THE TOWN OE WILDBAD.
31
In tlie measure as tlie fame of Wildbad spread in modern times, the number of tlie visitors also regularly in- crcased witli every consecutive season. And here is the proper place unreservedly to condemn the manncr in which the bathing-Iists of Baden-Baden and many otlier celebrated spas are annually swelled to that enormous figure witli wliicli tlie eyes of the iininitiated in such matters are star- tled. In those places every travelling bagman, every jour- neyman tailor or slioeniaker wlio cliance to Iiave a niglifs rest tliere, is nuinbered in tlie list, and partics, only one meniber of wliicli, perhaps may use the baths, are regularly counted by the sum total of individuals composing tliem — family, servants, and all. — In Wildbad however, quite a con- trary course is pursued. Only those persons wlio really Iiave taken a series of baths, are mentioned in the Badliste, with the exccption even of such, as in passing through the place, Iiave taken a bath by the way. It would be easy enough by followiiig the System commented upon above, to double or treble the nuiiibers in eacli season’s bathing- lists, but the authorities, preferring to give a true picture of the bathing season, to a mere stranger’s-list, have done wisely, and will do well never to leave tlieir upright course for the purpose of surrounding the Baths witli a factitious semblance of brilliancy that never will stand the test of cool and passionless investigation.
Au abstract of the Wildbad bathing-list for a series of years, will best be adapted to elucidate the progressive increase alluded to. — The number of invalids was
in 1830
470;
the
number
of baths
taken
12,000,
„ 1831
515;
33
33
33 33
33
13,797,
„ 1832
G01;
>?
33
33 53
33
15,004,
„ 1833
677;
33
33
33 33
33
16,162,
„ 1834
G93;
33
53
53 33
33
17,012,