The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-08-24
HE FEAST OF THE BATHS.
DAY WHICH Is ANNUALLY OBJ
SERVED IN MEXICO.


eople Resorting in Great Crowds to the
Bsths---Abiutions that Are Deemed
Highly Beneat isi---An Attractive Feat.
A correspondent of the New Orleans
ZINES Democrat, writing from the
lily of Mexico, has the following to
~ about day which is universally
Celebrated throughout Mexico: This
last is held in honor of John the
hptist, and, like that of Guadalupe,
more especially celebrated by the
mmon classes. 1t is customary on
at day for the great majority of
exicans to resort to some one of the
any bathing establishments and in
hlge in ab!utions, which are deemed
ghly beneficial, as the water is be-
bved to be invested with peculiar
rtue at this season. 1t is considered
ore meritorious to make this pilgrim
te to the baths as early as possible,
d, therefore, long before dawn the
attitudes are flocking to the various
r:nes consecrated to the Baptist,
hich remained crowded from 8 o'clock
the morning until late in the
ternoon. And such crowds! Streams
people of all ages and conditions
rging in and out of the doorways,
nile hundreds stood without, waiting
chance of entrance. Every five
nutes trains would arrive bringing
bsh reinforcements; some came in
rriagts, others on horseback, but the
eatest number came on foot, and the
reefs presented a most curious and
eresting spectacle. Here might be
en a family party, with their baskets
. htaining refreshments, on their way
Chapultepec, where, after perform
the necessary ceremony of the day,
ey intended to enjoy their holiday
meath the glorious trees that sur
und the castle; there a bevy of
rely girls and their attendants,
piping merrily along, with long
sky locks floating down their
cks; companies of gay school-boys or
pdents, large bathing towels thrown
er their shoulders; mothers and
hndmothers lea1ing troops of little
ks, while on all sides reigned good
NOR and iOllity. Certainly this might
considered one of the most attract
feasts that Mexico offers her peo-
The two finest bathing places are
Os1rio and the Alberca Nane, STU
I'd near the statue of Columbus, the
on the Paseo and the other short
lance from it. They are amply pro-
led with tanks, varying in depth
IN four to thirty feet, in which one
battle or swim at pleasure, and
ich are furnished with every con-
hence. Attached to one house
a swimming-school, complete
nnasium and restaurant on
small scale, while both contain
charming garden filled with flow
rusti: arbors and vine-covered
inner houses. At the ALDER a, also,
y be seen the BanO Oriental"
ich is indeed dream of beauty, the
pr and tank inlaid with Peubla
rble, the sky alb I'VE reflected in water
clear as crystal, and at the side a
ia of rocks, plants and flowers.
lovely as this appears, there is
hething that pleases me still better,
that is the scene that meets the
as you step from the garden of
brio into the street outside, and see,
beyond, the green fields that lie be-
E you, far beyond Chapultepec and
unrivalad surroundings, mountains
aiming and shimmering in the light
early morning. Conceive. if you
J.. what enjoyment it must be, after
invigorating plunge in the pure
water, TO be seated under the
dow of great willow tree, re gal
yourself with tamale and atole-
d fit for the G ds-and drinking il
wonderful beauty of the prospec'
{ meets your gaze on every side.