The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-08-14

LErrEas OF 4 oosvALEscEsr.

THE WHITE SULPHUR sPRiH0-AE ALUM WELL.
The White Sulphur is IS miles 8. 8. w. OF the
Flo, Springs Leaving The Hot at about 10 o'clock,
A. M, You reach the White Sulphur at about
o'clock, p. M. The road, Tor number OF miles,
follows the course Of the waters Of The Hot Springs
which are al length swollen into considerable
streams crosses mountain bridges, winds among
multitude Of small mountains through forests and
valleys, and leads you with a smooth face and gentle
ascent over The Allegheny, or rather orsr into It's
wilderness OF hills. All these mountain roads are
excellent; the scenery delightfully."- picturesque The
face Of nature filled with wonders;
-a Sweet interchange
or hill and valley, rivers, woods, and plains;
Now land, now sea, and shores with forests crownd,
Rocks, dens, and cayesP
Travellers ON this road, may IL they choose, stop
for dinner Of mutton, fried chickens and bacon, at
Shnmate's or Callaghan's The first at distance OF
l6 miles from the Hot, the last al a distance Of %
We were surprised to find the crops in this section
Of country, and at the White sulphur, very back
ward, and apparently dimlnutive. The farmers on
the nth Of July were harvesting their wheat, and
hoeing their corn which was much Of 1t not more
Than knee high. We have enjoyed but scaniy sup
ply Of vegetables fruit of ann sort and we saw
no green corn until the 18th Of July, when wereach-
ed the Blue Sulphur. Vegetation, therefore, In the
mountains must be nearly month behind that 10
Eastern Virginia.
The White Sulphur Spring Is beautifully siluat-
ed. You approach Through narrow plain, which
like placid stream along its level bed, until
suddenly II takes gentle dip, like the rapids above
the falls OF Niagara Here, ina little valley,
protected either side by the wild mountains, and
deeply shaded by primitive trees lies embosomed one
Of the most popular watering places Of the United
States II Is not popular as Saratoga; but no me-
dicinal waters south Of the Potomac attract more
visiiers that we know OF.
The water Is believed TO be very powerful medi.
cal agent, and Is certainly curiosity, II not won
der. 1t has fDiid odour and tastes, at first very
much as the gas smells which rises from the hard
boiled yolk of halfspoiled egg. Some compare It's
taste to that Of "rotlen egg or the washings Of
foul gun. As we never tasted either of the laerwe
canno. well Judge. We suppose its Taste and odour
10 be principally those of sulphuretted hydrogen.
| The water is abundant and beautifully clear and
bright. The spring "wells up" into an ociagonal
stone basin, which is covered BY dome supported
by doric pillars the dome issurmounted by statue
| OF Hygea. Under this dome and around this spring
hundreds Of people, from all parts Of the world col
lec every day in the summer drink the waters, as
| they think, of health.
From an analysis Of the wafer, made by DR.. WIN.
b. Rodgers, of the Charlottesville University, we de-
rive the following account Of Its ingredients: The
solid matter procured by evaporation from 100 cubic
inches Of the white sulphur water, when dried at
2l2 deg. weighs 1854 grains" This consists ofsul
phate Of lime, sulphae Of magnesia, sulphate Of So
da, carbonate of lime carbonate Of magnesia chic
ride Of sodium, chloride Of calcium, per. oxyde Of
iron, sulph. hydro Of sodium, phosphate Of lime, or
ganic matter, precipitaled sulphur.
The gaseous matter consists Of sulphuretted hydro
gen, carboaic acid, nitrogen, oxygen.
DR.. Rodgers has made recent discovery that it
also contains minute portion Of Iodine combined
an Hydriodaie. This Is an important discovery, as
Iodine Is one of the most powerful alternative agents
Analyses of mineral waters are, however, Of littie
service, unless the proportions or relative quantities
Of matter are given.
As to the practical effects Of these waters; they
are by no means panacea as has sometimes been
represented, but like all medicines, they may be in
appropriately taken, and often prove Injurious
They are, according to our own experience, Cahar-
tic, Diaretc and Daphoretic. In many diseases Of
the stomach and bowels in some cutaneous diseases
in liver complaint and other affections ofthe bilious
class, they are evidently and eminently beneficial
Many singular cures Of variety Of other diseases
are attributed to Them. But whatever may be their
power or nature, person seriously affected should
take them without discretion and intelligence ON
their part, or advice fro m regular physician.
There are accommodations, as they are called sufi-
Client for about GOO persons The lodging rooms are
all in separate buildings, being ranges of small brick
and wood cabins yariously disposed. These ranges
flourish under various titles viz. Alabama Row
Paradise Row Carolina Row; Georgia Row
Virginia Row; Baltimore Row; Wolf Row, &C.
The principal building, at which the stage stops, and
which is the ".Change" OF the place, is low, broad
one story wooden building, with Offices fronting the
highway exterior, and spacious dining room, with
portico outside, fronting the interior Of the little
village. few rods distant is another building
containing ball room, which is the only room on
the premises that can be used parlor drawing
room. This therefore, is no place for society; for
unless parties visit each other at their bed rooms
they cannot meet except al the eating table, in the
ball room, or on the green. The visitor may think
there is great deal of expensive parade but he will
experience little comfortable effect. The buildings
although numerous and presenting the appearance
OF pleasant little village 10 have been erected
from time to time, like Jefferson's house, without
any design, taste, or notion of comfort. Every per-
son is colonist, as they would say at Saratoga;
and whole families may frequently have the oppor-
.tuniiy Of irudging through tremendous shower to
dinner, or get cold one, by going late or none at
all by staying at home. The table is indifferently
supplied at best After the first bell is rung, brass
band make discord for an hour upon the porico.-
As the hour approaches, the visilers collect around
the doors Of the dining room, like the pressing
crowds around the ticket offices of a theatre. The
doors are opened and the crowd rush in like rave
nous wolves into an amphheatre Of prey, and al
though card designaes each seat, we will venture
10 say, not one in ten makes satisfactory dinner.
He will find two-thirds of the servants brbed, and