The Irish standard., 1906-08-04

cent. There is no affectation of sim
plicity about the abbot when he stirs
abroad. His gorgeous carriage and
pair. with liveried servants, proclaim
his high rank and great power. When
King Edward arrives at Marienbad
the abbot is always among the little
crowd Of notables which gathers at the
station to greet him, and looks by far
the most imposing parsonage there
So much prosperity and wealth as is
controlled by the monastery could
hardly. of course, escape the jealous
eyes of the state, ever on the lookout
for revenues, and although there may
be difficulties about imposing death
duties on corporate bodies which never
die, there are other ways of relieving
them of superfluous wealth, the method
adopted in this case being to charge
fees on the appointment of new alb
bot amounting to $4,000.
The glory of the monastery of Tepl
had begun to fade somewhat in the
eighteenth century when the discovery
of the wonderful healing properties of
the springs situated on the monastery's
lands in the vicinity of Tepl and Eyer
gave the monks an opportunity of
gaining world wide fame, not as MILL
tant defenders Of the faith, but as the
proprietors of health center which
attracts sufferers from all parts of
the globe.
These springs were discovered in a
wilderness Of almost impenetrable
forests and virgin land in an entirely
unpopulated region of Bohemia. Some
of them contain Glauber's salt. others
iron, and others alkaline ingredients
of great healing powers, and it was
found that they brought relief to suf-
fe:ers from all sorts of diseases. The
monks of Tepl realized that these
waters would be q new source of
wealth and power to them and they
Immediately took the exploitation of
the springs in hand. They named the
place Marienbad. meaning the water
ing place of the Virgin Mary, and the
first of the springs the water of which
was used Cor medical purposes, was
named Marienquelle. meaning the
spring of the Virgin Mary.
Similar indications of clerical own
| Icrc
Marienbad. The most important
spring. the waters of which are
now drunk by tens OF thousands
of persons every year, is named the
kreuzbrunnen, meaning the spring of
the cross. Another spring is called
Ambrosius, after the saint of that
name. The Rudolfsquelle is named
after one of the patron saints of Tepl
monastery.
Marenbad is built in the shape of
a pear. the main street which repre-
sents the stalk, starting at the station
and gradually widening and branching
off to encircle the charmingly laid out
gardens which form the center of the
town. On the right of these gardens
lie the colonnade, the kursaal, and the
luxurious bath establishments On the
left is the main street of shops and at
the top of the town the chief square
with it's pretty garden. North, east,
and west the town is surrounded by
thickly wooded hills.
Life here is simple, for the cure is
strict; plain and limited diet. massage
and much walking are not compatible
with the gayer ways of Honburg or
AK. BY o'clock Mariehbad is wide
awake. The band is in possession of
one Of the two kiosks situated at either
end of the colonnade, and two long
lines of wouldbe drinkers of the by
no means unpleasant waters are watt
ing, glass in hand, to pass the springs.
From 6 to 1880 the crowd grows; q
row of superciliOus looking maids and
Wallets stand waiting to present mon
sieur Or madame with a first, second,
or third glass; those folk who are serv-
antless employ one Of the many blue
bloused, blue capped messengers to fill
their mugs. while the more economical
ly minded take their place in the long
and cosmopolitan cue and wait patient
ly to be served.
BY $50 the colonnade is deserted
and the drinkers are vending their
way in every direction to breakfast at
the many cafes in the town or among
the surrounding woods. If the morn
ing is warm and sunny. breakfast is
taken out of doors. served by smiling
mattresses and grinning boys who
hasten to provide the visitor with a
wooden footstool and shawl. Break
fast consists of tea, rusks, and boiled
or fried eggs, and by $3.50 or 9 o'clock,
after walking for two hours in the
bright, pure air. the patient is little
inclined to quarrel with his monoton-
Gus fare.
After breakfast there is a walk back
to the hotel, bath, or an hours
massage. Then comes rest and
luncheon about or $780, This meal
consists of fish, of which there is but