Having discarded all clothing in 2 comfortable cubicle, I was led through long corridors to what proved to be the scene of action of the Finnish bath, There I found a room of wooden latticed benches, In the corner was a tall cylinder-shaped stove, in which I knew were red-hot coals and irons. Having motioned to me to lie down on one of the lower benches (only a practised Finn could stand the heat of those nearer the think so. My over-arm stroke evoke ed more interest from the Finnish party than it had ever received from a home audience, But even. there I fear it was curiosity, not admiration. it called forth. To Finns water is intended to bath in, not swim There was my little hot-faced one beckoning. Throwing an enveloping m towel-gown about me, she led me once more down the labyrinth of corridors. Standing in the centre of a circular shower bath, the cold water whipped with _needle-point force. Back in the cubicle, the drying took the form of a strong hand massage. Then, when I w wishing she would go on for ever, she put a warm towel on my feet and one on my wet hair—and left me. Tired, contented, and without an atom of doubt—clean.
Undoubtedly my conscience would smite me for having spent these hours in a bath-house when every moment of exploration!n the intensely interesting city of Helsingfors was precious. But, for the present, I uld lie and think of these spart nnish people, who would not ce: sider the bath complete in winter unless they had gone out and rolled m the snow. All very strange, but in those stolen hours I knew that sense of well-being in mind and body Lrought me by a Finnish bath, and I understood why the Finns should cling to their peculiar form of bath-ug when they have adopted such modern methods in regard to most other comforts of life. ceiling), the attendant closed the door. and, by releasing a pulley, threw cold water on the coals, and left me.
Slowly the room filled with steam I lay thinking how pleasant it was, and how stupid people were to find it tiring After a few minutes, the smiling face appeared again at ghe door. As I smiled encouragingly in reply, she released the pulley again and the steam increased. The next time she appeared she picked up a tight bunch of generously-leafed. birch twigs and proceeded to whip me with it until I tingled all over. Then more steam.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.