| Author(s) | Karl Marx |
|---|---|
| Written | 4 July 1882 |
MARX TO ENGELS
IN LONDON
[Postcard, unsigned]
[Argenteuil,] 4 JULY 1882
DEAR FRED,
Summer did not actually begin until the 1ST of JULY (or RATHER THE SECOND ONLY). Up till now I've had 2 sulphur baths with douches, the 3rd will be tomorrow; never before have I encountered anything as magnificent as the shower-bath (alias douche); one climbs out of the bath on to a slightly raised board, and this en nature[1] ; the bath attendant then manipulates the spray (about the size of a fire extinguisher) like a virtuoso his instrument, dictates the movements of the corpus and bombards all PARTS of that corpus in turn [SAVE THE HEAD, (the cranium)) for 180 seconds (alias 3 MINUTES) now with greater, now with lesser force, even unto the legs and feet incl. in an ever mounting CRESCENDO.
As you will see, there is little inducement here for a man to write. I have to be at the RAILWAY by half past eight in the morning (i. e. THIS IS THE TIME OF LEAVING EXACTLY FOR Enghien), back to Argenteuil ABOUT 12 OCLOCK, déjeuner[2] shortly afterwards; après[3] a great need for rest, as this sulphur is tiring in whatever form; then out and about, etc. The air in the inhalation room is murky with sulphurous vapours; 30-40 MINUTES' spell here; every 5 minutes, at a special table, one inhales steam laden with specially pulverised sulphur (from one of the pipes (zinc) with stopcocks); each man encased in caoutchouc[4] from head to foot; after which they march in file round the table; innocent scene from Dante's inferno.
Regards to Schorlemmer. I still have a photograph of me for him, taken in Algiers.
Lafargue regards himself as a great oracle here. Paris is for him THE ONLY PLACE OF THE WORLD WORTH MANHOOD.
[On the side reserved for the address]
Fr. Engels
122 Regent's Park Road London, N.W., Angleterre