Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1869-11-19


81 Bre.dsr and bright appear
Mossfais vIEw Hon SCHOOL, MIaoSErrB.
ristol, Nov. 1869.
-
The "ned sweet and the 'sOid Sweet
Springs.
IL II customary TOR visitors when leaving
the White Sulphur to go by stage-cosch
across the Allegheny Mountain 10 the sR-d
Sweet Spring." lying sevents,n n miles away
In . beautiful valley on the eastern side of
the ridge, or to the "Old Sweet Springs"
situsted Just Que mile farther down the
same valley. We followed tho fashion, aud
leaving the gay halls and lawns OF the
"White" about three O'Clock In the after
noon, Il was after dark when we drew up a.
the "Red." We went In search of the
Springs, and guided by q light which
tvinkIod far away down the ltwn, we sought
and found them. They are the strongest
and most beautiful of all the Virguia
Springs, and as our light was T, a sciod back
from the caverns whence issued the water,
their walls rcd with its mineral deposit, and
the bright stars looked up At US out of the
depths Of the peIlucid pool wherein the
wsters met, We Thought we had never seen
anything so enchAntiDgly beautiful.
There aro three sprIugs separated from
osch other by tut = THU partition Of rock,
closely In TASTE, but each having . d fferent
Anaiy sis; one has large proportion of iron,
one more msgnesis, aud Tho Other has .
trace OF alum. Tncy q W out within
space OF six or ghL feet into q common
pool aud thence pass off through two
t,oughs, one lesdii & iuto the ladies and the
othcr into tue genll, mems large plunge or
swjmming baths The water is also provi-
ded HIT aud coId to apartments in bathing
house for those who prefer 10 use Il thus !;
but they are not many. On the glory Of
that plunge bath lmAgiue II you can q
pool as feet lorg by 70 feet wide, the wa
ter hve feet deep, and u stream two feet
wide by half . fvot thick, constantly filing
into II aud Il wing througr, with nstur.i
temperature of 16 degrees -sbuut the tem-
p-rsture OF the Doiy-in q current you can
scarcely breast. A high wooden wall sue
rounds the pool, open 10 the sky, on oae
SIDE OF which are dressing aicOves leave
yuur clothing la one of these and plugging
into the water, after n three or four minute
SWIM. obey sUncie Josnua's" earnest invo-
cation 10 you to stay IN no longer: and
coming out, lot that Venerable servitor rub
you well down, while he shows y,u hts s'e'
giant paintings ia water colors aud d seonrss 4
10 you OF an old Virgins family OF which
he cunning pretends TO think you are 9
! Bat Oh, water and Uncle J sh hsvs acted
nks . charm you feel r.geueraied and
d,septhralIed aud walk 10 the Spring Il
lake intsruaily the liquid whose externa
use you have b I'd 30 great cause 10 admire
There seems 10 Ue soine mysteriens power
In the min. raj eie Itr o. the water, which
makes IL advisable 10 remain In the bzti
but a short time. Frum three u Ave min
utes is tho regulation time, and from tb'
universal caution one receives not 10 sta,
in too long, there are few who care 10 great
ly exceed that limit. Too long bath vii
ha apt TO drive tho blood from tho surface
aud be therefore hurtful instead 0f invigor
ating and bon. ficiAl. f-l' a, =,
tfSarr IA an immense amount Of carboni'
acid gas flowing Out with the water from th
spring aud in tho ladies' bath, In which tn
water nom It's entrance TO Its exit does no
How through the pool, but only through
corner OF IL, this gas does not pass OF VIII
sufficient rapidity, buC remains-pein
heavier than the n 'mosphere--on the sur
face of the water; Il 10 therefore Decessary
every mor ming before the ladies are admit
ted 10 the bath, 10 send servants into tn
pooi, who whip the gas with towels toward
a., part Of the pool where the water pssse
off. Every spring the baths are cleane
ont With = good deal OF difficulty, as th
water flowing through them all winte'
ieavvs thick deposit Of esrthy matter o.
the foor, which hArdens almost into stoDs
IL 10 necessary to fAsten ropes around th
. ne9roes who are sent in To do this clean
inE, a. they frequently fall down, suhocate
with the gas. several deaths have oceul
+ red Ia years gone by OF persons bAthih
after tho season was over, aud when Oh
bath was unattended.
Tho temperature OF the water Of n
sbsings being as We have said but 16 d.
grees, the drinking OF II 10 st urst unpies
ant, but as with all these spring waters ye
soon become accustomed 10 IL and get
ike IA. IL has s0it taste aud TO that Q,
tent maybe termed "sweet !" II Is Vel
strongly impregnated with iron, aud larg
j / " With magnesia aud Is decidedly u
stroDgest chulybeate wster We KNOW OF an
where.
Al tho "Old Sweet Springs" mile dov
ehs valley. another spring of the same cha
acter OF water but not so strongly impre
mated, rises NO not flowing out In q stres
- IN the usual course OF sprloss, but bu
blsaz up Z, ,ropgiy from the grAvelly botto
~ the swimming bath aud the drinki
u,Il, the bubbles OF carhOnic acid gas a
seen constantly rising to the surface Of q
pooi. as rises up tho air breaihed ont
che f,snes In q pond. These "Oid S~e
Spriogs," although the water 10 far interi
10 thai At tho Rod Sweet, are neverteele
the resort of the more gay aud fAshlonAh
!, az tho fpripgs visitors. The buiidings a
the best ~ DO found al any Of the Virgin
SprinKp; tse Hotel and the two storied &C
ssees all belng apparently new subs'a
tisily built Of brick. They are arrang
around a pretty lawn; and besutii
kuowl rising 70 the mcaatain IN the re'
xiycs pleasant view Of the far reschi
valley aud It's enclosing cl IT,. The who
place is Nc with gas, and the dining roo
and the ball room IN another building, q
places where Il Is pleasant TO dine a
dance. But the "Red SSeet, 4" besides be
ing the best water, Is tho more cozy =
soCiAblo place, 10 those who care more
comfort than for glare.
The wAter has . petrifying effect up
vegetables matter, aud arcund ths spring I
tree siumps are turned inta stone, and J
show whan broken. the anpular rings Of Oh
an wth 90, leaves inbsdded In mud |
loEnd apparently ~ pefect % when DR.
ped FROM tho tree. Near there Is d
seross small stream, built by tho Beav
.sars ago, the trunks Of trees OF which
vas made ell being made u stone.
aaa0 ma a nannfs rfaif kol,asloo and ma