Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1909-10-14
THE MARlENBAD WORLD.
Taking the Cure at the Salt Springs
of Bohemia.

OF bOneFnIds
When you are at Marienbad the first
sound you hear Is tap, tap, tap, at your
bedroom door.
Half past 5! Time to get up"
"All right" you growl in Hply, rail
ing while you slowly get out of bed
against the absurd tyranny of medic
inal waters that insist ON being taken
so early in the day.
Sallying forth, you find the Marien-
bad world already astir. Water drink
ers are converging from all sides TO
the spring. Each one on arrival pro-
vides himself with a glass and goes
forward to receive his daily dose. You
join the waiting file. Soon 1t is your
turn, and the attendant maiden for a
modest coin fills you bumper. You
take it aside and eye 1t keenly, hold
ing 1t to the light Then, surreptitious-
ly shifting, you taste 1t cautiously. The
flavor, 1t appears. is not unpleasant.
You are reassured, and, assuming g
resigned air, you drain the glass.
Elated by this proof Of your courage.
you walk out. The band Is playing.
the promenade crowded. Here you
may see the crowned heads, million
aires. great singers and all the other
celebrities who frequent Marienbad.
There is Il popularity of the place
that will quickly strike you-the stout
ness of many Of the visitors. AS the
Baron Won Seidsplitz, himself man
of girth, remarked to an English
friend, There are many thick people
in Marienbad."
Hunger by this time probably pos
sesses you, for it is o'clock, but DO
not expect n hearty breakfast. Crisp
rolls or toast and fragrant coffee will
be enough, served In the open air. To
favored few an egg or a small plate
of cold meat is permitted.
Curious morning tasks are prescribed
for some of the patients. Mr.. X, for
instance, is ordered a piping hot mud
bath, while Mr.. u. follows the terrain
cure This consists in walking an in
creased distance each day, so as grad
ually to strengthen the organs Of which
the functions are impaired. Most peo,
pie, however. spend their time in read
ing, writing or lounging.
The welcome call to dinner draws
all together about l o'clock. Again
the fare is simple, the motto being,
Nothing very sour, nothing very
sweet. nothing very salt, nothing very
fat" Even the restaurants are not
allowed to provide dishes harmful to
the "cure" So you make yourself
content with fish. roast meat or chick
en-, green vegetables and stewed fruit
and. as for drink, water, diluted claret
or Pilsener beer must suffice. Woe
to him whose choice strays to made
dishes. pastry. cheese or spirits, for
these he must abjure as long as he
stays at Marienbad
To rest awhile without taking for
ty winks" is the patients next prob
lem. and when he has worked through
it he will probably stroll along to 4
concert or make an excursion among
the delightful pine clad hills that in
close the Marienbad valley.
When evening approaches the gar
dens and promenade fill with people
They sit about at small tables and
sip their coffee while listening to the
band
Your last meal is a light supper a
Z O'Clock, and by . you should be il
bed.
The normal length of the "cure" is
four weeks. 1t is said, however, that
Americans, with characteristic energy
have been known to compress It into
something like half that time. 49,