Page:Guide to the Bohemian section and to the Kingdom of Bohemia - 1906.djvu/225

 Scott.

he guide books published for the benefit of foreigners visiting the baths and spas of Bohemia, such as Teplice, Karlovy Vary, Františkovy Lázně and Mariánské Lázně (Marienbad), as a rule, give a fair amount of general information relating to places on the direct line of route from and to London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Petersburg and Trieste; along with hints as to excursions on the Rhine, Bavaria, the Alps and the Bohemian Switzerland; but they completely ignore the country lying quite close to the fashionable resorts. There, the inhabitants are of Bohemian Slavonic nationality who dwell in a land full of attractions for all lovers of nature; where the people with their simple and quaint manners and customs wearing their pretty national costumes, ever present to strangers an interesting series of living pictures reminiscent of by-gone days. The country all around is rich in historic associations and its scenery is, most beautiful and varied; looking at these charming landscapes you realize that