The Argosy — page 230: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

214 AT GASTEIN. HE Gastein season is supposed to be in the full tide of its prosperity in the months of Julyand August. Early in June people begin to arrive, each day adding to the number; but not for a month later do they overflow. In May, comparatively speaking, the place is deserted. And yet for pleasantness, for beauty of nature, for health, the months of May and September are infinitely to be chosen before those that inter- vene. Gastein, little known to the English, is frequented principally by Prussians, Russians, and Hungarians: less generally by the Austrians, though actually in the dominions of his Catholic Majesty. The polished, pleasure-seeking Austrians possess other places of resort, gayer, brisker, and less difficult of access. Pre-eminent amongst these stands Ischl, in the Salzkammergut, one of the most delightful and romantic spots on the face of the whole earth. It was now the month of May, when, as has just been said, Gastein is, comparatively speaking, deserted. Thus, in my walk from Straubinger’s to the doctor’s consulting-room, I found little to distract the attention beyond a. terror-stricken cat flying on the wings of fear from some unseen danger; and the keepers of the stalls in front of the hotel, who, basking in the sunshine; were lazily awaiting the hour for their midday meal. I rang boldly at the open door, and as the peal echoed through the small stone building, I felt that the leap in the dark, the first step, had been taken. Now for gaod news, or evil. To the presence of the doctor—a little man, full of life, energy, and intelligence—was an ‘interval of a few moments. With many apologies for the unfinished state of his consulting-room—he had but just returned from his winter practice at Nice—he handed his visitor a chair, and sat himself down opposite. A German, he spoke also English and French ; and though he often made ludicrous mistakes, none laughed more heartily than he, when they were made clear to him. We con- tinued for the most part to hold intercourse in one or other of the two languages, as long as I remained in Gastein. ‘* My dear sir, you come for the baths. ” I stared. Not by any means had I come with such intentions ; but it was vain to endeavour to explain this tothe doctor. To visit Gastein and not take the baths was a wild idea his brain refused to admit or comprehend. “When did you arrive? ”’ “On Saturday.” “Saturday. To-day is Monday. And you have not yet- taken a ECORNICLOOO SS (C(O)