22 
LE MONT-DORE. 
By J. DILWORTH HARRISON, February 12th, 1889. 
Le Mont-Dore, the French Sanatorium for asthma and 
bronchial weakness, is situated in the heart of the Auvergne 
Mountains, some 250 miles due South of Paris, equi-distant 
between the Bay of Biscay and the Italian frontier. The valley 
in which it les,some 8,500 feet above the sea, is terminated 
three miles beyond by the Pic-de-Sancy, which rises steeply to 
the height of 6,190 feet. Both sides of the valley are precipitous, 
though zig-zag footpaths enable one to ascend at various points. 
The general character of the scenery is volcanic. The inhabit- 
ants of this village-town earn most of their income during the 
two months of the bathing season, July and August; for though 
the Paris-Orleans Railway puts on two through trains to 
Laqueuille per day from June 18th to September 9th, few 
patients go on the first day, andall wish to leave when September 
begins. ‘The railway journey from Kygurande to Laqueuille is 
interesting, passing up a very narrow picturesque valley, which 
a roaring torrent crosses frequently. At Laqueuille the train is 
left, A very good breakfast or dinner is served here; and then 
the journey is completed by a drive of 15kil. in a large omnibus 
with a 2nd storey, drawn by four horses, while the registered 
luggage goes in a covered railway van. The road mounts 
nearly all the way to Mont-Dore, which is reached about nine 
o’clock, 12 hours after leaving Paris. 
The daily course of baths is as follows :—Having visited your 
medical adviser, (of whom there are 13), you purchase the tickets 
for the baths he has ordered, together with a flannel suit con- 
sisting of a jacket with a cowl, and a pair of trousers and 
stockings combined, also a pair of wooden sabots, the tops 
covered with thin leather. Your bonne will get these for you, 
and considers it dead robbery if you buy them without her agency. 
Next morning you wake about four o'clock with ‘‘ the clang of 
the wooden shoon,”’ the trot-trot of people to the baths, which 
close at nine a.m. Having dressed in the new flannels and 
‘‘oaloshes”’ or sabots, and wrapped up in top coat and muffler 
you walk to the Source Mudeleine and quaff half a glass, and then 
mount the stone staircase to the first class douches, having 
reserved a room the previous day fora given time. An attendant 
opens the dressing-room furnished with a carpet, a leather covered 
lounge arm-chair, a second chair, looking glass, ete., making it 
look very snug. The inner room contains a full-sized long bath 
