Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-06-05
A MEXICAN WATERING PLACE
Life In Agus CaIientes. Popular
Mexican Resort.

The capital is one Of the most
beautiful cities in Mexico, possessing
the glamor of age and historic inter
est and the charm of mountain
scenery. Two ravines divide the city.
winch has magnificent plaza in its
center, with fountains aud quaint old
statutes, spreading trees and bloom
ing roses. Under its graceful shade
ana within sound of its cooling
waters, zarape wrapped or repose d
figures are always dreaming the
happy hours away upon its pink
tinted benches; and on evenings
when the bands play, aristocratic
Aguas Cahentes deigns to represent
itself here by pretty senoutas of the
DARK, warm southern type. and gorge
lousIyatired Washers" of the male
persuasion, who stroll about among
the roses while the music and the
moonlight ineites the mischievous god.
Cupid, to his worst behavior. The
Mexican gallant is never so handsome
as when frantically jealous or madly
IN love--into either of which con
dltions he is ready to fall on smallest
proYocation; and then his fire, or
fgsy, as the case may be. is charm.
ing-as a study The great attrac-
ton of the town-that which fills its
hotels with health seekers, and keeps
them here after the coveted boon has
been attained-ls the celebrated warm
springs. They bubble up-bringinp
healing from the earth, and heated in
nature S laboratory--In several parts of
the city, and in two places have been
covered with commodious bath houses,
containing every modern convem
fence Both these baths are reached
by horse-car. This is a very old place.
the extensive abode structures inclos-
ing the springs have been built more
than two centuries ago, For % cents
you hire a room, which has nothing
in it but an elevated platform, upon
which is a mating and a chair. a peg
for your clothes, and fight of steps
leading down into a Square. shallow
pool of shallow water. The dark
browed man ia attendance, who looks
like an ex-brigand, brings you towels
and a sheet. and leaves you to your
own devices, with the professional
advice thrown IN that from five to
/ ten minutes is bdStdBte tempo (time
enough to remain in the water, for
too long a bath here is as injurious as
an overdose of medicine. There are not
more than three feet of delightfully."-
warm water upon the pebbly bottom,
from which il oozes and acts as a
filter; but such are its strong mineral
properties that one may float upon it,
as on Salt lake, in Utah, at the same
/ depth. The surroundings of these
springs are very beautiful, with the
| fern -drared heights for a background,
crowned with theSruined "casas" of a
previous century. The trees of this
section are much larger, and the foli-
age more luXuriant, than in higher
attitudes, and haze is always hang
ing upon the landscape. The over
flow of the springs form a river of
slightly warm mineral water, which
for miles is lined with people, i'm all
stages OF dress and undress, and pre-.
seuts an .endles row Of heads peeriug
above the bank, the clear, shallow
stream securely hiding the squatting
tigHres, male and female, who patro
nize it thus amicably together, at all
hours, and without the formality of
bathing dresses. The lower-class
Mexican is a social animal, and not
an immodest one-according to his
way of thinking and childlike inno-
cence of conventionalities Really,
the display here is not much worse
than may be seen at any of our fash
ionable seaside resorts among upper
tendon, and / venture to assert that the
hearts of these children of nature
are cleaner of impure ideas, though
their clothes may be scantier. Cor.
st. Paul Pioneer Press.