The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-08-10
LETTERS FROM THE VIRGINIA SPRINGS.

LETTERS FROM THE VIRGINIA SPRINGS
oLD SWEEP srRsos, Monroe county, Aug. 6, 1858.
These charming springs situated in beautiful VAL
Icy five miles in length by in width The landscape
views from this place surpassed ut any other
terng place Ia the State aud the Improvement and gen.
ca Engagement Of the establishment have insured for
1t the Immense popularity II deservedly enjoys The
main hotel large brick edcc $50 feet In length and In
the centre of of dozen highly finished cottages
there is another large brick building capable Of accom-
modatng several hundred guests AT least thousand
people be comfortably lodged and nicely provided for
The istidous ecure could not find table superior
to that OF the Sweet Springs If he travelled the world
Most of the animal and vegetable food consumed
is raised the estates OF the propetors and the immense
poultry yard, with its several thousand occupants is
OF the curiosities OF the place. The water of the
spring is tonic and said to possess
dicinal qualities The swimming bath, however, is
the great feature OF the establishment. There are
large pools over eighty feet square live feet deep
with the water at the delightful temperature Of rs
degrees Fahrenheit These pools supplied by the rum
ming water from the spring, and are at all times at the
temperature
The Warm Springs were discovered in l764 and have
been the fvorito resort for the people Of Virginia
since their fame has extended over the whole Union,
and every State s here represented The buildings
supplied with water from receiving reservoir in the
mountains and distributing reservoir ON bill In the
rear Of the grounds. The Maryland Gas Company are
erecting gas works. and In few days the buildings and
walks will be illuminated The proprictors Messrs. A.
CArpefton ana OuSef ana u ~ Dlelno ucSeTV0 great
credit for the energy and enterprise displayed in furnish
ing this mountain retreat with all the modern conye
nences and Injuries which the most popular city estab
shmcnts boast of but cannot excel The gentlemanly
steward Mr. Mcclellan by his kind attention makes each
guest feel perfectly home while under his charge and
the general attendance of the table cannot be improved
upon. a
Among the visitors here from your city are j. C. Nc
Gnre, esq., with his family including his accomplished
daughter The young folks enjoy themselves wha hop
every evening and those who do not choose the games
of billiards nine pins occasionally join in fox
hunt in the mountains
RocKBnipoE ALUM, Saturday, Aug. 6, 1858.
The appearance of several eig5le hoaoraSes during
the past week has caused intense sensation among tho
.bellss of .'Rockbridgc Alum The tranquil cabins
in uproar; the fair guests almost in Mysteries.
fair nullier from South Carolina walked the lawn
under umbrella during heavy shower, to acquaint
belle from the aEnpre State with the Of 'on
orabc nenLy's arrival But the anti slavery beauty
not the to be startled into confession of satisfaction
He might be pro-slayey and If 80 she should not be in
troduced to him In vain the fair FIRE eat protested
that allowed political predictions to Interfere
with watering place sociability. The fair SAINT in
flexible.
But this is only an exceptional case the rest of the
feminine world in ecstses indeed, raptures in be-
half of 'pabc men at present certificate of good
breeding. One lady remembers having In stale
edition OF the Clio be that his maiden speech had made
sensation another had noticed with whom he paired Of,
and another remembers every petition he had presented
and that, in description of Lady Napcrs ball. he had
danced with scion Of foreign royalty. As to the
dandy beaaz they indignant at this uproar abont
who tie their cravats they cord their porman
teau--that men who dress like dustmen and such
cdoa should presume to rival them. But honorable
6s here recognised by other signs than careless
toilets and faccid collars There Is mstaking them
here Their conversation abounds in political mys
tcisn their very jokes parliamentary; and they
have been SO long accustomed to 'rise 10 epan that
they find it difficult to accomplish such evolution in
sitting position Their anecdotes authenticated by
dates they always speak if before committee and
scarcely know how to leave without the ceremony
Of .pang Of, hazard opinion lest they should be
required to justify it to their party. They happily
unconscious of the interest In their movements En-
crossed heart and soul in public life, they look upon
watering places resorts where politicians congegate
during the hot weather to form plans for the ensuing
session, and commit those follies which men commit
who hunt after popularity Ihcy.have not thought to
waste upon the ladies' except part and parcel of their
fathers, who may be men of some account to their
party, and to be concilated through the medium of
their pretty daughters
Dear readers of the Union you who pinng in pent-
up Streets wish you could the which meets
our eye as we write 1t is a golden evening, and the
setting sun is streaming through the leaves Of beautiful
linden which waves before window. There Is all
melody and happiness in the sweet world of feathered
life without The saucy robin hops upon the ground
while his tiny poetical partner whistles from the branches
twitters and coq,,es before Out beyond under
the calm sky, yelled with mist rather than with
cloud, Iise the high, dark outlines Of the mountns
shutting the cfclluk CABINS II they nest.
We could fancy that iu a SO lovely
could enter but would be charmed away and disappear
before the sight Of these glorious guardian mountains
But alas know the truth that earth has barrier
which avas against the envy and malice Of the world
1t comes, lightning like into the mountain house and the
town garrett into the city residence and into the country
cottage. On the gallery below the il most ami
mated its picturesque effect is unrvaed In
sits young bride in all the runinatve misery of her
fist widowhood. Not far off, baby sits in placid dig
nifty in her nurses The fresh soft peachy com
pIexon is really tempting and fair girl goes up to
and smile at the wee thing, and after bohg
she il about to snatch kiss, when baby lifts up his
sturdy right and hits his tormentor great blow
the face Near by the fnclooking resident physician
(Dr. Davdson) is listening with resignation to cross
questioning concerning the nature progress and result
Of spring number two. three and four. Another is in
qniring for the health of Mrs A, suggesting in a
dece the utility of biscuit powder and goats
whey In another direction, sweet interesting young
witow from Norfolk listening to Buena Vista hero
who telling campaigning tales that would fill volumes
of the standard novels recounting harbreadth scapcs
in ouhagated converts and slaughtered villages till his
story is reflected in her face in oscurd Sweet
Mrs. w. with your gentle manner and youthful face,
long, long shall remember the touching story of your
ery bereavement artlessy told to with quverng
lip and moistened eye.
The solemn stars OF the 'sRockbridge Alum had wit
messed THAR betotha and the green forest leaves ut