The Republican journal., 1897-12-16

SAN JOSE, COSTA RIGA, Nov. l, 1897.
No traveller should leave this portion of
Costa Rica before visiting the famous
Aguas Calientes, (hot springs), which lie
about three miles southeast of Cartago
and several hundred feet below it, near
the brink of the river that threads the
valley. A much patronized tramway con-
meets the spa with the old city; but by far
the better way is to go in the saddle
or, better yet, to trudge out on foot, very
early in the morning, make a day of it
and return by train after sunset. In re-
cent years, since the completion of the
quent influx of foreigners, a fine brick
hotel has been erected at the springs,
equipped with plenty of bath tubs and
most modern eonveniences. 1t is called
the Belle Vista, (''Beautiful View and
never was name more appropriately APP
Piled for the prospect ON every hand
the towering volcanoes and smiling val
eys and verdure of endless summers as
enchanting as anything this beautiful
world can SHOW. During the season, -
that Is, before the annual rains set in
the great hotel is crowded with guests,
from all parts of Central America; not
only because it is the fashion, as our PEG
pie flock to Saratoga and other resorts
for social pleasures-but also for the
benefit of the waters, which are consider
I'D a sovereign remedy for govt, rheuma-
tlsm and eutaneous diseases. All lovers
Of the picturesque, however, will agree
with me that the primitive adobe struc-
ture which has been used as bath house
since time out of mind, and is guiltless of
every modern appliance, is much more in
accord with the eternal fitness of
things in these romantic regions. Its
uncouth tubs of brick and plaster are sup
rather ingenious way. A very large
spring, which issues boiling, directly
from the rock, is enclosed within high,
adobe wall, thus making huge steaming
caldron OF cistern of it. a little way
Il bove is similar cistern, filled with cold
water from the river SO as to give the
necessary pressure, and also to regulate,
through troughs, the amount of hot or
old water to produce the desired temper
atuTe in the baths. In its normal state
the water is about l35 degrees Fair. 1t
IS very soft and agreeable to the touch
and has the taste of added eggs common
10 preponderance of sulphur and iron.
Another place which should be visited
before saying a final adios to Carriage is
The Old Campo Santo, (''Field of Saints, -
within whose walls lie the mortal remains
ii many OF our countrymen. Passing in
through a chapel Of white washed adobe
whose door is always surrounded by beg
cars and vendors of lottery tickets,
you find a very bare and grim God $
acre-for these pious folk care little
Tor the earthly prison after the soul has
escaped therefrom and make few at
rempts to beautify the resting places of
Heir dead. In the chapel corridor,
p an honored place amid CARRIAGES dear
departed, " repose the bones of an Eng
shman named Baltic, who, quite by ac-
.idenr, secured for himself Christian bur
-al in land where heretics, dead or alive,
receive small consideration. 1t happen-
cd in this way: Nh. Baltic was Il coffee
,uyer, who had accumulated consider
able property during his residence in Cos
ia Iica knowing that death was near
he sent for the Alcaldi to draw mp his last
will and testament in regular form for
The benefit of his heirs. The Alcaldi, &C.
cording to custom, asked the dying man
# he was a Christian meaning, of
course, a Roman Catholic, as people of
no other faith are considered Chris
tians in this country. Being staunch
adherent Of the Church of England,
and, therefore, of the true fold, &C
eording to his own belief, MI. Baillie
promptly answered yes to the Alcaldi's
question, and was legally recorded as
NSlDI y. DdlllIt- tdtOllcO Romano,
Ap0stolic0 Christiano." Ignorant of his
unintentiOnal deception, the Englishman
gave up the ghost in full enjoyment of
the Episcopal faith-and there was great
rejoicing in Catholic Carriage over his sup
posed death bed conversion. His friends
said nothing, knowing how difficult it
was at the time to obtain decent burial
for o-called heretics; and indeed it is
doubtful if any protest on their part
would have been listened to, for the
AlcaldIs word was sufficient evidence of
Mr.. Baillie's orthodoxy SO he was bur
led in consecrated ground, with all the
ceremonials of the Romsh church. amid
choral services and clouds of incense.
The whole city attended. The procession
was headed by band of music; priests
followed with crucihxes, banners, swing
ing censers and figures of Saints; and at
the corners of the plaza and all the prin-
eipal streets the concourse halted to sing
halleluahs, representing the Joy in heaven
over brand snatched from the burning.
Not so well Jared young American