Rock Island Argus., 1894-05-19
SEA BATHS, IN ITALY.
USE MADE OF THE BLUE WATERS OF
THE MEDITERRANEAN.

USE MAOE W tNe BLUE WATERS OF
THE MEDITERRANEAN.
cxhflara4ine Plu.gss In Natures Greaa
Lavatesy-ln eAe wassr All the Reserved
xti9ustts Of the Drawing Roon Vanish.
embarrassing Features.
Those who have been fortunate enough
to glide from Italy's picturesque shores
into the warm blue waters Of the Medi.
terranean and float luxuriously in the
salty sea among a perfect school Of hap.
ny bathers will never forget It. Nevcrl
Venice. Naples, Capri, Amalfi! It makes
ones eyes glisten at the very thought oI
it. II Italy's splendid title, 1.-THE Land
OF Poetry and Song" might also he add.
ed Tho Land of Baths" were it not that
the second name to some fastidioul
minds would detract from the beauty ol
the first.
The ancient Romans, borrowing a
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 a degree of excellence which
had never been attained, making them
not only OF immense benefit in q sani.
tary way. but establishing them as q
favorite rendezvous for people of culture
and talent as well as for the poorer class.
cs, who also enjoyed the privilege Of
their own compartments. Look at the
baths OF Diocletian, which are estimated
to have accommodated no less than 49,.
900 people at one time. And those Of
Caracallar ut Rome. What wonderful
ruins of a still more wonderful struc.
ture! In these walls bathing became a
science. Cold baths. tepid baths, no,
baths, oil baths, sun baths-evcry kind
OF bath! Why simply to visit the place
was a 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 baths! The frescoes arc
as bright and beautiful as if they werc
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 the
coast on the charming picturesque road
leading from Pozzuoh to Bain one
alights from the little carozzella and
chambers up to a cave cut in the side OF
the mountain. wherein is spring heated
to high temperature in its subterra.
mean channels by veins of volcanic life
which abound near Vesuvius. This spot
suited well the comfort loving Nero,
who made of it favorite resort and
caused the rough stone couches to be
placed there. which still remain.
One reads little of sea bathing in those
days. Every Roman colony thought to
construct its baths rs it thought of rails
ing its temples. But now all Italy turns
its face to its natural advantages. and
with one accord cries as early as May,
Let us to the sea!' 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 public is 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. if only one of those harass.
ing ''organettes' or portable pianos,
which grind necessarily and seem al
ways to be playing Santa Lucia" O,
Bella Napoli" and vary sometimes with
the ''Trovatore."
On either side Of the pavilion are the
''camcrini." 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 to accom-
modate. Then there are the steps lead
ing to the water. The fee for the use ol
each room is one franc fifty (or 30 cents)
including the linen sheets, the price
never varying whether there be one OF
four persons together.
Once in the water and presto! change
all the reserved etiquette of the Italian
drawing room vanishes. Then and ther
only does liberty exist. and the pretty
little signorinas. as well as the handsome
signoras. in the very simplest kind OF
bathing costume. generally dark blue
with little white braid. transformed
into veritable water nymphs. swim of
with all the grace and alacrity of n fish
never fearing. never firing, just as il
they had been born to it. And there is
no end to romance. Fancy boat full
of handsome young officers towing a trail
of pretty. bright eyed girls to some quiet,
picturesque spot. where all indulge in q
jolly little luncheon. 1t doesn't seem &c
very much. does it? And yet one recalls
that these same young officers may never
have dared address the young ladies' on
land. or if they have had the good for.
tune to do SO it was only under the
watchful eye of the omnipresent chaper.
ON, then we realize what it really means.
Then there are the quie.er places, like
the placid blue waters of Sorrento, away
down under the high walls of rock,
where one may float and gaze up at the
beautiful villas and fragrant orange
gardens. And Capri. where the wonder
full blue grotto is free to all who can
swim there, while the hurried traveller
inevitably falls a victim to the merciless
boatmen who shake their hands in ones