ome one afterwards said he said to some one else. "He's not
used to dealing with gentlemen, that's plain. The man talks like a
blackguard. And to think we pay for such things! Well, well! I'll not
stand it, I'm afraid. I've had about enough. It's positively revolting,
positively revolting!" But he stayed on, just the same--second thoughts,
a good breakfast, his own physical needs. At any rate weeks later he was
still there and in much better shape physically if not mentally.

About the second or third day I witnessed another such spectacle, which
made me laugh--only not in my host's presence--nay, verily! For into
this same chamber had come another distinguished personage, a lawyer or
society man, I couldn't tell which, who was washing himself rather
leisurely, as was _not_ the prescribed way, when suddenly he was spied
by mine host, who was invariably instructing some one in this swift
one-minute or less system. Now he eyed the operation narrowly for a few
seconds, then came over and exclaimed:

"Wash your toes, can't you? Wash your toes! Can't you wash your toes?"

The skilled gentleman, realizing that he was now living under very
different conditions from those to which presumably he was accustomed,
reached down and began to rub the tops of his toes but without any
desire apparently to widen the operation.

"Here!" called the host, this time much more sharply, "I said wash your
toes, not the outside of them! Soap them! Don't you know how to wash
your toes yet? You're old enough, God knows! Wash between 'em! Wash
under 'em!"

"Certainly I know how to wash my toes," replied the other irritably and
straightening up, "and what's more, I'd like you to know that I am a
gentleman."

"Well, then, if you're a gentleman," retorted the other, "you ought to
know how to wash your toes. Wash 'em--and don't talk back!"

"Pah!" exclaimed the bather now, looking twice as ridiculous as before.
"I'm not used to having such language addressed to me."

"I can't help that," said Culhane. "If you knew how to wash your toes
perhaps you wouldn't have to have such language addressed to you."

"Oh, hell!" fumed the other. "This is positively outrageous! I'll leave
the place, by George!"

"Very well," rejoined the other, "only before you go you'll have to wash
your toes!"

And he did, the host standing by and calmly watching the performance
until it was finally completed.

It was just this atmosphere which made the place the most