A COMPANION OF THE BATH.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 25, 12 January 1878, Page 3

A COMPANION OF THE BATH.

A. corvesponck'nt of the " London Times " after travelling .tlirousrh the dust and slime on the Lower Danube, reached G-alatz and aslced fora bath. He was told that the only bath he could havo was a hot one. Accepting the offer, he was shown to one of a range of rooms with a plunge bath m the corner. A sturdy Wallachian damsel of 25 was the attendant. She spoke only a few words of German, just enough to a,sk whether he would have soap and alles. Seeing that there wais nothing to dry himself with, he consente'SHo have alles, though 1 with some misgivings as to the ultimate result. She told him to get into the bath, and ring when he was ready for someone to come to him. He rang accordingly, when she herself appeared with soap and towels, bare feet and mighty arms. She told him that the large piece of flannel she held m her arms was intended to be used by herself iv cleaning him thoroughly. ; The offer was made m perfect simplicity ; there was not a touch of coquetry about her, and her baby outside was calling to her. In pursuit of her legitimate calling, with the brawny arms which gained food for her child, perhaps for a lazy husband, she' proposed to wash' him thoroughly, as she would have washed a child or a groom would clean a horse.