National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-02-14
ARKANSAS SKETCHES.
Life at the Hot springs-IIow the Baths
Are Taken and Their Effect.

Arc Vaken ana Their EneCt'
PHILADELPHIA Times.
"Toot- toot-tara-tar tara" Heartrending
strains from brass instruments arrest the
attention, and the "IIot Springs band"
twelve or fourteen strong, in cadet gray and
brass helmets surmounted by an avalanche Of
red feathers como marching down Central
avenue. The local gamins caper delightedly
in the mud, and the swarming darkies grin
from ear to ear. A procession, too. Colored
Free Masons, the chief on great prancing
horse. sixteen hands high, as proud as
"Rooshan duke"
1t is high noon-and the sidewalks arc
thronged with people-a motley crowd. Some
Boston, New York, or Philadelphia million
aire comes here to subdue rebellious govt or
rheumatism, jostles jolly cowboy in broad
brimmed white sombrero, trimmed with silver
or rattlesknake skin. The latter removes a
an "all right, pard," in answer to tho
others muttcred apology. That stout
man with flowing white hair is an ex-
congressman from Missouri, whose brother
aspires to the highest honors in the
peoples gift; while q few steps away
stands q daredevil Kentucky gambler, whose
seven or eight notches on his pistol-barrel
testify to private graveyard of his own
among tho blue grass. That Withholding
Chinaman is the proprietor Of o store for the
sale Of trifles from "far Cathay," and offers
you hideous idol as souvenir "belly
cheep." Behind an improvised counter at the
sidewalks edgea keen-eyed Arkansian tempts
you with centipedes and Texas spiders care
fully preserved in spirits of wine-"only 20
cents apiece" One of these dealers supplements
his attractions by live rattlesnake about four
feet long. 1t is kept in an ordinary glass show
case and the passers.by drum on it to hear
the rattles. Boys, keep movin' an don't
stir the critter up" Like any crystals"
the Arkansian continues, turning to me.
Whisking cloth from another case he dis
plays some Of the finest specimens / over
saw. They range in price from % cents to S25.
For very fine specimen local jeweler has
refused 5000. Tho Hot Springs diamonds"
have as great reputation here as the Cape
May ones at home. The local lapidaries are
skillful, and the imitation stone dehos detec-
ton by the casual observer.
There is time for bath before dinner.
hesitate among the dozen or so of bath houses
tho New Rector" Ozark" "Indepeud-
emit" "Big Iron," "Rammelsburg," and
"Rockafellow." 1 finally choose the New
Rector" as its reputation is good and its
situation convenient, though the tubs arc of
zinc and not. as in one or two OF the other
bath houses, of porcelain. We pass into
roomy office. whore the manager-who unites
these functions with dental surgery and
tho mayoralty of the springs-sits at a
| desk behind a wooden railing in one
corner of the room. A map of Hot Springs
and some photographs adorn the nicely
| papered walls Among them 10 one of a
noted New York ex-prizo fighter, who came
here to be cured Of that terrible aflliction-
| locomotorataxia. A thick carpet hides the
floor and cages containing squirrels, canaries,
and parrots, with parlor organ and num-
Der of cry stal specimens, complete the decora-
| tions. Above the managers desk hangs the
| e Nln l,aNl, Tod hNrf lNA
| United States commissioner. Single baths
are 30 cents, or twenty baths for So.
His honor, the mayor quite character in
| his way), punches the ticket and consigns me
to the care of the intelligent looking mulstto
who is to battle me. Henry Battle, as he is
called, takes mo to the rear of the building
and opens the door of one of forty or fifty
bath rooms. Their size is about eight feet by
six. Henry first washes the tub thoroughly
with hose, and when, by mixing hot and
cold water, q temperature of 1902 has been
obtained l am invited to step in.
The sensation is peculiar, and not unpleas-
ant. The electricity in the water causes q
pricking sensation in the hauds and feet.
! remain IN the tub about ten minutes. Henry
brings me hot water to drink from time to
time. l emerge to enter the vapor bath IA
closet about eight feet highl, whore am i'm
medately shrouded in steam and bathed in
perspiration. There / remain two minutes,
During this time Henry darts out aud re-
turns with O cot bedstead. Upon this he
places me, swathed in blankets, and leaves
me to my reflections. He returns in q
quarter of an hour, and rubs me down
quickly and skillfully. / resume my clothes
and am shown into the "gentlemens parlor,
q long, handsomely furnished room, filled
with lounges and easy chairs. These are
occupied by men who have just had their
baths. Some are asleep. others are reading
| ha nthara giinnlv raQtinU with
out seeming to think of anything at all. Al
it is not considered wise to change the hot oil
of the bath house for tho outer air too sud
denly, everybody remains in this moderated
heated room or species of Purgatory an hour
or moro before leaving the bath house. A
| certain languor follows the bath and it is
injurious to move about much until this has
passed away. When it does it leaves thu
patient greatly refreshed and exhilarated.
| The "mud hole" as it is called, is one o
the sights of the springs. There the water
accumulates in great pool and ten or dozer
people 60 in to battle together. OF course
there are especial hours for either sex and al
other hours the bath is opened gratis to tn,
Door. Tho money derived from the sale o
tickets is used for keeping the place in order
| This bath house belongs to the government
Its waters are said to be stronger than any il
the valley. Senator Morton bathed here ani
was greatly benefited.
NO one VINO mas Datned AT hOU springs can
deny that the effect produced upon the sys-
tenn and the physical sensation in the water
is totally different from what is experienced
in water artiticially heated to the same tenn.
perature. This difference cannot be &C
counted for by the presence of mineral o.
organic matter, nor by the free carbonic aciC
that enables one to drink Hot Springs waite
without nausea. If the temperature of tn,
bath here be raised to 10 degrees the effect
are so violent that to remain in the batl
twenty minutes would bring on a serious i'll
ness. These waters have power that can
not be explained, except by the presence Of
some agent 30 subtle that it has escaped thu
investigations of science. May not tho cleo
trio currents in the water have united tn
mineral ingredients with the water in a man
ner not otherwise attainabloP This, o
course, is pure speculation, but science has
not said its last word. Some future Bunser
may find an answer.
| -NfuAsA