The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-09-12

immersion. followed by a most thorough
and businesS-like massage Ana now
feeling of Undesirable well-oeinS Cltpi
TO an extent never before experienced
and the vows / had made III the water
never to do it again, gave way 10 prom
ises OF an opposite nature Iherc NO.
no languOr-the usual pInlshIneht ~
very hot bathS-Only q most pleasant sen
SatiOn of righteousness. Almost tefoTe L
knew what | was doing l was sitting Win
Miss Mitchell among a crowd OF Chtllei-
ing native ladies, Mho enter'dihed - III
garbled pigeon English ana french
phrases.
Ikao was but mild place. we were
told "a winter resort compared o huSd-
tau" There the springs are posluVeiy on
the boiling point all the time, ana the
bathers have TO get used 10 the N VIZ. L ~
throwing a bucket full over their oody
before getting in. When, after Que prep
araton, certain signal Is given, tne
whole crowd jumps IN at once 10 the
sound of music and singing with all thclr
might to encourage each Otner'
After the Bath.
After minute a bell rings. that means
one-fourth of the torture is over, and the
bathers utter cries of delight. The sec
ond and third bells are greeted with stlll
greater joy. The fourth bell says: only
one-half minute more. IT the fifth all
run out congratulating themselves that
they are alive. And 10 such fiery baths
must be endured ere the doctor VIII re
lease his patient. All these hot springs,
by the way, are strong smelling, but the
water is soft and refreshing.
l said this was an American Eden, but
you mustn't take a woman 100 literally
There are men here, rich men, who have
OIL 81
male bipeds that must needs seek shelter
in hotels and clearinghouse still re-
main in the city, and the lord be thanked
for that.
The rich Jap takes his summer pleasure
mush like our own well-to-do's; he gath
ers his family about him and invites a
crowd of friends to help him enjoy the
good things that fell 10 his lot. a couple
of geishas are, of course, always in the
party, for without her the amber lord OF
creation is like a dsh on dry soil, and, be-
sides, jealousy is not in MADAME ChryS-
anthemum' 5 vocabulary.
Now, the best that Ikao affords IS the
jolly, health-giVlng bath, and as there is
little besides, mine host 2nd his guesty
lounge in and about the private TeSer-
voirs all day long. Grandmother and
mOther-iH-laW, wife and children, the
geishas, the father and his friends, ali
frolic together, bathing, playing games.
singing, and storytelling. Tea and meals
are served during the sun baths. while
pipes and cigarettes are seldom laid aside.
You can witness all through the fence,
and if, perchanCe, you know the master
or lady Of the house, or one Of their visi-
tors, walk right in and enjoy the fun with
the rest. AS a crowd OF gentlemen IN an
American DarrOem welcomes friend TO 4
drink, and occasionally passes the com
pliment TO a stranger, so they sing out
their Have bath with Us" here. Miss
Mitchell and / were tOreTaTned-If it
hadn't been for that we would PROBABLY
have invaded one Of these well-p7Opled
Jdps' paradises when we first came 70
Jkao, as other strangers have done, who,
like ourselves, brought cards Of introduce
ton from Toxic.
American Men BashfuI.
every strange and shy men are your
Americans, and yet SC tall and hand
some" said 9n Ikao belle to me the other
2 sTtng. There was Lieut.. - VINO call
e. - nTJr house at noon one - last sum
me- soon as he was announced my
HUSBAND, who knows YOU -istoms to
nicely, donned a bath robe and ran out
to fetch him. They entered arm in arm,
exchanging compliments, but the blonde
giant had no sooner caught sight of Us
when he Redeemed all over the face, and.
turning on his heels, beat 4 hasty retreat.
vi course We were SUI DIIHtQ ana GecpIg
Chagrined. All, my husband, his COM
panions. /, my sisters, and children, ran
after TIE American. but 70 10 purpose.
-Je- ~Untir hio Jinriki-ha, = Grove
way I i naC-. u lu-. ave
promised his 4 coOHe prInCely reward;
the fellow ran as il iasned by a tyyhoon."
And where did this haCpcn2'
In the fCrodO (bathj OF course. Where
else would We ~ IN summ-r during The
day?'
Tho patfy-.c of tha y,Ioco ir1,,Iua ,bafr
passion for the bath with even less cere-
mOny than visitors and hotel guests. To
save dozen feet OF plP@ or 50, they aet
Up their tub upon the edge OF the side
walk. and It's nothing unusual 10 see
trim little woman battle on Hdchi-ishl
street, the principal th0roughfare, and
then walk stark naked 70 a friends mouse
block or two away. Owing 70 the pres
ence OF many strangers this summer, men
have been forbidden to use the street
tubs during the day. So they u.ust
seek their indispensable baths In the pub
Tic institutions, paying cent for the priv
Iege OF doing 50. | am told that the po-
lice have issued regulations for the con
duct Of the public baths, too. Hencefortn
the sexes must battle separately. and they
QO-d bamboo pole. or rope. dividing the
reservoir into Two compartments.
IL WAS in one Of these police regulated
OF reform natatOriums where Dir. Know
ley, a major ia her British majesty's
army, had an spoplectic at, his guide in
Producing him 10 the bewildering sight
without previous warning.
TromenadIng a Night
There Is little to do outside OF bathing
or Iounging. and calling on people who
have no other pastime themselves. How
ever, the evenings being cooler, prom
enading has been added 10 our list OF
amusement
Now, / said 10 myself. there viii be a
the glory Of their fine feathers. but ny
hopes received a rude setback. The men.
10 b. sure. cCndescended 70 wear duck
trousers, liEen jackets, and sandals IT,
honor OF the foreigners. bur the women
and girls stick 70 their paradlsaIcai fash
ion, morning. Gay, and evening.
They are here for their health. you
know, and II cir sLe embroidered gowns
with their flowing sleeves have been lefT
AZ home in the campEOr boxes, where
they belong during the hot season. 4
bright silk pettlcoat or a klmoao careless
y tied about the hips. It's waist hanging
aown IN the back, j. the only concession
they make 10 form TIE children wear
nothing besides their usual smile, OF
course
II you want 10 stay Nth va. Faarry
and have babies. let them 70 naked By all
means. said an old American resident
10 me. Mine did until they were twelve
and are they not pictures Of heaithZ For
efgners VINO do not conform TO this na-
tive custom lose their little cnes IS a rule
There Is great virtue Ia nakedness. though
II may take Us . long time 20 find Il oa;"
FRANCES WILSON.