The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-07-17
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR.

SHANNoNDALE SPRINGS, Va, July H. 1881.
After having travelled about the country, with
sundry small responsibilities, some six hundred
miles, on land and water, by stage, steamboat,
and rail-car, in valley and mountain, we find our
selves at last most agreeably located at the Shan
nondale Springs in the valley Of the Shenandoah,
near the Blue Ridge First we tried Old Point
Comfort, near the cspes of the Chesapeake, but
found it anything but comfortable. Hot sands
surround you on all sides; in less than day you
have exhausted the place aud yourself, and IND
nothing in the presence of the uniformed gentry
from the fort hard by to compensate the dearth
Of entertainment
The mountain scenery of Virginia is beautiful,
and crossing the mountain from Frederick to
Harpers Ferry, we assembled into different at
mosphere The direct rays Of the sun were quite
hot enough, but the air was bracing and the
breeze exhilarating.
Shannondale is more accessible to the Atlantic
cities than any Of the Virginia watering places
short description of it may be of service to
those of our readers who may desire pleasant
and healthful retreat in the mountains for their
families during the hot months. The Springs
are beautifully situated five miles from Charles.
town, to which the cars run daily from Harper.
Ferry, carrying passengers brought by the morn
ing train from Baltimore and Washington and
from Charlestown the omnibus runs daily to the
Springs The waters are doubtless medicinal
being gently laxative, tonic, and Alternative. Ac-
cOrding to an analysis by Dr. De Butts, one hun.
bred grains afforded the following result: sui.
phate Of lime, So carbonate of lime, 1915; sui
e -2r--ro-;> HHA mnriate ot uaaauesia- i; muir
ate of soda, sulphate of iron, O3; carbonate Of
irSh, o. gaseous cOnres,s, ooIphure.teA =, IL
gen and carbOnic acid, quantities not ascertaincd
People here take copious draughts morning noon,
aud night, and profess to derive great benefit
One thing is certain, it does not affect their ap'
petite iDjuriously.
The scenery is beautiful and various From
several points you look out on magnificent land.
scapes The grounds are handsomely improved
and like the angels ON Jacobs ladder, ascending
and descending all the while, only not 80 perpen-
dcularly. We have plenty of cool shade, deli
ClOuS PuiO WIN o"hS VI b'iN "ho
waterfall Some dozen or fifteen pretty cottages
are scattered over the extensive lawn, about the
main building, so that those who court retire
ment can have it. There are cliffs enough for
those who love to climb, woods enough for those
who like to wander, and breezy walks by the wind
ing river
The accommodations are pleasant; the proprie-
tors gentlemen, and excellent providers Their
table unobjectiOnable. We have good coffee, good
cream, good butter, good hot roll and cold bread,
good meats and vegetables, well cooked, good des-
sert Hot or cold baths can be had at the pleas
ure of the visiter, with all the usual amuseRents
of watering places
AS for Slavery, thank Heaven we observe
none Of its visible tokens in this quiet retreat.
By the way, coming hither from Charlestown,
gentleman pointed out a rich farm Of twenty
seven hundred acres, owned by colored man,
whose substantial brick house and stone barn
gave every evidence of thrift and enterprise, We
are glad that the Convention of Virginia has
stricken out from the new constitution the mia
cradle clause comforting on the Legislature power
to expel the free colored population from the
State. We never believed that the humanity Of
the People would tolerate policy so UNANIMOUSLY
inhuman. .G b.