The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-01-03
STEALING 4 BATH
Adventure Of a Trio of English
Tourists In Germany.
A PRINCE AND A PRIVATE TUB
His Autoeratie Hishness Was Shame
fully Ignored and Enrased, and His
Luxurious Bath Was ShamcfuIly Az
propriated and Abused

he alt'ays did. and. though Wilks and l
tried to look on the humorous side Of
things. we lost flesh over il. We had
happened upon heat wave and swal-
lowed Il tremendous lot of dust and
dies thrown in gratis. cheap though our
tariff was. But we couldn't swallow
the foreign titles that cropped up
around us. We had too much British
pride for that. And. as luck would
have it. at the last town of our tour
we were quartered on the top floor of
hotel where Il German prince occu-
pied Il suit of rooms. In our opinion,
three English tourists were worth more
than thirty German princes. and we
dropped our boots on the floor at night
in the vain hope that he was under
meath. But, alas. his suit was on the
first floor. and we never even caught a
glimpse of him. though once we heard
his high pitched. arrogant, penetrating
voice and the oozy fulsome rejoinders
of his valet both articulating a Ian
guage which Parker contemptuously
described as 1.-The limit"
1t was the last morning Of our stay.
Parker and l had gone back to the
hotel to pack our bags before departing
for the station. The weather was hot
ter and dustier than ever. and Wilks.
always energetic, had gone to the pub
lie bathing place on the river in search
Of swim. l had Il letter to write,
and Parker wandered round the hotel
to kill time. Presently he thrust his
face In at the door. It had lost its
familiar lowering look and wore a
bright and alert expression.
Il say" he calculated mysteriously,
almost under his breath. I've just
found bathroom in this blighted hole
bath full of tepid water, with Their
mometer in it-clean, warmed tow
els on the rail. and all that. What
shall do?"
'Do"' replied. "Get into it, man,
and let me know when you've finish
ed
He wasn't long and came back look
ing wonderfully young and clean. The
mail had just arrived and had spent
few minutes over my letters before
! also found the bathroom. following
his directions. 1t was without excep-
ton the best l have ever been in.
and. to my surprise. the big porcelain
bath was half full Of tepid water. and
set Of clean, newly warmed towels
hung on the rail. I took what the
gods gave and asked no questions, but
wanted more cold water and ex-
perimcnted unsuccessfully with vari.
Gus levers on the wall. AS last hope
/ attacked 4 cart wheel affair on the
floor and after stiff struggle man.
aged to turn 1t. A flood Of cold water
gushed in along one side of the bath,
and it was all could do to wrench
the wheel around and stop the flow.
AS I did so light came upon me in a
flash. This was the princes bath, pre-
pared for him second time by his
obseQuious valet. 1t was the glorious
certainty of the fact that made me en-
joy that bath as 1 have never enjoyed
bath before or since. The cheap
English tourists were one up on his
serene highness, after all. Still.
admit. when I had finished Tubing I
lost no time in getting back to the
fourth floor again. l told Parker the
great news, and we were just discuss
ing it with rapture when Wilks came
in. looking supremely detected for the
first time on the tour
THE bathing place isn't Open" he
snarled: Had all the fag of going
there for nothing. What dirty beg
gars they are"'
Not all Of Them" l replied. Don't
you worry, old chap" And described
to him the position of the bathroom.
and he was off like hare. During his
absance We thoughtfully packed our
own bags and his. In ten minutes he
returned. fresh IS mountain daisy
and bubbling over with gratitude.
What sort of bath did you get?'
asked carelessly
"A clinker," he cried. land it was
all put ready for me, clean towels
and everything. The only difficulty
had was with the cold water wheel
arrangement on the floor"
ut was bit stiff agreed.
ut turned On all right" said Wilks,
"but I couldn't turn it Off"
What did you dor we asked to-
gether.
Il left It." he answered simply.
What time are we due at the sta
tion:' said Parker.
Now" I replied, and we took our
bags and went
AS we descended the stairs with
studied calnness we heard electric
bells continuously tinsl;ng on the first
floor. a nigh pitched arrogant voice
raised in anger. oozy. seryile tones an
swcring implorinely. We came upon
the proprietor leaping up the stairs
and stream Of water leuping down
them. and a couple OF hours after |
ward we crossed the border. with the !
secret satisfaction that we had done" |