The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-20
Embarrassed Over the Discovery
that the Attendants of the Place
Were Women.
TWO VIGOROUS AMAZONS
An Application of Mud and Muscle
Sufficient to Eliminate Any
Ordinary Malady.
AIR BLUE WITH "OUCHSr
That Came from the Victims as
Tattoo Was Played on
Their Backs.
special Correspondents of the Journal.

Special Correspondence of the Journal.
STOCKHOLM. March 5-'.This way. gen
tlemens," said Inga, the bathwoman.
am a Yankee. brought up IN the atmos-
phere of New England. ana have always
prided myself upon bsins CORRECT. \
crease down the sid *, instead of down the
front of my pantalooas. renders me unfit
for society; a missing button would drive
me from "Parsifal" at $50 scat. And
here 1 stood in the vast marble nall, an
utter stranger among strangers dressed in
hath slippers, no more, less. with Inga
and Maria looking us over critically. To
complete my embarrassment the girls Sc
lected me as their first victim. This way,
gentlen1ens," repeated Maria, and This
way, gentlemens," insisted Inga. had
to go, but the noise my slippers made on
the floor as 1 slowly dragged them along,
sounded an unmistakable note of protest, L
hope.
Inga and Maria are of uncertain age. but
there can DE no manner of doubt as to
their avoirdupois. They tip the scales in
the neighborhood. of 200. should say. And
the legs they have-sturdy, business-like
legs-without any ankles to speak of.
Inga pushed open a door leading to
cell furnished with wooden bench about
as comfortable as a heap of stones. Aside
from the stereotyped This way, gentle
MEMS" the girls speak only their native
Swedish. of which L am deplorably ignor-
ant but notwithstanding, l understood full
~ what they wanted me to do. When they
pointed to the torture bench l lay down,
meek as a lamb. AS l did so Inga and
Maria raised their skirts above their knees,
stepped into a marble trough and began
kneadfng something black and sticky-my
medicine.
They worked some five minutes with thsic
feet, then gave shout that sounded like
enough stepped out and peeled the medi-
cine Oft their feet and legs, throwing the
remnants carefully back into the trough.
Next Inga helped Maria pin the leg-of-
mutton sleeves of her jacket to her Shout
ders. and Maria did as much for Inga
When they were ready for the fray, L re-
GREETED not having made my last will and
testament before I entered the COMPOUNDED
place.
PROCEEDING TO BUSINESS.
Without further ado, both girls dipped
their red arms-large enough to serve as
legs any day-into the trough, taking out
handfuls of black. Shiny mess that looked
like wet bog soil. This they slapped
against my poor body, not Winding where
they touched, nor what part they decorat-
ed. Bang! Biff Bif, Bang, Nothing but
biff, bang for ten or twelve minutes. Not
a word was spoken, but as the heavy
breathing Of the Amazons indicated, the
act wasn't all pie for them, either. 1 was
glad of that. Nothing like having COM
rades I'm rnisforfrna Won know
At last 1 bethousht myself of the only
Swedish word 1 knew-"gytse"-which 1
supposed to be the name of the suphurous
slime that covered me.
"Gytse?' 1 asked, just to be companiona-
bic.
The girls looked at me. then at each 9TH
er. but replied not word. Probably my
articulation is faulty. | will have ii re-
paired before / ever again enter Swedish
bath. "Gytse?" / repeated with a big in
terrogation mark. Instead of answering
the brace of furies fell upon me and began
to rub the stuff into my skin until L looked
like negro in distress.
"Ouch" | cried. withdrawing a foot.
That particular foot recently exhibited
goutfsh tendencies and have always been
very careful of it. But Inga and Maria
cared not rap for my OUCH The first
grabbed my knee, holding 1t as in wise,
while Inga took my foot in her left and
with her right-John L. in his prime never
had a more terrible one-began to belabor
my toes. yanking, streaking, kneading,j rub
bing and poking them as If they were made
OF iron. Inga's fingers knew no mercy;
she saw me vince with pain. but went on
unconcernedly.
All, the refined cruelty of it all! Once
she let go my toes and paid some attention
to my knee and calf. thought myself in
heaven, but 10. there she was back again,
yanking nav extremities like cat handles
a mouse. 1t was infamous.
Now / remembered that the doctor had
said to me Don't mind the girls; think of
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