The Press., 1907-09-04
SEA BATHING Il &; CUBA.
% You Are Tempted to Try It, Resist
the Inclination.

% You Are Tempted to Try It, Resist
the inclination.
If you should chance to visit Cuba,
officially or otherwise. and should de-
sire to go In sea bathing. remember the
advice of the Englishmnn and-don't.
For sea bathing in Cuba. like the
ways of the heather ChInee, is pecul-
lar. The natives probably go through
1t as a religious penance. as, consider
ed In the light of 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 will notice,
as you drive along the Malecon. imme
diately below that fine 81 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-
gestive of Araby the Blest. aud 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, 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 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 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. It is cell cut in the
rock, with an opening to the sea,
through which the water swiShes 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 like soap owing to
the action of the seaweed. The bottom
of the cell is formed Of the rough rock,
while sharp fints 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 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. ''is the idea In walling
you up in this fashion? Is it a sur
vival of Spanish cruelty?" Then, as
your gaze wanders out to sea, you see
a long grayish black body shoot swift
ly 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 it 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 81, Spanish money, for this de-
lightful experience, but then you can
enjoy it just as long as you please
Washington Post.