KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



329 



atmosphere, and the dashing of water in all 

 directions within the baths which we were 

 about to enter), we were led by an attendant 

 into an apartment full of bathers, where we 

 found ourselves in an atmosphere at a tem- 

 perature between forty and forty-five degrees 

 of Reaumur, as the usual heat, and in the 

 midst of figures still dimly seen through the 

 mist, which was here doubly more dense than 

 that in the outer chamber; and ill such a 

 scene of confusion, that it was not until we had 

 reached the termination of the long room, 

 crowded with bathers on both sides, that we 

 were aware of what now appeared — that we 

 were breaking the letter as well as the spirit 

 of the new law, and parading about among 

 the daughters, instead of the sons, of the land. 

 Upon this discovery, however, we made our 

 retreat. We took after this, a little more 

 minute survey of the apartments that it was 

 lawful for us to enter. 



But, instead of attempting any further 

 description of the scene within the common 

 bathing-rooms, I shall state more exactly the 

 manner in which the private bath which I took 

 was administered ; and when it is remem- 

 bered that the same process is in action upon 

 sixty or seventy bathers at the same time 

 in the public bath, the scene there will be 

 easily conceived. We had not to leave the 

 public bath-house, to find private baths, 

 there being several passing good within it ; 

 and we each now chose his own room, and 

 entered, accompanied by an attendant, which 

 is indispensable. 



In that which I chose, I found an ante- 

 room used for the purpose of undressing. 

 Here I observed the thermometer was at 

 thirty-eight degrees of heat. But upon 

 opening the door, and entering the proper 

 bathing-room, where the temperature was at 

 forty-seven degrees, I found the heat almost 

 insupportable. At the moment of meeting 

 this atmosphere, the respiration became 

 sufficiently difficult to be slightly painful. 

 But this effect of the sudden change passed 

 away as the perspiration increased ; and I 

 afterwards felt no inconvenience when the 

 heat was augmented to fifty degrees. Upon 

 one side of the room, two large wash-tubs 

 were standing beneath two enormous metal 

 cocks ; and, upon the other, there was a 

 stove fixed in the wall. The process com- 

 mences by the bather placing himself, stand- 

 ing, in a shallow tub, which is filled by the 

 attendant with water mixed to an agreeable 

 temperature. The attendant then proceeds 

 to pour quantities of water over the head of 

 the bather, and next to rub his body with 

 dried grass. After this has been a little 

 while persevered in, the bather is placed , 

 sitting, upon a bench ; and the perspiration 

 now runs down the body in streams. But 



the rubbing is still persevered in for about ten 

 minutes longer. 



The next step is an exposure to the con- 

 trary extreme, which is not the most agree- 

 able part of the process. It is now necessary 

 for the bather to mount to a bench about four 

 feet high ; and while he is seated here, a 

 bucket of icy cold water, drawn from the 

 second cock, is dashed against his back. The 

 effect of this is to start the whole vital frame, 

 as if the electric spark had passed through 

 the body, from which now proceed fresh 

 floods of perspiration more profuse than 

 ever. 



The next step is scarcely less severe ; and 

 again in the opposite extreme. Water is now 

 thrown into the metal stove, from which you 

 are not far distant, and from which instantly 

 rushes out a hot vapor with such force, that 

 it is especially necessary to have the back 

 turned to receive it, and at the same time to 

 shut the eyes. Lastly, the bather mounts to 

 a bench considerably higher than that upon 

 which he has hitherto been sitting, in search 

 of still greater heat ; and the attendant, now 

 armed with a birch bough, on which the dried 

 leaves are preserved for the purpose, pro- 

 ceeds to a thorough sweeping or brushing of 

 the bather, rather than rubbing. This appears 

 to apply friction enough to restore the circu- 

 lation, which by this time has become languid, 

 upon the outer parts of the body. 



This is the most odd way of playing a rub- 

 ber that we ever heard of. A scrubby lot 

 are the officiating members of these estab- 

 lishments ! If ever we take a bath in Rus- 

 sia, we will pay all they charge for it ; but 

 assuredly we shall dispense with the birch 

 bough ! 



HAVE I LONG TO WATT? 



MUSINGS BY A DREAMER. 



There is a garden in her face, 

 Where roses and white lilies grow ; 



A Heavenly Paradise is that place, 

 Wherein all pleasant faneies flow. 



There cherries grow, that none may buy 



Till " Cherry Ripe ! " tJiemselves do cry. 



These cherries fairly do enclose 



Of orient pearl a double row, 

 Which, when her lovely laughter shows, 



They look like rosebuds filled with snow; 

 Yet, these no peer nor prince may buy 

 Till " Cherry Ripe ! " themselves do cry. 



Her eyes, like angels, watch them still ; 



Her brows, like bended bows, do stand, 

 Threatening with piercing frowns to kill 



All that approach with eye or hand, 

 Those sacred cherries to come nigh, — 

 Till " Cherry Ripe ! " themselves do cry. 



R. A. 



