Seeing Europe with Famous Authors, Volume VI | Page 2

times Germans and Poles were the chief visitors, but now
people come from all parts to look at the wonderful ice-caves (where
one can skate in the hottest summer), the waterfalls, and the great pine
forests, and make walking, driving, and riding tours right up to the
snow-capped mountains, preferring the comparative quiet of this
Alpine district to that of Switzerland. Almost every place has some
special mineral water, and among the greatest wonders of Hungary are
the hot mud-baths of Pöstyén.
This place is situated at the foot of the lesser Carpathians, and is easily
reached from the main line of the railway. The scenery is lovely and the
air healthy, but this is nothing compared to the wondrous waters and
hot mire which oozes out of the earth in the vicinity of the river Vág.
Hot sulfuric water, which contains radium, bubbles up in all parts of
Pöstyén, and even the bed of the cold river is full of steaming hot mud.
As far back as 1551 we know of the existence of Pöstyén as a natural
cure, and Sir Spencer Wells, the great English doctor, wrote about these
waters in 1888. They are chiefly good for rheumatism, gout, neuralgia,
the strengthening of broken bones, strains, and also for scrofula.

On the premises there is a quaint museum with crutches and all sort of
sticks and invalid chairs left there by their former owners in grateful
acknowledgment of the wonderful waters and mire that had healed
them. Of late there has been much comfort added; great new baths have
been built, villas and new hotels added, so that there is accommodation
for rich and poor alike. The natural heat of the mire is 140 degrees
Fahrenheit. Plenty of amusements are supplied for those who are not
great sufferers--tennis, shooting, fishing, boating, and swimming being
all obtainable. The bathing-place and all the adjoining land belongs to
Count Erdödy.
Another place of the greatest importance is the little bath "Parád,"
hardly three hours from Budapest, situated in the heart of the mountains
of the "Mátra." It is the private property of Count Kárólyi. The place is
primitive and has not even electric light. Its waters are a wonderful
combination of iron and alkaline, but this is not the most important
feature. Besides the baths there is a strong spring of arsenic water
which, through a fortunate combination, is stronger and more digestible
than Roncegno and all the other first-rate waters of that kind in the
world.
Not only in northern Hungary does one find wondrous cures, it is the
same in Transylvania. There are healing and splendid mineral waters
for common use all over the country lying idle and awaiting the days
when its owners will be possest by the spirit of enterprise. Borszek,
Szováta, and many others are all wonders in their way, waters that
would bring in millions to their owners if only worked properly.
Szováta, boasts of a lake containing such an enormous proportion of
salt that not even the human body can sink into its depths.
In the south there is Herkulesfürdö, renowned as much for the beauty of
its scenery as for its waters. Besides those mentioned there are all the
summer pleasure resorts; the best of these are situated along Lake
Balaton. The tepid water, long sandbanks, and splendid air from the
forests make them specially healthy for delicate children. But not only
have the bathing-places beautiful scenery from north to south and from
east to west, in general the country abounds in Alpine districts,
waterfalls, caves, and other wonders of nature. The most beautiful tour
is along the river Vág, starting from the most northerly point in
Hungary near the beautiful old stronghold of Árva in the county of

Árva.
All those that care to see a country as it really is, and do not mind going
out of the usual beaten track of the globe-trotter, should go down the
river Vág. It can not be done by steamer, or any other comfortable
contrivance, one must do it on a raft, as the rapids of the river are not to
be passed by any other means. The wood is transported in this way
from the mountain regions to the south, and for two days one passes
through the most beautiful scenery. Fantastic castles loom at the top of
mountain peaks, and to each castle is attached a page of the history of
the Middle Ages, when the great noblemen were also the greatest
robbers of the land, and the people were miserable serfs, who did all the
work and were taxed and robbed by their masters. Castles, wild
mountain districts, rugged passes, villages, and ruins are passed like a
beautiful panorama. The river rushes along, foaming and dashing over
sharp rocks. The people are reliable