Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-01-24
BATHING IN VIENNA.
The Trials of a Modest Man Not Ac.
cNStOmed to the WAYS of GERMANY.

Mr.. Prentice Milford thus writes to the San
discovered that the VIennese did wash them en-
selves all over at the great public baths, and
not In the little pint pitchers OF water they keep
in their bedrooms So went to public bath.
/ did not know wnat to ask for, but know Ger
nan enough for water. went in and said
'Wasser." They took my meaning 1mmedi-
ately, or they might have seen that | needed
water they furnish one leads to dreadful re-
suits.
There are two passages leading into the great
other for females. OF course, took the wrong
one, and was showed back by woman with
towel. I didn't see that 1t made much differ
males. Marie showed me to my bathroom.
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 bathroom door. 1 went in. She came in
after me. Twas quite unprepared for this. But
she wasn't. She seemed used to it, and went to
bath-tub l don't know what it was for, but
they always do 1t. At all events, it takes off
the rough edge of the zinc for ones skin. Then
she turned on hot water and waited waited
also out of regard for the proprieties 1 re-
moved only my hat. would not even take Off
my collar before Marie. The water seemed a
steam, which gradually filIed the small bath
ROOM and through which vaporish atmosphere
Marie and saw each other dimly. Finally she
gave me all the hot water was entitled to and
left. Relieved, l sprang to the door. There
was no lock upon 1t. hunted In vain for some
kind OF a 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 to battle in peace with
that COMPOUNDED girl continually 1ntruding on
me?
Then tried to turn on some cold water and
couldn't By this time had removed many Of
my garments and barricaded the door with my
1aekknife In steadod having sensible faucets Gets 6y
water, these require the use of wrench to turn
them. The wrench, suppose, was kept by the
attendant outside. l did not know any German
for wrench, and If I did, dared not call for one
it. So sat down on the chair, which had
backed up against the door as an additional
security against Marie, and waited for the
water to cool 1t takes hot water long time
to cool in Austria. Finally got into the tub
think it could not have been much be;
low boiling temperature. I got out agai4
pretty quickly, blushing all over and
symsathizing more heartily than ever with
boiled lobster. 1t was an uncomfortable bath.
suffered externally from the water, and inter-
never came again. She left large pile OF linen
| for me. | examined it. There was one towel
| about as large as napkin, and two large
aprons, which reached from my head TO my
| heels. The aprons puzzled me. 1 utilized them
| for towels. A friend afterward told me their
| use They are to put on, the one before and the
| other behind on getting out of the hot bath.
and you sit In them and ring the bell for the at
tendant to enter, turn of the hot water and let
on the cold. Marie all this time was waiting for
| my bell to come in and turn on cold water. She
never heard that bell. 1 put on but one OF these
| aprcns-the forward one. 1t fitted me perfectly.
1t would fit any body. 1t was splendid dress
,Or hot weather; so easy to put on and Oh; so
loose, cool and comfortable; so easy slip out OF
| and, II need be- fan yourself with the skirt.