The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-06-03
SEA BATHING IN CUBA.
If You Are Tempted tosTry II. Resist
the ineii nation.

If You Are Tempted tosTry It. Resist
the. inclination.
II you should chance TO visit Cuba,
officially or otherwise. ana should de-
sire to go in sea bathing. remember the
advice Of the Enzlishnsan and-dont.
For sea bathing in Cuba, like the
ways of the hearhen Chinee. is pecul-
lar The natives probably 20 through
if as a religious. penance. as. consider
ed in the light of q diversion. it is sim
ply CHASTITY. Say you reside in Havana.
and, attracted by the beautiful tints OF
the tropic. sea. you desire its intimate
saline refreshment. You viii notice,
as you drive along the Malecon. ilnme-
diately below that fine sea wall some
curious masonry construction like the
ruins of cells. over which the waves
dash and disport themselves. These
are in fact. the remains of former
baths that before the Gringo came
were used by the natives. You Will
further notice that there prevail along
the Malecon drive odors not at all sug-
eestive of Araby the Blest and when
YOU find upon closer investigation that
the odors are not wholly removed from
the fact that all the sewers of the city
seem to empty into the sea just below
the wall you acknowledge that this
fine Malecon promenade has its draw
backs.
The banos. or baths. are out at We
dado, a suburb of Havana. and you are
likely TO enjoy the drive along by the
coast some six miles. The fringes of
Havana. as you leave the city proper
are shabby enough. but there's the sea
to gladden. the eyes, and you anticipate
sporting in those bright blue waters
with relish
The first intimation you have of the
baths is the apparition of a frame
structure that looks like grand stand
You enter this and purchase your
ticket. Then the misery begins. After
the usual preliminary process. similar
TO that prevalent in a watering place
in the United States. you go forth. ex-
pecting to come upon a sandy beach.
Instead, you tread painfully upon sharp
rock, and the sight of the place where
you are expected to battle gives you
the horrors 1t is a cell cut in the
rock, with an opening to the sea.
through which the water swishes and
regurgitatcs with the advancing and
retreating waves. This cell, if you
have nerve enough, you descend into
by means of steps. taking care not to
slip, for the rock is like soap owing TO
the action Of the seaweed. The bottom
of the cell is formed Of the rough rock,
while sharp flints are plentifully strewn
about Your feet are soon lacerated
and bleeding.
Suddenly you feel something nip
your leg like a pair of powerful twee
zers. You put your hand to the afflicted
part and find that it is a crab that has
laid hold of you. You glance about in
hopeless desperation and see that other
crabs are coming forth. with laudable
politeness, to welcome you TO this
aquatic bower of bliss. What in thun- |
der you think, lis the idea in walling
you up in this fashion? Is it sur
vival of Spanish cruelty:'' Then. as
your gaze wanders out 10 sea, you see
long grayish black body shoot swift |
~ past. The explanation of the wall |
ing in part of the transaction is ex-
planned by that long. swiftly moving |
body, for this coast is infested by man
eating sharks, and bathing without the
precaution of wall In front of you |
with an opening in 1t just large enough
to fill the cell with water. would be |
likely to prove more gratifying to some |
hungry shark than to you. You have |
paid 50. Spanish money. for this de
lightful experience, but then you can
enjoy it just as long as you please
Washington Post