Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-06-19
SAKATOG 4
Something Concerning Watering
Places, Ancient and MOdern-a
Pleasant Chat About mineral
Springs.

(saratogs Correspondence June TO- Of the Albany
Argus.
The real water drinkers, namely, the invalds
and valetudinarans--s numerous class--come
early to Saratoga and make long visits, while
the devotees OF fashion and pleasure seekers ar
rive, for the most part. rather later, and depart
sooner-being mere birds of passage compared
with the genuine waterfowl who haunt this
charming locality These last are already here
In considerable numbers. and few more DAYS of
hot weather will swell the " fashionable tide
now setting hitherward. until in the usual rapid
ratio OF increase. IL reaches the top of the sea
son" at about mid summer.
Watering places are. by no means, Of modern
origin. The Greeks and Romans were accus-
toned to the use of mineral waters, obtained At
both hot and cold springs. in various localities
Before the Christian era, the luxurious Romans
used. in the Summer months, to drink and battle
in the waters al Baie, a small coast town in
CamPsns, celebrated alike for its mineral springs
and beautiful scenery. and quite as fashionable a
resort, in It's day as Bader- Baden or Saratoga at
the present.
The poet Horace, who was often visitor here,
speaks of the 18th epistle of the "mvrtle groves"
of this place, aud says the waters were thought
TO "expel lingering disorders Of the nervous sys-
tenn" In this epistle the poet talks. of trying
next season. BY way ofvaTiety. the baths of Vela
or Salernum He dscourses shudderngly of the
bare prospect OF cold bathing, but to show US, If
need were, that he was not an Incorporate or
exclusive hydropathist, the merry bard inquiries
OF the friend TO whom the episte is addressed,
what sort Of wine they have at those places?-
observing that, though he is not nice in bis tippe
at home, he is very particular about his wine
when he goes TO watering places. and requires
that which is generous and mellow (gensrosum
al tene) and ht to make a man a boy again. Let
US hope that he got it, for. besides being bril-
liant poet and jolly good fellow. he was every
inch gentleman.
The sulphur waters Of Virginia, and at AK
Lachcapele, and the Chalybeafe waters at Vel
low Springs. in the United States, and at Tua-
bridge and Brighton, in England, and at Wies
baden, in Germany, have long been celebrated
Saline Springs, which furnish a wide diversity
of medical properties, were sufficiently known
great many years ago to give fame to Seidlitz in
Bohemia, Cbeltenham and Bath. in England, ard
Saratoga. in the United States Cheltenham is
still in vogue: for a recent English poem speaks
Of II as place
Where one gets his I'LL
or folly and cold water
But Bath. famous the resort of invahds
and gay people, when Beau Nash was king" Of
pump-rooms and parlors q hundred years ago.
has fallen into decay and almost in desuetude,
while Srratoga, then only known to the abort
gines, has become the most celebrated watering
place in the world. Ii is recorded that among
ante revolutionary Incidents that "Sir William
johnson was brought. in 1776. to High Rock
Spring on litter and was greatly benefited by
the waters" Since then, twenty -four springs
have been discovered. each furnishing different
variety of water, of which those most in use are
the Congress. ;" Empire" and Iodine" springs
The export of Congress water is enormous. Mr..
Johnson. the gentlemany superintendent Of the
bathing department, informs me that it amounts
annually to nearly a million of bottles. The
sale of Empire water, though much less. is very
considerable. Aud all this, Notwithstanding the
loss Of the Southern trade. which. bye the bye.
Mr.. johnson tells me, is already starting again
The new opera house is going up very rapidly,
and will soon be completed Congress Hall in
augurated the season on the first instant, and the
States and many Of the minor establishments are
now open TO the public