River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-11-12
A BATH IN AUSTRIA
1t Was Full of Surprises For the
Visiting EngIishman.
JOHANN WAS TOO ATTENTIVE.


Would Have Done Had His Master,
the Prince, Been In the Guests Place.
but 1t Jared the Briton's Nerves.
Although ! live in England. which
is supposed to be the home of aristo-
cratic privilege, says a contributor to
Chambers Journal. | had no true con-
ception of the meaning of the words
until | visited some Austrian friends
at great castle some five hours jour-
ney from Vienna.
1t was tropically hot day. and the
train was crowded, but when the con-
ductor found that l was going to visit
Prince A. he cleared my compartment
of passengers and did all he could to
make me comfortable. At the little
station the peasants stood with barred
heads while l made my way to the
waiting carriage, and as we rushed
through the village hats were raised
and the street was cleared for our
galloping steeds.
AT the castle | was shown to a room
In one of the turrets. where | found
the jaeger who had met me at the rail
way station unpacking my luggage
| But the first essential was q bath. He
was full of "desolation.' but some
| thing had gone wrong with the water
| pipes in the turret, and therefore the
bathroom could not be used, but If the
high and well born excellency would
| cOndescend TO use hip bath he would
| instantly bring one The bath was
brought and prepared, but the tall
jaeger still remained In the room.
You can finish the unpacking after
ward" said II will ring when i
have had my BATH"
Johann turned from an open drawer,
| his face blank with amazement but
is it not the high and we'll born excel
| lency that should wasn?'' he asked
The German of the thigh and well
born excellency" failed him. There
was pause: then. after a repeated
declaration that would ring when
wanted him. Johann left the room
clearly under protest. II shall be out
side the door il the high and we'll born
one should need me-" he said reproach-
| fully.
] was go more than in the bath
when the 6sor opened and the stalwart
| figure appeared. rs 1t not cold water
over the back of the high and well
born exce.lency that / should pourY'
mo; certainly notv' The door closed
again protestingly.
A few seconds later johann came
| into the room with an air of triumph.
bearing a large bath towel "Ah. the
| splashing is over! Now the high and
| well born excellency may be per-
mitted to dry"
| But he was not even permitted the
high and we'll born excellency to dry
What. will my prince say?" he said,
| looking at me in bewilder1nent. His
serene highness commanded me to
show the excellency every attention,
and the excellency will allow me to do
nothing for him-nothing."
| At dinner | sat next to the Princess
Karl. the wife of the eldest son,
| beautiful Hungarian who possessed all
| the charm and vivacity Of her race.
I'm afraid you are not being properly
looked after" she said. Johann told
my husband that you ordered him out
| of the room"
"But he wanted to wash me-" l ex-
| planned He was most attentive, but
that was an attention did not desire"
Poor Johann answered the prin-
cess HE was much upset. He is
| Kar's special servant and was told
| to look after you on purpose. You
| see, be did not understand. He always
| washes Karl"
made no attempt to conceal my
establishment, and when | glanced at
| Prince Karl, broad shouldered giant.
| could not help smiling.
why are you amusedY the princess
asked
lit seems so incongruous,' | an
swered, "Prince Karl being washed!"
But afterward learned that it is the
| usual custom for the Austrian nobility
| to be thoroughly well scrubbed In their
| baths twice a day by their Wallets and
dried afterward with hot towels They
are also dressed by their servants.
| The driving of poor Johann from my
| bedroom became a great joke in the
| family. Prince Karl declared that be
| had never dressed himself in his life.
Il tried it only once" said one Of
| his brothers, an officer in the Imperial
| guards. when my servant was ill and
| had to go to a parade. put all the
buttons in the wrong buttonholes and
got confined to barracks for week in
consequence
In the old days the Austrian princes.
counts and barons were sovereign lords
on their own lands, which they held
| from the emperor In return for mill
| tary service Each of these great no
bles held his own court, which was
reflection in miniature Of the imperial
court. and as it was considered an
4 honor nv men of fhQ highest birth to