The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-02-04
BATHING IN VIENNA.
The Trials of Modest Man Not Aeon,

The Trials OF Modest Man Not Accus-
toned 10 the ways OF Germany.
Mr.. Prentice Milford thus writes TO the
San Francisco Chronicle from Vienna: AZ
ter while l discovered that the Viennese
who did wash themselves, washed them
selves all over at the great public baths,
and not In the little pint pitchers Of water
they kept in their bedrooms. So I went
to public bath. did not know what to
ask for, but knew German enough for
water, I went in and said, "Wasser."
They took my meaning Immediately, or
they might have seen that needed wash
ing. declare the ridiculous amount OF
water they furnish one leads TO dreadful
results.
There are two passages leading into the
great five.storied bath 'barrack-one for
males, the other for females. OF course ]
took the wrong one, and L was showed
back by woman with towel. ] didn't
see that 1t made much difference. for the
attendants on both sides were females.
Marie showed me to my bath room. Marie
was big, brown, black-eyed Austrian
maid, in round short skirts. She went
ahead Of me with an armful OF towels.
She opened my bath room door. went
| in. She came in after me. was quite
unprepared for this. But she wasn't. She
seemed used to It, and went to work. She
spread sheet on the bottom OF the bath
tub. / don't know what 1t is for,
but they always do it. At all
events It takes of the rough edge
OF the zinc for ones skin. Then she
turned on hot water and waited. / waited
also. Out OF regard for the proprietors, !
removed only my hat. would not even
take off my collar before Marie. The water
seemed long time running in. 1tgen-
Grated cloud Of steam, which gradually
filled the small bath room, and through
which yaporish atmosphere Marie and l
saw each other dimly. Finally she gave
me all the hot water ] was entitled to.and
left. Relieved, ] sprang TO the door.
There was no lock upon it. hunted in
vain for some kind OF fastening. sat
down uneasy. Then removed my coat
and collar. Then Marie burst in again
with another towel. Then she went out.
How was l 10 battle In peace with that
confounded girl continually intruding on
me?
Then I tried 10 turn on some cold water
and couldn't, BY this time had removed
many OF my garments and barricaded the
door with my jackkniie. Instead OF hav'
ing sensible faucets, by which man
could regulate his own flow OF water, these
| REQUIRE the use OF wrench to turn them
The wrench, suppose, was kept by the
attendant outside. / did not know any
German for wrench, and II ! had, dared
not call for one with the prospect oil the
llady's bringing 1t, So / sat down on the
chair, which ! had backed up against thu
door as on additional security against
Marie, and waited for the water 10 cool
It takes hot water long time to cool II
/ Austria. Finally 1got into the tub:
think II could not have been much below
boiling temperature. got out agar
pretty quickly, blushing All over and
sympathizing more heartily than eye
| With boiled lobster. It was an,uhcomiort
able bath. Isuifered externally from thu
water and internally from fear OF that pos
sible Marie. But she never cape again
She left a large pile OF linen Tor me-. eF
aminadi IL. There were one towel about q
| large as . napkin and two large aprons
which reached from my bead 70 my heels
The apron puzzled me. ! utilized thep
for towels. A friend afterward told m
their nse. They are 10 be put on, the on
!. before and the ather behind, on gettin
out Of the hot bath, and you sit IN then
and ring the bell for the attendant Il
enter, turn of the hot water and let OF
me cold. Marie all this time Mas waitin
for my bell to come in and turn on colt
water, She meyer heard that bell. pq
on but one OF thess aprons, the iorTarr
one. 1t fitted me perfectly. It would d
anybody. 1t was splendid dress Tor ho
weather, so easy to put on and oil;
: loose, cool and comfortable; so easy I
slip out o., and, il need be, fan yourSc
with the skirt.