Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1907-06-26
SEA BATHING IN CUBA.
II You Are Tempted to Try IL. Resist
the Inclination.

~ 'o1 Gre tefrpteo 10 Try u HeStst
the Inclination
II you should chance Co visit Cuba,
/ oiiiciSliy Or otherwise. and should de-
sire 10 20 in sea bathing. remember the
advice OF the Englishman and-don't.
For sea bathing I'm Cuba. like the
ways OF the heather Chluee. Is necuI-
lar The natives probably go through
II as religious penance. as. consider
ell in the light OF diversion, il is sim
ply CHASTITY. Say you reside in Havana,
and. attracted by the beautiful tints OF
the tropic sea, you desire its intimate
saline refrcshmcnt. You will notice.
rs you drive along the Maleeon. imme-
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 fsrncr
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 and when
you find upon closer investigation that
the OdOrs are not wholly removed from
NAAN AtA'A mat al AAG cGMtIS OL lllG CITY
seem to empty into the sea just below
the wall you acknowledge that this
fine NIalecOn promenade has its draw
backs
The banOS. or baths, Dire out at We
dadO, n 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
70 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 Il frame
structure that looks like a 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
i'm the United States. you 20 forth. ex.
pccting 20 come upon q sandy beach.
Instead. you tread painfully upon sharu
rock. and the sight % the place where
you are expected TO battle gives you
the horrors. II is 4 cell cut In the
rock, with an opening to the sea,
through which the water swishcs and
reSurSitatcs with the advancing and
retrcating waves. This cell. il YOU
have nerve enough. you descend into
! by means OF steps. taking care not 10
slip. for the rock is like soap owing &c
the action of the scawccd The bottom
of the cell IS formed Of the rough rock
while sharp flints are plcntifully strewu
/ about. Your feet are soon laccrated
and bleeding.
Suddenly YOU feel something mir
/ your leg like 4 pair OF powerful twee
zers. You put your hand to the afflicted
/ part and find that il is n crab that IA:
laid hold Of YOU. You glance about il
/ hopeless desperation and see that othe'
crabs are coming forth. with laudabl,
/ politcncss to welcome you to thi,
aquatic bower OF bliss. What in thun
der" YOU think. "is the idea in wahin;
you up in this fashion? Is It Il sur
vival of Spanish crucltyT' Then. n.
Your gaze wanders out TO sea. YOU So
4 long grayish black body shoot swift
/ " past The explanation Of the wall
ing in part OF the transaction is OK
planned by that long. swiftly movin,
body. fov this coast is infested by ma,
eating sharks. and bathing without IN
precaution OF wall In from; OF yov
with an opening In it just large enoucI
TO NIL the coll with water. would b
likely 10 prove more gratifying to som
hungry shark than 10 you. You hav
paid s.. Spanish money. for this dc
AShtful experience. but then YOU ca
enjoy il just as long as vou please
Washington Post.