The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-08-25
BATHING IN MEXICO.
Mexican Letter.

Mexican Letter.
 Although this section is blessed with an abounding number of beauti- fnl streams and rivers bathing therein Is extremely unpopular, the inhabit- ants declaring that river bathing is sure to produce calenturas (fever and agueO, especially if one walk at all in the sun-s performance hardly to be avoided unless one condemns one's self to prison like seclusion. During a considerable stay in Misantla the writer, accustomed to 6 cold bath every morning, used to rise at dawn, ride the mile or so to a particularly fine bathing place at the river, take a glorious plunge, tramp about all day in the tropical sun in quest of butter flies, coleopters, and "sich like" speci- mems of natural history, and towards evening again went to the river, en- tering the water hot and debilitated. yet never 8 shake of calenturas ap- peared.
 In the same way all over the repub. lie there are queer ideas as to the per- nicious effects of bathing at certain times or under certain conditions. Few things call the attention of Mex jeans more strongly than the eager ness with which Anglo-Saxons seek the bath on coming off journey the people here prefer to retain the dust of the road and other discomforts at- tendant on travel for some days at least after disembarking, firmly con- vinced that the other course would result in 8 bad cold, at least. To bathe, having 6 cold, would be to sign the death warrant; and one often sees people under these conditions who have not so much as touched the tips of their fingers to water for & fortnight.
 "It has been so cold lately" said the daughter of leading family in 8 cap- ital city, five always like to wash our faces with wet towel of morning, but we have not been able to use a drop of water for ten days past!''
 70, is it true," demanded some scandalized young women from Bos- ton, "that at Aguas Calientes one can see the people bathing by the roadside without any clothes on?" And the party interrogated was fain to admit that in the ditch running parallel with the horse- car line that leads to the excellent hot springs bath at that city the lower orders, being unable or unwilling to pay the trifing fee at baths, do bathe at ease in the lightest of apparel-men, women and children all together-with the simplicity of the Sandwich Islanders. And these may even be seen, having no towels to dry themselves withal, sitting on the bank while the sun performs that office, the bare, brown backs glisten- ing in the light, while timely stitch is taken, perhaps, in damaged raiment. And the scene is even more animated and the landscape more thronged of Saturdays, when the masters give their servants half-holiday to "clean up in." Nor is this sight peculiar to Aguas Calientes. And it must be said that the view inspires one obser- vation-namely, that a brown skin bare IS less startling and shocking to modesty than white one under the same conditions.
 In the City of Mexico the inhabit- ants of the better orders as general rule bathe freely. "I am going to take bath will it please you to &C., company me?" is 8 speech with the Mexicans, who have the habit of in. viting one to partake of whatever they indulge in at the moment, be it coffee, drink, dinner, ride, drive, or what not, including & bath, as aforesaid. About the whole business of bathing they are so naive as to make one understand the ditch side business before mentioned. Mexican men of good standing, lawyers, mer- chants, etc., may be met going to the baths guiltless of linen, the coat put on directly over the undershirt, some times with handkerchief or scarf about the neck, at others showing the bare throat, and if they chance to meet ladies of their acquaintance they see no reason why that garb is not as ap- propriate for conversation as any other. The ladies, on the other hand, promenade home through the most crowded street with their hair stream ing, as often as not with 6 towel hanging down the back beneath it and no one is ashamed to carry his bath ing toggeries, wet and frankly con- fessed, in shawl-strap, or 8 great Turkish bath towel or robe on the arm or shoulder, and this is about the only thing which Mexicans may carry for themselves without loss of caste or dignity in the eyes of their neigh bors.