New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-14
A FINNISH BATH.
CEIVE A SHOCK-LASHING WITH
BIRCH A FEATURE.

From The Pail Mall Gazette.
The bathhouse was but short walk from
| the hotel across the long bridge which spans
the wide Ulea River, affordng magnificent
views upward across the foaming rapids and
tree-fringed backwaters, and downward toward
the quayS and harbOr, one of the finest sweeps
OF scenery that one could wish to see. A quaint
old crone. with a short, black pipe in her
mouth, sat at the toll bar beyond the bridge
to collect the halfpenny toll, for which she gave
pretty, square ticket in receipt, and step
beyond was the house. To the left Of II was
an entrance for ladies' to the right for men. We
made our way in and found the waitingroom
already occupied by half-a-doZen Finnish gen.
tlemen. There were several lighthouses In the
town, but this the best and since It had
been lately closed for repairs the upon it
now was great, for the Finlander is devoted
TO his bath. AT last our turn came. Two bath
attendants beckoned to U.S. and we plunged into
the mysterious regions beyond
To my intense surprise, all the attendants
were women. Englshmen have their prejudices,
but ii was toe late to retire without making
ones self ridiculous. Passing through door 1
found myself promptly locked up in a little
whitewashed room, some eight feet long by four
broad down one side of which was narrow
couch covered with sheet. This was the I'M
dressing-room. Must everything be left here?"
| shouted through the wall to the Norwegian
who i'm the next cell Everything" he re-
piled. Not even sheet or towel?" l sug-
gested There was babel of Finnish from the
attendant at his door and manful effort on
his part to understand. Swedish will carry one
through most parts Of Finland but these bath
women spoke not a word of it. Nothing at
all" was the verdict, and so, clad thus scantily,
we left our cells, turned yard or two down
dripping passage and entered foggy room. On
either side of this were long, narrow wooden
shelves. about eight feet from the ground, to
which we had to climb by wooden step-adders.
According to directions, reclined at full
length on the shelves, in heavy misty atmo-
sphere, feeling like fish about to be boiled. A
handle was turned and dense clouds Of steam
enVeloped U.S. rushing through apertures from
the furnace-room. where jets of water were
pouring over red-hot bricks or stones.
Three or four minutes in this atmosphere pro-
duced the effects of half an hour In the dry air
Of Turkish bath. Streaming with perspira
ton, gaspng for breath. and half boiled, we
cried for mercy. The steam was shut off and
two women mounted the steps with pals Of hot
water and great punches of leafy birch twigs.
fastened together in the shape of a half-ex-
banded fan. The peculiar feature of the Finnish
national bath was about to begin. The steam
bath Is common throughout Eastern Europe. the
bassang" (beating) is the differentating feat
ure in Finland. Dipping these fails In the water.
the attendants begin to lash our recumbent
forms, not gently, but very vigorously. from
foot to neck and from neck to foot, first as we
lay on our backs. then as we turned over to our
chests. The sharp sting OF the blows at first was
scarcely pleasant, but the sensation soon be-
came one of pure delight. 1t was like the fierce
glow which follows plunge into ice-cold water.
when after the shock the blood rushes tingling
through the veins. Then the steam was turned
on again. second lashing followed. and we
were ordered TO descend from our lofty perches
and enter another roOm
Soaping. shanipOonG. rubbing with flesh
gloves followed. then dousing with pals of warm
water and standing under spray first warm,
then chilled, till cold was reached. All this
was the familiar process Of the Turkish bath.
But the strangeness was in the attendant; and
still more strange was II to be taken back to
the little room in which had left my clothes. to
be unceremoniousy towelled by the at
tendant like baby, till | was dry. and then
ordered to dress Immediately. But where were
the socks? They had been carried off, and were
brought back hot and dry from the fire, an in
variable attention at a Finnish bath. Almost
before l had fully realized that the bath was
over | was out again in the cold night air. the
whole ceremony having scarcely taken twenty
minutes. The Finander is no believer in lying
still to cool down after a vapor bath. Glowing
and perspiring. he plunges straight out into the
chill air of a northern night without even an
Overcoat to lessen the shock. If the feet
warm. all is right he tells you. So he puts on
his hot socks. amt walks Off Ieisurey to his din.
ner. And certainly we ourselves felt no lief
fects from following his example.