Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-09-07

more can the traveller want? Really, when
bounding over the road, dashing at ten miles an
hour down some inclined pane-or smoothly and
softly winding up the mountain ACTIVITY, one is
almost tempted to wish the Stage lines perpetua-
ted, in our mountains What will mountain
scenery be to man who cannot see it? What
are lofty precipices, flaming cascades smiling val
lies, charming farm houses, green pastures, and
hills covered with bleating and lowing ilocks, and
all the beauties of rural life, SO encng to the I'M
agnaton of men and women pent up in hot brick
walls, or snothered under the burning, sitting ell
mate and choked with the impa pable dust OF the
low lands, where,
''Singing through the forests,
''Rattling over ridges,
':Shooting under arches;
"Rumbling over bridges,
'.NYhizzng thro' the mountains,
''Buzzing DER the vale"
You are whirled to the Springs"
''Riding on the Rail ?''
Alas poor man! His very improvements,
threaten extinction to some of his chief delights,
aud while imagination glows in anticipation OF
some future good stern reality cools 1t down by
presenting the evil at which il is purchased. Let
The political economist dilate on the magnificent
prospects of gain opening up along the extending
vista of the Central Railroad-and those who go
to the Springs. only to swill indicated waters,
live iii luxury, and find happiness in the transient
gaieties of the season, enjoy III anticipation tile
rapid transition from business and home and care,
to the seats of prospective bliss tor my part,
shall sigh TO see the last stage driven from our
streets, and mourn to exchange the eAhlllraton OF
fresh mountain air and mountain riding, for the
suffocatng smoke of the engine, the sparks and
the dirt. the noise and the dangers of the cars
Men will travel TO the Springs, ten years hencej
as with their eyes bandaged. Still it is some
comfort TO feel, that after all, the Rail cars cannot
reach all the places ofresort. The line from Pam
Their Gap, by the Bath Alum and Warm and Hot
Springs must remain untouched-and 1t is not an
improbable idea, that Town cits, who may then
have never seen stage, will actually deiiect this
way for the qualification of curiosity.
You and your readers can be told nothing new
of these world renowned watering places. Since
the change in the proprietorshp ofthe Rockbridge
Alum. your citizens are presumed to feel rather
more lively interest in the character of that grow
ing place of public resort. The water still con-
tinues to effect some marvellous cures, and now
the tide has set that way, there is no knowing
what another season may bring forth lave
been told. that for several weeks this season, the
receipts averaged 5000 day with increasing IA
clities of access and increasing accommodations,
the prospect of doubling the number of visitors
next wear is not at all extravagant. The Bath
Alum is not generally thought to present the same
attractions for the invalid. But to the taste, |
have not been able to discern much, if any differ
ence in the water, and certainly few places are
more attractive for the comfort to the physical
man, here promised. The tastily CONSTRUCTED and
arranged buildings, a lasting monument of the en-
terprse and good taste of the much lamented John
w. Frazier, do not excite higher expectations OF
the good cheer and comfort provided for the wea-
nv traveller than are realized on trial. The Warm
Springs must ever remain attractive TO those who
can appreciate that greatest OF all luxuries, warm
bath. Would it not be good idea, 1essrs Edi-
tors, for the Corporation" to suppress tipping
houses and establish Warm Baths! Would il
not be happy thing for our State, could all the
tippline shops and bar rooms be exchanged for
warm and cold baths? rather think the animal
comfortable strength of body, the elasticity OF
spirits, and all other benefits, predcated of dram
drinking would be far more promoted by washing
the outside.
Five miles farther on, you know, are the cele-
brated Hot Springs. There are two-one called
temperate, at 1000 Fahrenheit, just 40 above
blood heat Think of that And to appreciate
its power for cooking your skin, you are placed
under spout-a kind of magnitied Tea Kettle
Spout. The force of the blow as the water comes
down, in a column as large as your arm, gives you
some practical illustrations, in the science of lily
drostalcs. A few minutes quiet submission IL
your fate reconces you to something like an i'm
agnation that you are in temperate bath, and at
ter leaving the water, dressing and quietly repos-
ing in your room, you feel entirely persuaded that
you have gone through very pleasant operation
The other Spring issues from the foot of the
hill on which the Hotel is built almost just under
the stage road. 1t provides two sets Of baths-the
hot spout and the sweat baths The arrangements
for the former are like those at the temperate bath
The water is 100 above blood heat and the sensa
ton of your first submerson is well calculated 10
suggest some ideas about scalding, boiling ard
cooking. The stimulohs is very great and you
can hardly suppose the hide ola RhinocerUs would
fail to be sofened. Go and lie Is minutes in the
other hot bath, and then stretch yourself On mat
tress. ..Uncle Peter" with 20 years experience
jolly fat old Black, fine representative of the
heathiness of the Spring, tucks you id blankets
barely leaving your head out-and then you liz
As minutes stewing, very much in the condition
of larva; till your shell is pealed off-and the
old man pronounces you have had fine sweat
that the bad matters in you are running off finely
and you return to your room, sit by the fire, ant
wipe your face for half hour more. II there il
any virtue in hot water, you can find it here.
Three miles South, in nice romantic little
valley, accessible by very fair natural road
though the first half mile s unpropitIous, you fine
the 'all healing spring" Here and at the Hot
YOU are struck with the number of the real Inva
lids, the halt, the blind and the lame, waiting 70
the healing of the waters. To the taste, thi
spring is not unpleasant, being mild and warn
Chalybeate What other ingredients it possesses
are not known. The proprietors have not had i
analized. Baths have been constructed, and some
persons have derived great benefit from their use
Neat and pleasant cabins are now nearly compile
ted and accommodations provided for some DO o.
so persons. The Proprietors have felt encourage
ed 10 erect large Hotel, which will probably b
ready for another season.
| The company at the Springs,a at this time of the
year, is very changeable. Arrivals and depart
4 ures like births and deaths, immigration and emf.
grafton in the great world, continually furnish new
occasions of pleasing and painful interest You
may make some pleasant and profitable acquaint
ances, and spend short period quite pleasantly
peepng at men and women and their various ex-
hibitiohs of human nature. But it is time to stop
Time and other matters favoring may drop you
few lines from the metropolis of the Springs
the w. Sulphur. next week. Till then adieu.
Yours Sc, TRAVELLER.