The Cure.

Otago Witness, Issue 2691, 11 October 1905, Page 70

The Cure.

It will be seen from these facts that Vichy to-day stands at the head of the water-cure places of the world. On its medicinal properties it is for others, and not for me, to speak authoritatively. It claims to have sovereign remedies for most of the diseases connected with the digestion. The Grande Grille is taken by those who suffer from liver troubles with perfect faith. The Hospital spring is called the Providence of the dyspeptics, and diabetes is regarded as finding a surer r<emedy here than in any other springs in the world. There are many of the visitors who come to Vichy who do not take the \rater at all, and who find it simply an ideal place for a rest and for a few weeks of that forgetfulness of the ordinary work and worry of = life which everybody requires. For me the chief reason of the attractiveness of Vichy is that you get waters in surroundings more agreeable than I have found in any other resort. Life here is quite different from what it is in a German town. At first sight one might well believe, too, that the cure was less severe. As a matter of fact, the cure is not less severe unless you like to make it so yourself. In some respects the French man or woman who- takes a cure is more selfrestrained than either the typical English or German patient. French people love a good dinner, and no nation has so many good dinners ; but they are ever the slaves ef their stomachs,, and thej; look with won-

der and even a little horrw at liberties w»e take with ourselves in that respect. To them, therefore, it is no temptation that there are spread at all their meals several wines. They just take what wine is good for them, and rarely if ev.er any more. And it is contrary to all their ideas of life that you should enslave or persecute people by unnecessary restraints even when they are taking a cure. That is one of the reasons why an Englishman, who never thinks he is really doing right or leading the perfect life if he be not flagellating himself — this is one of the- relics and the~origins of his Puritanism — is often inclined to run aAvay with an entirely false idea of the inner reality and the true essentials of a place like Vichy, or, indeed, any other French place of thekind. I remember once positively running away from Spa after one day's stay there because I saw some people taking cups of chocolate outsid.e a restaurant at midnight. I had seen enough of bad hours, I said to myself, in London, and the sooner I went to a place where people were all asleep at 10 o'clock the better for me. But I was rather stupid, as I afterwards found out. Most people go to bed pretty early here in Vichy, but a good many do not go to be<3 sometimes till late — I myself among the rest.