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CHAPTER V.

THE BATHING AND DRINKING ESTABLISHMENTS. — FHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF THE WATERS.

It is certaiuly tlie most difficult thing in life, to com- mence a new chapter. Tliere are so many things to be eonsidei ed, so many interests to be kept from jarring together, that the mere tbought of tliem is well nigli suflicient to drive a poor autbor mad. True it is tliose concocters of maxims, the French, liave a saying “Si Von reut commencer, il faul commencer par le commenccment but where would the always following it up, lead to, I ask? The present chapter on the Springs for instance, would liave to com- mence with a historical account of their discovery by means of a wounded pig, and probably by a learned disquisition, whether the animal in question was a lady or a gentleman of the forest. Were I a punster I should not Iet slip the opportunity of giving my decision, that it certainly was a Aore, but 1 bäte cutting stale jokes, and therefore shall drop the subject. Still I cannot dismiss tliis occasion for displaying historical knowlcdge, without relating a little Story