Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-12-27
THE BArHER's BILL OF FARE.

A full bath consists Of three courses. boil OF
nine minutes or more in tub, and a combined
fry and stew, accomplished by sitting for sew
eral minutes on hot plank in box filled with
vapor. Sometimes "pack" is added, In which
self into a sieve, pouring into his mouth hot
water in copious draughts, which Strafghtway
exudeS from every pore. On little shelf above
three-minute sand glass. Sometimes the latter
is in bad condition, with diSreputable, banged
up look, suggesting that it too has come to bot
Springs for Its health. This kind Of glass takes
an unknown time to empty Itself Of sand, and
causes wonderment, over bathing and profanity.
While one is in the tub the hot water is gener-
ally left running for a while, so that
increased. In case Of temporary disablement,
by paralysis or otherwise, bather may ind
himself in the disagreeabfe predicament OF the
dances about in tub with lively emotion de-
picted on his countenance, shouting: "Helpl
help! I've turned on the hot water and can't
the establishment are the calls Of bathers for
their attendants as the different stages OF the
bath are reached, and sound Of slapping such
most heart-rending sound is said to be the hasty
remonstrance Of one, who, as he takes dO,tcte,
in which stream of hot water is applied direct
lyto the part affected, receives through mis-
take bath of scalding. temperature The
charge for baths is five dollars for course of
tWenty-one. and one dollar week is paid to
your attendant. But you may bathe more
cheaply. Climb Hot Springs mountain, where
the water flows down the side leaving green
deposit, until you are among the pipes enclosed
in wood, which conduct the water to the bath
houses. In the course Of the ramble it is likely
that you will see several persons sitting at
small pools, either bandagiDg their legs after
bath or unwrapping preparatory to one Then
there Is large pool called the Mud Hole. en-
closed in a building in which one may bathe
without charge after certain hour.
THE "CoRN HoLE.n
But the corn hole" tie waters of which are
said to soften and remove these excrescence5, is
the point Of great interest. Ladies have the ex-
elusive use Of it in the morning and gentlemen
In the afternoon. The waters Of the spring flow
into q circular basin, covered by tent and
lined by planks and cushions Oh which men are
seated close together with their feet and ankles
in the pool Some remain IL soak for hours. 1t
tramp, Senator, backwoodsman. may here
be sandwiched. A glossy beaver, planters
sombrero and disreputable slouch are seen in
close proximity d 5rowsy shirt threadbars
ly with the immaculate toilet of some city
''Swell." The late unpleasantneSS Is frequent
topic OF conversation. And recall few Specta-
cles more memorable than that of bloodthirsty
military chap, crouched all In Il heap, with head
down and hands as well as feet in the water,
growing excited over war "reminiscences.
DO THE WATERS CURE?
Like all other springs in the United States,
these are undoubtedly the fountains of eternal
youth which Ponce de Leon sought. Like other
waters prescribed as baths, they also suggest
one or more Of the Scriptural pools of healing.
No one spring can claim, no pool can mOnOpo-
lie these ancient illusions. But unlike many
other springs, there is no doubt that these wa
tiers cure, Sometimes. Indeed, one man given
up for dead by half-a-dOZen doctors was, it is
said, recently brought to life here. To be sure,
he had not actually bathed, but who can say
how far the alleged electrical influences OF the
water perneate the surrounding atmosphere
and give it life-restoring properties? These
electrical influences, which have thrilled various
newspaper correspondents and others, / take on
faith. have never felt them, but have had
experiences which suggest that there may be
something in the theory. know, for instance,
that one who steps into his bath-tub without
previously testing the water with a thermome-
ter, sometimes steps out again with the same
celerity Of movement and the mingled aston
ishment and grief of mien that characterize one
who has received an unexpected shock from a
galvan1c battery. 1t is reasonably certain that
there is something peculiar and undiscovered
about the waters which enables them, in in
stances, to make marvellous cures Faith, per-
spirat1on and a clean skin can effect much in
the way OF physical improvements; but, un-
aided, they could hardly have restored antma-
fragments Of humanity that have visited Hot
Springs and have gone away new made men.
1t is said that some OF the most remarkable
were furnished by the frequenters Of the old
RAJ Hole" These were white and colGred
paupers of both sexes, in many instances deS-
perately diseased, numbering from three hun
dred to four hundred, who encamped on the
western slope OF Hot Springs mountain, living
in huts or shanties or with no shelter at all ex-
found about the RAJ Hole" the pool in which
they bathed Their proximity to the springs
became Objectionable and the colony was broken
up in 1871. Many went away, but number
who were unable physically and pecuniarily to
follow this course, were removed by the chaTit-
able to the south side OF the mountain. Two
covered bathing pools were made for their use,
and the hot water was conveyed there through
pipes. In visiting
THE NEW SETTLEMENT. CALLED KELLEY TOWN.
one sees row of small, whitewashed frame
houses, constituting the free hospital, which
can accommodate from so to 60 patients. Food
for them Is obtained at the hotels and enter
ta1nmentS for their benefit are sometimes given
in the city. The other buildings OF this pecu-
liar settlement are mostly OF the primitive
order. Some appear to be mere hanglngs OF
canvas Others are patchworks of different
proyerbfal Saratoga trunk would be a more
comfortable and nearly as roomy dwelling as
the boxes in which some Of these men live
surrounded by fence composed of old pieces
OF mating and dirty sacks. l happened to
walk through the town once Just as sudden
char change II the weather was bringing on cold
snap. Women and boys were ScurryinN up the
mountain for oak and fat pine, while the men
stopped holes in the houses and patched the
chlmneyS. TheSe last were Of several varieties.
Some were OF mud, others OF mud and rough
stone, Wnlie one was composed OF old tin
articies put together to make sort OF pipe
wnlcn seemed just ready to come to pieces
lndeed, the man who was tinkering this par
ucular chimney seemed to approach 1t with
great cautlJD, and to survey it with a dubious
eye,
WEATHER MPRoBABILTTIES.
1t is not in Kelleytown alone that the weather
is matter Of peculiar interest. A damp or
rainy day here brings aches to thousand
bones. Not only among rheumatic and neural
g1c patients, but in all circles there is no other
topic of conversation SO absorbing. The stereo-
typed phrases that apply to the weather OF less
favored localities are useless here. Remarks at
Hot Springs on the subject are original and
sparkling, not to say imaginative. This Circum-
stance is due to the uncertainty Of the weather.
Custom cannot stale its infinite variety nor
prophet foretell the particular kind to be served
at any day or hour. The last few days here
have been rainy and disagreeable A plausible
theory ascrtbes the rainfall from the moisture
laden air to the atmospheric disturbances caused
by the energetic and continuous swearing of q
number Of Hot Springs citizens. The United
states commissioners are the objects of this
raln-compelling profanity, and thereby hangs
tale.
CITY FOR SALE.
In 1892 the government reserved the Hot
Springs and about four square miles of the sur