The Republican journal., 1895-12-26
st. Michael's Island.

n THAT TROUBLE THE HEALING SPRINGS.
.necial correspc ndence of The journal.
u FrRNAs VILLAGE, SAN MIGUEL, Nov.
Ml In the Azores, as in their mother
aantry, superstition rules everything,
,sn such simple matters as the taking Of
aths. Though summer is eternal in
bese happy islands and every day in the
LIT is about alike in point of weather,
4,oeeially down in the heart Of this vol
5sno whose fires are yet smouldering
rtle way below the surface-the healing
rings are deserted by all to the manner
.gn during five months of the II. The
ding season begins on st. Johns day,
u ane 24th, because it is believed that on
~ night of the 23rd, the patron saint
Il mes in person and casts out the evil
iits that have sneaked into the water
n Lie his last years visit. Until that day
II h native will venture to use the baths,
wever great his need of their curative
aaers, preferling to be doubled up with
8amatism Or racked by neuralgia rather
aa risk the greater ills which unex-
ssd demons might intlet upon him.
very part of the island Saint John
is commemorated by the greatest
sl ii of the year, and from that time on
W late November the people ttock in
ads to the springs, when it is supposed
d the good saints spell upon the
ei has become so weakened that the
NJ may again slip in. Why he does not
ner return to renew his kindly in
lice, so that the sick may continue to
called throughout the year is not
ted, but | suppose it is because he is
1sy in other parts OF the earth, chas-
levils from spring to spring. During
season Of safety, however the San
-uelans make up for lost time, doing
Y else but taking baths, morning,
ID and night. Until recent years, the
shs We're taken in the most primitive
g n hole scooped out of the ground
nAel turned in that direction Later
l sheds were erected, uninviting and
outside and in, provided with rude
Alhs for bathtubs. 50 limited were
agcommodations that during the sea
long lines of people were always to be
sanding outside the shed doors, each
.ang his turn AT a trough, necessita-
IT, Sc much haste in the performance that
water could not be entirely renewed
secessive bathers and the consequence
Il; tiiat many who came here to get rid
Maginary ailments took away some
real ones contracted in the uncleaned
4shs. In those days the road t. the
~ presented a ludicrous appearance,
BAIT, the lame, the blind and hysteli-
inNalids and cripples of every degree
audition, bringing their ills to the
afilng pools. on foot, on donkeys and
ailiages. meeting another procession
Heple mutfied from head TO foot in
ITS and blankets hurrying to shelter
their hot ablutions All this has
u sd changed since Portugal has learned
alie OF the waters and the ADVISABLE
q attracting moneyed foreigners to das
AlS In Picturesque glen close by
dt caldeira is very large and ele
@ A lafh-h house of gray stone, built and
aimed By the government.
handsomely appointed with every
luxury and convenience. and to it
liie has access flee OF charge The
spacious bath rooms. each with
room attached, have marble
leep enough TO float III, sunk to the
the stone floor; and every tub has
faucets opening into it, to supply
and cold sulphur water, or hot and
irDn water, according to the caprice
9ather. A warm sulphur bath in one
csc beautiful marble tubs is a luxury
riag OF a Sybarte; and though you in
~ in it dozen times day, there is
M9teiy nothing to pay, except an OPP
aal tip to the obliging attendant. The
efs are conducted to the bathhouse
ming hot from the boiling springs, in
Is run through a closed acqueduct,
a the cooling pipes are filled from two
fanks which are supplied with min
water from the cold springs. There
als0 many elegant private bath houses,
w wealthy Azoreans for the use of
4mseyes and friends; but the govern
FIT has stipulated that for each one of
e the owner must also build another
acting with the same spring for the
use Of the public. With unexampled
Arality the government has also erected
Az hospital in this tiny village in the
Ih Of volcano, and home for indi-
lncurables. The hospital is attend
" competent physicians, generally
the French schools, and many inter-
g papers on the treatment of peculiar
d. OF diseases brought here have inter
sa The world at large through the medi-
journals.
Pc daily flow of water from the Fur
springs Is simply enormous, their
mage forming a stream 20 feet wide.
temperature Of the various springs
eS from 80 degrees Fair. to PIP de
ss- Most Of then are heavily charged
y arbonic acid gas. The degree OF