The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1907-07-10
81 BATHMe M cuBA.
If You Are Tempted 70 Try Il. ReeIss
the inclination.

If You Are Tempted 10 Try II, RssIsa
ths inclination.
If you should chance to visit Cuba,
officially or otherwise, and should de-
sire to 60 In sea bathing, remember the
advice Of the Englishman and-don't
For sea bathing in Cuba, Hike the.
ways OF the heather Chinee, is pecul-
lar. The natives probably go through
It as religious penance. as, consider.
ed In the light OF a diversion, 1t IS sinl-7
ply CHASTITY. Say you reslde 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. imme-
diately below that hne sea wall SOME
curious masonry construction Ike 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 viii
further notice. that, there prevail along
the Aralecon drive odors not at all sug-
gestive OF Araby the BEST. and when
you ind upon closer Investigation that
the odors are not wholly removed from
lie flc. that all GI6t Sewers of the city
seem to empty into the sea just below
the wall you acknowledge that this
fine Sralecon promenade has It's draw
backs.
The banos, or baths, are out ut 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 relislI isr IIif3.t .E
The first intimation you have, OF the
baths is tie appuritioa of n frnme
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 W, hi'iug place
In the United States, you go forth. eS-
pectfng TO come upon n sandy beach,
Instead, you tread painfully upon sharp
rock. and the sight of the place where
you ure expected to battle gives You
the. horrors. It Is cell cut in the
rock, with an opening TO the, sea.
through which the water swtshes and
regurgitates 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 Ike soa1 owing to
the action of the seaweed. The bottom
of the cell is formed of the rough rock,
while sharp flnts are plenHfully strevn
about. Your feet are soon lacerated
and bleeding
Suddenly you feel something nip
your leg like n pair of powerful twee-
zers. You put your hand to the afflicted
part and find that it is n crab that has
laid hold of you. You glance about In
hopeless desperation and see that other
crabs are coming forth. with IaudabIes
-pollteness. TO welcome you to this
aquatic bower OF bliss. What in thun-
der" you think, ''is the idea IN IwallinS
you up in this fashion? Is ii a sur
Fival of Spanish crueltyT' Then. rs
your gnze wanders out 10 sea, you see
a long grayish black body shoot swift
~ past. The explanation Of the wall
dpg IN mart of the transaction is ex-
Blained By that long. swiftly moving
body. for this coast Is infested by man.
eating sharks, and bathing without the
Ppeeaution of a wall in front of you.
with an opening in 1t just large enough
TO I'LL the cell with water, would be
llkely 30 prove more gratifying to some
hungry shark thnn to you. You have
paid 81, Spanish money. for this de-
flghtful experience. but then you can
enjoy It just as long as you please
Washington Post