only. J
had not rested on that chair the one
lundretli part Of Il second until | in,
.coiuntari'y slot up il the air about
six feet. Reaching tie fnor again, I
was seized with a determination to
make Que bold, strike for my life, but
the ether fellow was a muscula, fiend,
and fear d to tackle him. Gently
suggested to him that had no ohjec-
ton to be fried alive,shut if he would
just pull dowE window for mo-
ment, or let me breathe through. the
key-hole, it would make my death
easier. He sponged off tile chair with
ice water, and throwing a sheet over
it, said that he thought / could sit
down quite comfortably now. l sat
down cautiously and aDxiously awaited
for what was to follow.
TAKING COMFORT.
"Make yourself comfortable for
about ten minutes" said the attendant
imp, land l think you will be ready
for the next ROOM" He left rue here
and shut the door after him.
l had never been in such a position
before. I tried to raise the windows,
but it was useless. l was running
away with perspiration. A pool of
essence of victim was collecting at
my feet. Rivulets of pure water ct al.
were running from every pore. Would
the iend never come backq Was to
die there and not leave enough Of me
to bury decently7 The chagrin OF
McCallin wien he came to hold the
inquest on such thin subject sug-
gested itself. arese from the CHAIR,
but the perpendicular position I as
sumed only convinced me of the phi
lospphy of heat rising to the ceiling, so