The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-08-19

cure. and not even a cheerful support 10 given
to the undertaken. In fact the old town is NOR
ibund.
We were once conducted through the cure in
On interval of treatment and bathing. In the
court back of the wards We were shown an i'm
mense tank or reservoir of black mud, simmer
ing aud bubbling. From this Is taken the uuin-
viting material for baths, beds and poultIces.
Within are ranged wooden couches, on which
patients recline. sometimes entirely wrapped 10
sheets, plsstered with mud. Sometimes they
are immersed in baths, il so they may be called,
Of the same stun, and there have to remain for
hours. Many a poor rheumatic wretch lies
down and rises up in mud, is black aud sticky
with it from head to heels. for all the world
like an American Presidential candidate. The
difference II that this sort of mirs sometimes
cures the disease.
From what l have seen of well-bred. well-to-
do Italians at summer resorts, l should say that
they take their holidays in ways more sensible
than rich Americans. They make far less dis
play IN dress and equipaee, they keep better
hours ana avoid excess IN exercise and amuse-
ments. They show less anxiety 20 be exclusive
In their associations and heightened in their
manners. They do not thrust long pedigrees or
long purses down your throat. They bravely
wear comfortable old clothes. Their kirtles and
their titles, their coats and their coats-of-arms,
set easily upon them.
Many q fair contessa, whose home in Florence
or Rome is an ancient palazzo. with lots of
blood-curdling family traditions about il, a big
gallery OF family portraits in It, and a family
spectre or two, takes with her to the baths or
Lucca or the seaside far less aud less costly bag
gage than many a New York belle. with no an-
cestors TO speak of and only a Photographic al
bum o. family portraits, going from a spectre
less boardine-hopse to Saratoga or Long Branch.
The enormous iros-bound trunks of an Ameri-
can signorins are appalling objects to Italians
especially Italian porters-And are q sore bur
den to the far owner herself as soon as she has
been abroad long enough TO have some Of the
nonsense Knocked out of her. By the way, /
have found after many years Of sojourning In
trur ks, aud many thousand miles Of travelling,
that the most enduring trunks are the lightest
and apparently the most slight-those made of
wei!-seasoned oak wood-with no iron about
them The celebrated Bon Marche trunk. light
and elastic, has only narrow brass braces on the
corners, which faithful little protectors never
size. which has been in almost constant use
for ten years, and which is good yet, though, /
must confess, no longer goodly to look upon.
Not a nail has left its place, not q point projects
from its brass-bound corners. would that some
enterorisinR American manufacturer would
figure to himself what this trunk Of mine was
when it was new. and put the Every moral OF
1t on the market IL would be q Christian enter
prise. sure to reduce the amount OF profane
swearing among porters aud melt the hard and
imponitent heart OF the bsggsge-smasher. It
would in those moments of sore and sudden
trial wen rich garments are rent on the broken
iron bands or refractory nails of the wicked and
way-laying trunk. save lovely woman from the
sinful thought that, in the use of strong exple-
tives, man enjoys one OF his most enviable mo.
nopolies | declare TO goodness. I would rather
hear the thuneers angry growl than the sound
OF q big rent in q silk gown. i would rather
look on the jagged lightning than a jagged tear
in my best lace hounee. Even the big tin box
Of the English tourists, which can. for the nonce
be converted into a bsth-tub, and which Is very
light. il better than the Saratoga, which out
weighs Plymouth Rock.
Hope / shall not DO accused OF q lack Of patri-
otism in preferring foreign articles to home
manufactures. IL We COPY without scruple or
trunks; If we steal English brains why not En-
glish boxes2 Let rs keep on in the good old re-
lieious republican way. '~'spoiline the Egyptians
GRACE GREENWOOD.