Middletown transcript., 1869-08-07
Letter from Berkeley Springs.
Correspondence Of The Mdaletown Transcript.
FLORENCE House, BERKELEY SPRINGS, |
August Sd, 1869.

Correspondence Of the Middletown Transcript
FLORENCE HOUSE, BERKELEY SPRINGS,
August Sd, 1859.
Dear Transcript This delightful re-
treat still continues to be visited by peo-
pie focking here from the cities and towns
seeking their health, and recreation. This
House is now full and the Major talks
about entertaining few more on the roof
and in the cellar, if their quarters would
be agreeable. The Strother Hotel also
received an addition of thirty-two on Sat-
urday. We have had some distinguished
guests visiting the Springs this Summer
Gen. Bradley T. johnson, formerly of
Maryland, but now of Richmond, was
here last week, and stopped at the Stroth-
er House two or three days. Major w.
j. Hawks, of Charlestown, w. Va. who
was with Stonewall jackson during all his
campaigning and his most intimate friend,
is stopping at the Florence House. The
Major is suffering with the rheumatism
caused by being exposed during the war,
but is improving rapidly under the treat
ment received here and bathing in the wa
ters. Hon. NJ. r. Garcia, (wife and chill
dren) Minister from the Argentine Repub-
lie, has been here all the summer. There
was concert given last night at the
Strothcr House (of which we enclose pro-
gramme) for the benefit of the Catholic
Church, in this town. There were about
five hundred present and manifested their
delight by frequently applauding the sing
ers and calling them back to the stage to
repeat. Madam Garcia, wife of the Min
lister from Buenos Ayres, sung the piece
by Longfellow, 30, Beware She's fool
ing you" The audience were delighted
and made the house ring with applause.
The singers all acquitted themselves very
handsomely.
The audience were very handsomely
dressed, white kid gloves and white silk
dresses seemed to prevail amongst the
ladies while the gents sported white pants
and vests with black coats and fancy kids
1t was quite warm here yesterday, the
thermometer stood at 80, but it is cool
this morning although the THERMOMETER
is IA. Gen. David Strother, better known
to the public as 'Porte Crayon," is a res
ident of this town. We called on him
yesterday morning and found him very
pleasant, genial, social gentlemen, about
fifty years of age. He is the owner of the
Strother Hotel having inherited it from his
father. Among the curiosities to be found
here is an Alligator imported from the
Gulf of Mexico, and is sporting in the
large stream flowing from the many
springs, for the benefit of his health He
has haG many visitors but few admirers.
Major Green still continues to supply his
table with all the luxuries of the season.
Vcnison is now plentiful the Game Laws
of West Virginia prohibit the shooting of
deer (Which are very plentiful in the noun
tains around Berkeley until after the 18th
of July. One of our Delaware gentlemen
from Odessa seems to be very fond of ven
ison and eats his five pounds daily, and
hands his plate up for more! The Com
missary of the late Confederacy (stopping
here) says he would not like to furnish
him with rations. Among the luxuries
to be found here is honey, and the Ma
or's is certainly the incest to be found in
West VirgiuiI. Croquet seems to be the
prevailing game at present, all other games
having been forsaken for croquet. The
ladies and gentlemen play partners, and
when the ladies are engaged the gentlemen
play amongst themselves. The Delaware
men seem to be very fond of croquct, and
are seen on the grounds in advance of all
others. One of the gentlemen from Odes-
sa is acknowledged to be the champion,
having carried off the prize on several oc-
casions. We must now close as the mail
is about starting for Sir Johns Run. The
Middletown Transcript is a great favorite
here. 1t seems like voice from Delaware
when it is received and one has to read
while all the rest set around and listen We
ry attontively. Please send it every Sat
urday, as we would be very much disap-
pointed if we did not receive it on Monday
mornings. Respt. yours,
DELAWARE.