Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1910-12-21
The TURKISH BATH
A Victims Story of the Real Thing
In Its Native Land.
WELL MAULED AND SCRAPED.
He Was knesdsd. PluekeS. Turned
Over and Walked Upon and Then
Scrubbed as Though he wero a
Kitchen Floor.


Over and Walked Upon and Then
Scrubbed as Though He Were a
Kitchen Floor.
The tourist who wanders about
Stamboul viii from time TO time come
on dOmed buildings OF all sizes which
might be taken for mosques but that
they seem TO have no fountains and
no minarets. From some place. such as
the terrace OF the mosque az Sultan
Sulayman, where their roofs May be
overlooked. Il will be s. -h1, the
low domes are often OLA it-.,..,
on pink color ana aiv. covcrc..
with glass buliseyes. The., are the
real Turkish baths
Quite apart from the ceremonial
wash before prayer. Islam. which con-
siders cleanliness no; SO much next
to sodliness as part Of goodness 1t.
self, ordains periodical scrub ali over.
/ And the Turk. unlike the sodden west.
never sits In hot water. but prefers a
hot room. Il tap and Il basin as n min.
I imum and a shampOoer and flesh
glove II he can afford such luxuries.
One enters. as In the west. into the
cooling room. generally high domed
room with many galleries around. a
marble door and fountain. and be.
fore going 10 private room or. II the
bath Is TO be done on the cheap. TO
n place on tie biz common sofas one
exchanges dirty boots for slipshod
Gff
blcs may be left under the care OF the
cooling room attendant who superln-
tends the process OF undressing. winds
loin cloth around one and throws a
primrose towel over ones shoulders.
Before crossing the floor OF the cool
ing room the slippers are again ex-
changed for wooden clogs. wherein the
novice walks like Agag, delicateiy. in
fear OF a fall. till he learns TO imi-
tate the speed OF the bath men by
abandoning all attempts 10 walk and
executing a fast shuttle
The outer hot room. at about the
temperature OF an English shampooIng
room, is a very secondary affair. One
stays there for a little. still clothed In
the primrose towel. reclining on n dis
tant Imitation OF n bed drinking cof-
fee and smoking "A cigarette, perhaps
watching couple OF sbampOoers
amusing themselves by wrestling
bout The customer and the shampoo
or wear the same type OF loin cloth.
an elaborate check of red and yellow
that may be seen any day I'm the
streets on aD apron worn by the Al
bantam sellers OF cheStnuts or sweet
meats
II that cigarette is finished come
into the inner room. heavy with damp
heat the real bath. The attendant
rulls Off the shoulder towel and opens
the door. a heavy wooden affair. kept
shut by counterweight. whose bang
ing Is not the least characteristics noise
IN the bath. Inside is large square
domed room. Innumerable bullseves
In the dome admit the light. which the
whitewsshed walls reflect. making a
light and airy effect. On the great
square slab in the middle they have
placed a towel and pillow, and here
one lies, leaving the clogs on the floor.
Round the room, screened from one
another by dwarf walls. are a row OF
marble basins, and here may be seen
all classes-such is the democracy OF
lsiam-from the army officer TO the
DAY labOrer whose shaved head oddly
suggests tonsure. The poorer classes
90 not Indulge in the luxury OF mas
sage. They come for wash only and
often bring their own soap for econo-
my's sake. 1t Is not uncommon TO see
n fhnnl
turns.
Presently. unbdden, the shampooer
mounts the slab and squats beside his
victim Most of his work consists In
kneading the flesh rather than the
long. heavy strokes Of an English mas
seur. But when the customer is turn
ed on his face the masseur becomes
more energetic. He plucks the skin
on each side OF the spine, walks ND
ana down on she back and strenuously
gathers W. arms and legs into curious
bone breaking knots regardless of the
grunts Of the stiff jointed west. A
mai super-Gordian knot and the clap
ping OF his hands show that It is over.
Inc customer, as soon as he can COL
iect limbs which seem to have been
pulled clean Off him, adjourns TO one of
the basins and is rubbed with a rough
glove TO take off the old skin. Then
the man brings battered metal bowl
cold bowl, old bath" Is the Turkish
proverb for "the Old old story'D with
soap and lather wisp OF Tyr (decca
palm fiber, and scrubs conscientiouslv
Tor some ten minutes. working with
the abandon Of a jealous housemaid en-
moor, forgetful apparently that the
object he is scruDbing is flesh and
blood
FINALLY he pours warm water from
the bowl to wash away the last Of the
soapsnos aud. Il the bath Is a large and
PIP TO date one, conducts his weii sc,,,ls. !
bed victim 10 cold douche. ~
prying takes place 10 the outer hot
room. sandry loin cloths ana towels ]
are wrapped about The a5dg. a email |
towel makes a turban for the head ana |
clean clogs are produced for the feet
which have been dried with great.
sometimes inconvenIently crcat-care.
A loud clappigg Of hands announces
that the process Is over. ana the three
or Tour Turks who seem always to be
uoing nothing zealously IN The room
crowd round to wish one good health