The Lake Charles echo., 1893-09-01
SEA BATHS IN ITALY.
USE MADE or THE BLUE WATERS or
THE MEDITERRANEAN.

LAvat0ry--In tho Nater All the Reserved
EtIqustte of the Drawing Room vanish-
eH-TntereAtIng Features,
Those who have been fortunate enough
to glide from Italy's picturesque shores
into the warm blue waters Of the Madi'
terranean and float luxuriously In the
salty sea among perfect school of hap
py bathers will never forget it, Neveri
yenice, Naples Capri, AmalAl 1t makes
ones eyes glisten at the very thought Of
1t, To Italy's splendid title, 1.-The Land
of Poetry and Song" might also be add
ed 1.-THE Land of Baths" were it not that
the second name 10 some fastidious
minds would detract from the beauty Of
the first.
The ancient Romans, borrowing as
they did all the worthily imitable Gus.
toms from their Greek and Egyptian
neighbors, found the baths especially
suited to their luxurious tastes and car.
ried them to degree of excellence which
had never been attained, making them
not only of immense benefit in a sani-
tary way, but establishing them as
favorite rendezvous for people of culture
and talent as we'll aa for the poorer class
es, who also enjoyed the privilege Of
their own compartments, Look at tho
baths of Dioeletian, which are estimated
to have accommodated no less than 49,.
900 people at one time, And those OF
CaTacallaT at Rome, What wonderful
ruins Of q still more wonderful stTuC-
turel In these walls bathing became
science. Cold baths, tepid baths, hot
baths, oil baths, sun haths-every kind
of bathl Why simply to visit the place
was o rest and recreation, Statuary and
paintings lent beauty on all sides. Music
charmed. Orators and poets entertained.
What beauty in the remaining walls Of
the Pompeiian bathsl The fresooes are
as bright and beautiful as If they were
done but yesterday, and the marble
carvings and pavements which escaped
the fury of the burning mountain have
softened in color almost to an ivory,
Then the baths of Nero, Around tho
coast on the charming picturesque road
leading from Pozzuoli TO BaiB ono
alights from the little CaTozzella and
chambers up to cave cut in the side OF
the mountain, wherein is a spring heated
to high temperature in its suhterTa.
mean channels by veins Of volcanic life
which abound near VesuVius, This spot
suited we'll the comfort loving Nero,
who made of 1t favorite resort and
caused the rough stone couGhes to ba
placed there, which still remain
One reads little of sea bathing In those
days. Every Roman colony thought to
construct its baths as 1t thought OF rails
ing it's temples. But now all Italy turns
its face to its natural advantages, and
with one accord cries as early as May,
'fI4et us to the seal" Not all the estab.
lishments are as convenient and as well
constructed as the Lido at Venice and
those of Posilipo at Naples, but they are
all on the same general plan, Every
place open to the use Of the publiois Ia pro-
vided with a pavilion where people con.
gregate to discuss the latest topics, or to
devour with eager ears the latest gossip,
while there is always music, from morn
ing till night, II only one Of those harass-
ing "orgapettes' or portable pianos,
which grind necessarily and seem al
ways to be playing Santa Lucia" or
''Bella Napoli" and vary sometimes with
the "TToVatoTe."
On either side of the pavilion are the
"camerini," or dressing rooms-one side
reserved for ladies, the other for gentle
men. These "Camerini" are the rough.
est kind of little wooden boxes, carpeted
with a mat Of braided straw and fur.
nished with four rude chairs for the
four persons each is supposed 10 accom-.
modata, Then there are the steps lead
ing TO the water. The fee for the use Of
each room Ia one franc fifty (or 80 cents,
including the linen sheets, the price
never varying whether there be one oI
four persons together.
Once in the water and prestol changel
all the reserved etiquette Of the Italian
drawing room vanishes. Then and then
only does liberty exist, and the pretty
little signorinas, as we'll as the handsome
signoras, in the very simplest kind ol
bathing costume, generally dark blue
with little white braid, transformed
into veritabls water nymphs, swim of
with all the grace and alaority OF fish
never fearing, never tiring, Just as j
they had been born to II. And there i
no end to romance, Fancy boat full
OF handsome young officers towing trai
| of pretty, bright eyed girls TO some quiet
picturesque spot, where all indulge in {
| Jolly little luncheon. II doesn't seem Sc
very much, does iti And yet one recalls
| that these same young officers may neyel
have dared address the young ladies' or
land, or II they have had the good for
tune 10 do 80 II was only under tht
watchful eye Of the omnipresent chaper
on, then we realize what II treaty. means
Then there are the quieteT places, likf
| the placid blue waters of Sorrento, away
| down under the high walls Of rock
where one may aoat and gaze up at ti
beautiful villas and fragrant Grange
gardens, And Capri, where the wonder,
ful blue grotto Is free To an who can
swim there, while the hurried traveller
inevitably falls yictim to the maFcilesG
boatmen who shake their hands ia one't
face and demand 'sia tariifa,H which
mover fails 10 exceed the fee regularly
established
Yes, thesea iRa blessing 10 the Italians
open 10 en- and appreciated as well bs
poor Is by rich Indeed ono finds him
self wondering what would become d
the lower classes take The Neapolitans
Tor instance Il It were not for this wist
provision of nature They are said Z
be constitntlonally opposed 70 the nse q
water Ia winter oa tho grounds that 4
means certain death by cold, but 81 sum
mer they fairly I've II the sea- and thi
httla street urehins frolie about Hnt
digs Tor the pennies Of the "soresiieri'
without even the encpnlbrauce of {
bathing costume. Chicago Frbnpe.