The Argosy — page 391: what you’re looking at

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

Life at Gastein., 371 the world. The vapour baths are also good for affections of the throat. some of our best singers have come here, and left again with their voices completely restored.” ‘‘ A pity Gastein is not more known,” I remarked. “Tt will be known well enough one day. Gastein is yet in its in- fancy ; its fame lies in the future. It has had much to contend against —great difficulty of access to begin with. But railways are approach- ing: a few years and it will be as celebrated as the other watering- places of Germany.” ‘¢ And then it will be no longer Gastein.” ‘‘ Ah, my dear sir, we must be philanthropic. The good of mankind demands sacrifices ; fame has its taxes. ‘The waters are inexhaustible ; the springs will bubble up to the end of time. As there is enough for all the world, let all the world come—such, at least, as stand in need of its healing powers.” ‘s Still, it is a hard matter to pay such a pnice for the inroads of so- called civilization: a fatal consequence, I suppose you will say, of man’s first disobedience. He sinned: not the earth, created in beauty and harmony. Where man has not trod the Almighty reveals Himself in all the majesty and marvel of creation. Where man passes he leaves behind him traces of his fallen nature.” ‘‘Gastein will always, to a great extent, remain what it now is,” replied the doctor. ‘Its main characteristics cannot be altered. Civilization will never remove its mountains, or turn aside the course of that superb waterfall. Contracted and shut in, and as it were, apart from the world, what Gastein now 1s, that it will pretty well for ever remain.” ‘“ Perhaps so,” I said. ‘‘ Especially as it is certain that you will never possess a railway to the place itself. That beautiful Valley of Gastein, with its wonderful pass, so terribly grand, will never submit to the ravages of steam and iron.” ‘‘ J think,” said the doctor, turning the subject, ‘“‘ I have never shown you the original source of the waters: where their existence was first discovered. Let us go to it now.” We went out, and began descending the steep hill which led to the bed of the valley. The waterfall, dashing and winding along, could be seen for a considerable distance, twisting about like a huge serpent. At the very bottom, in a small sheltered nook, within reach of the spray of the torrent, stood a small pool of water, its surface bubbling. ‘‘ Here,” said the doctor, “the first spring was discovered. Here the poor stag was found, bathing its wounds. You see the bubbles rising.’ No one has even been able to find out the holes or fissures whence they escape.” The water felt warm and pleasant. It was very easy to imagine that upon a wound it would have a soothing influence. ECoOMmicloooks (C(O)