Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-07-15

Berkeley SPRINGS, MORGAN Co, Va,
July Z, 1856.

you how liked IT, and who and what saw
When think, however, of your hard fate in
being shut up in that most uncomfortable Of
all places, in the dog days especially, an edito-
rial sanctum, do not feel that it is kind to
furnish you such contrast as my sojourn here
will present. But you are philosopher, or
ought to be, il you are not; aud will give
you cu,Yeate calamo, an account Of my first
week at Berkeley.
BY the way it is an innovation that l am
half inclined to quarrel with mine host" of
the Springs concerning, that the old designa-
ton Of this resort should have been changed
for the present one.
In old and better times, it was called "Bath,"
and was the favorite summer retreat of the
first people of the land. Generals Washington,
Gates, Charles Carroll Of Carrollton, and many
others Of scarcely less celebrity as far back as
seventy years, purchased lots and passed ell or
portion of their summers at Bath" Many
came from far distant States, and in those
primitive times brought their tents, and with
their families emf Eyed the heallhrestoring prop
critics of its valuable waters.
Indeed, there are no waters in the Old Do
minion that have so fully retained their repu-
tation as the water here. As bath for health
and pleasure, it is unsurpassed. In addition
to the single baths, themselves numerous and
capacious there have been constructed two
Pool Baths" one for the gentlemen, the
other for the ladies, that are most luxurious.
Only think of il! bath sixty feet in length
and twenty five in width, and five feet deep, Of
the most beautiful pellucid water, where at all
hours Of the day and night you can refresh
and invigorate yourself! You have here, too,
what is rare at public places, beautiful grove,
so thickly set with shade trees that there is no
portion of the day that you cannot be protect
ed from the suns rays without having to be-
take yourself to your room or the lounging
places of the hotel.
But / now come to speak to you of the large
and commodous hotel and its gentemanly
proprietor OF the former, it will suffice to
say, that it is in all respects most comfortable,
with large piazzas running all around it, and
opening upon the beautiful grove of which
have spoken. 1t will accommodate with com
fort about five hundred guests, "A number that
are certain to be here at late period of the
season. Of Colonel Strother, we cannot speak
in terms of too much praise. Himself gen
tleman Of education and refinement, he under
stands well what is due to gentlemen and their
fan, boy Iar all he. IL
hotel life Affords with feeling of home, ease,
and comfort i have never seen elsewhere. As
to the table, am not afraid TO assert that it is
not only the uery best public table l ever saw,
but really there is no gentemans table in Vir-
GINA superior to it. This is literally true;
and those that don't say so, who have tried it,
are not used to half as good doings at home.
But must tell you how we got here, for its
easy access is one of the best features about it.
You leave Washington at six in the morning,
in the Baltimore train, get nice breakfast at
the relay with our old friend Miller, formerly
of Washington, take the western cars on the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad to the Hancock
station, and thence in stage over delightful
road, only FIVE MILES, to this place to three
o'clock dinner, or you can leave at Al D. m
and reach here at late bed time, making two
trains q day to the Springs. Besides this,
there is telegrsphic station within two and a
half miles Of us, where, if it was kept by eff.
cient and civil people, you could get message
to and fro, but we are sorry to say, from expe-
rieuce, you are not apt to get much satsfae.
ton. Thus much for the Springs and its con-
veniences.
|, Now for the company, amusements, &c.
There are present here about one hundred
visitors, which is n larger number than usual
at this period of the season. 1t is curious
fact that in this number, every section Of the
country is represented. Gentlemen from
Philadelphia, New York, Richmond, Nachez,
New Orleans, Baltimore, and Washington, are
already here with their families, and most Of
them for the whole season. have rarely seen
in intelligence, refinement, and agreability
such company. So entirely, too, is the abb
sence Of all form and ceremony, that it seems
more like one family, than the assemblage Of
persons, who but few days since here, com
paratively strangers to each other. Riding,
walking, ten-pins, billiards, dancing, form
the principal sources Of amusement, all Of
which are entered into with zest and a6an-
don, that is really refreshing. But fear my
letter will be too long, considering the pressure
upon your columns at this time, so, with
reference to the celebration Of the glorious day
Of independence, i will draw it to close.
Early on the morning Of the Fourth, tie
busy hands of the fair ladies we're seen festoon-
ing with evergreens the piszzas, and decora.
ting with great taste the large ball room for the
celebration.
Who was to be the orator of the day, and
who the reader of the Declaration of Indepen.
dence, was soon resolved by the ladies' who
chose Mr. Thomas L. Buchanan, lately of Cali
fornia, for the first, and Mr.. Francis Peters of
Philadelphia for the second. These gentlemen
we're too gallant to decline the enviable honors