New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-09-16
IN THE HOHEN TAUER
LIFE AT A QUIET AUSTRIAN WATERING
PLACE.


list at the K.rhaus. I'd iasten IS an exception
saw A bath-fub dlsplayN for sale yesterday which
would indicate that an EnRSshman now and then sp-
pears here for everybody Knows that no genuine
Englishman ever travels far without his hath-tHo
| have also three Americans during my three
weeks stay hero, but they seemed, Ike myself, 10
have lost their way MI to have turned mp here by
accident I heard lady saying. not many Gays
ago. that one of her Paris correspondents had com
planned to her that nobody about her seemed TO Kno"
where Gastein was. In fact, few people do
The Tauem Kettle a spur Of the NOric ALPS. begins
at tho eastern border Of the Tyrol and terminates
between salzburg and Karnthen. About thirteen
miles Of this chain, forming the watershed OctNe'h
the two astuamed points IS known as me hohen
Tauer. From the northern slope OF this ridge the
waters flow into four valleys running from north to
south--the Flscher Thai, tho RaurIs Thai the Gas
telner Thai, and the Grossariihal Tho Gasieiner
the third In order from west cast is the most I'M
poriant of the four One reaches 10 by way OF sa'~-
burg whence railroad runs 70 Leud, where the
mountains draw close together again. and make car
races necessary for the rest Of tho trip TO Gssein
Tho carriage road sharply 10 ihe left from inc
ne Of the railway, and climbs along the side OF
deep gorge into tho gloomy Klamm pass, through
which the Ache runs with a strong and turbulent
current cutting tho Of the great limestone walls
into curved surfaces and boring deep spirals Jul"
the big boulders. on either side Of The 'orrent the
mountains climb swiftly in vast perpendicular
rcaches with gray marble arches and black cave
mouths and clusters Of rocky spars soaring theF
steep faces. Then the ravln" opens TITO the broad
green valley Of Gasteln Mairholeu. DorfCasirin
and HofCastcn are passed, the Ache IS crossed ''
road begins to ascend along the mountain side on the
left bank and mounts By easy grade undcr me
shadows Of fir and larch, until IL reaches terrace
some feet above the level Of the Ache and running
round the end OF the Gasten valley. Here Nldbad
pI
above the sea-level the tlc town following the sen'-
circle at the extremity Of The valley. leachin. out
along the woody skirts OF the Grau Kogl on the "es'
and the stuhner Kogl on the east, and rising back
ward In successive terraces against the slope Of the
/ Neutrality-suspicious., which looks down upon IT from
its snowy crest.
The pretty local legend says that IN the time Of
St. Rupert, the first Bishop of sahburS. three
hunters, pursuing wounded stag were attracted
By vapor rising from hot sprng, where they
found the animal bathing rs wounds and two herrnts,
Prlmus and Felclanus. standing near who ,nerceded
for the stays fo. ard taught the hunters the VII
T tues ot the springs Of Gasein The neat stoue
church on the eastern side Of the valley, the base
mcnt Of which is sugrcstvcly occupied by the hfc
department Of the town. commentaries his incident
and tho history ard virtues OF those two patron-sains
OF Gasten In a rude painting in its veSbule. Primus
! and Fecianus appear kncclng AZ an altar IN
tabernacle az the foot Of hil stag Is seen IN
pool from which a stream dcscends 70 the foreground
and a cataract e seen near by. on The right tho
two worthless appear kneeng I'm an amphfheatre
with two Hons and bears. ono Of the latter Of
which seems to be trying 90 nitrate tho devotional
attitude Of the martyr In another compartment they
apnear UNDERGOING torture under the direction Of =
dgntary in scarlet robe. supposed TO be DoceiiAn'
while above hover two crimson angels bearing
crown and a palm. lorg inscription recounts the
virtues and the suneriucs Of These two saints, anu
waters OF Gasteln.
Tho waters are % course the feature OF the place
The, have been known is claimed. since tie seventh
century though their chemical quality ves not tested
until 1862. when the first attempt at analysis was
made by the celebrated Paracelsus. Of sazourg who
asserted that the hot springs contained gold silver
and arsenic. These springs rise in the Badherge on
the east Of Tho valley. and eighteen in number.
some u item issuing from the solid snciss, and
others from gravel and loose SOIL Their temperature
varies from 90 degrees 20 100 degrees Fahrenheit and
4 they yield daily the enormous quantity Of 10000
cubic feet They REGARDED as "A specific for chlomc
/ rheumatism and kindred complaints for diseases Of
the stomach and kidneys. for Brghts disease,
anaemia loss OF vitality and skin diseases. The
waters are tasteiess and coloress though when en-
/ closed IN a white receptacle. Ike the beautiful tile
baths in the bathing establishment. they assume a
blue green tint Ike that % tho water IN the swiss
and syrian lakes.
lie town Is manly 4 c0lleclon OF Noi'47 dl4''
bathing houses The principal hotels which are large,
handsome and admirably conducted. are furnished
with ahs for the OF patients Large reservoirs
have bsen constructed high up the mountain slopes,
: into which the WAFER Is forced by powerful steam
| pumps The appointments Of the baths are most
/ inviting. A deep reservoir, lined with white ana
colored tiles. Is sunk below the level Of the floor
and IS entered by steps. Neat brass faucets MI this
breast high in a few moments; a thermometer floats
| on the surface clock over the door announces 10
the patient the completion Of The number OF minutes
prescribed for his bath, and copper cylinder contains
| tho warmed linen sheet grateful TO the bather
issuing from the water. Tie Hotel Welsmayr is a
model OF comfort neatness and elegance Al : a. m.
the little badmester raps at my door and thrusts IN
his cheerful face with Guten morSen ia! Ich
konme gleich.7 The elevator door stands open and
one descends far down into the depths Of the
Weisulayr. The blue water IS already in the tiled
reservoir Tie l.ttle leans over 10 at Imminent
risk Of sOusug, seizcs the Reaumur Thermometer,
which Is bobblng about the surface Ike dead fish
punges II into the water and moves II TO and fro,
perhaps turns warm or cold stream, and then
resuming the perpendicular. announces. Sieben ind
ziounzg. Fertig. zehn minuen" and leaves ME ~
the minutes Of bliss. The water has an oeaGinous
quality very grateful 10 the skin and impartng TO
it great sofuess and does Induce tho pcrspraton
which commonly attends a warm bath 80 ordinary
water and renders patient liable TO ch.l on corning
out. Though Gasicin is a resort chiefly for me
weather. classes the benefits OF the springs are not
confined 10 the rich. \ bath hospital for the poor
has been In existence for great many years. and
the present building which contains accommodations
for seveuty-fvc patents, was constructed IN l'5l
Here the inmates receive food, lodging, baths and
medical treatment free.
But lt is no, only In the form " medicinal spring.
thai water plav, SD important a past in Gas'en no
where Is possible TO GET out Of the sound q stream
or cataracts The valley, and pa.,cs are literally
vocal with the voice Of Hoods Nature ON her OWL
gigantic scale, has wrought Wild work here with th'
clement. II would seem 10 have been playground
for the Titans Originally, three great lakes appeal
to have been stored away on three successive shelves
The first and highest OF these occupied the Nassfcd Il
the southwest OF Gastein now great valley surrounds
by glaciers and furnishing pasturage for hundreds
OF cattle. To reach IL on foot from lad Castor
requires from five 10 six hours. To Bochsten is ar
hour and half by the post road Then begins th