Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-08-31
etter from the Bath alum Springs.


BATH ALUM SPRINGS, Va, Aug. 27-I vii!
give your readers an account of this delightful
watering place, which for fine buildings, COM
Portable sleeping arrangements, excellent fare,
beautiful scenery &C., should rank among the
leading resorts in tho Virginia mountains All
the arrangements at this fountain of health re
feet great credit unon the taste and talents OF the
lamcnted John w. Frazier, whose keen and
| farsecinp mind saw the immense value OF these
| waters.
The buildings are Of brick, consisting Of
four story main hotc containing about forty
rooms, connecting with a large brick dining
room capable OF seating four hundred guests.
| On either side of the main hotel is hotel for
| families, most conveniently arranged and con-
tanning sixteen rooms each. The beautiful
cottages arc % each side OF the latter hotels,
forming with them Il semi. circle or crescent.
The buildings arc all planned with handsome
decorated portieos, which impart al air OF great
comfort to the establishment.
The scenery is very bold and beautiful An
amphithcatrc Of mountains enclose the valley
of THOMPSON run ION which the springs arc
locatejl on every side. The Warm Springs
mountain lies to the south and west. On this
mountain is the famous Flag Rock, upon which
the accomplished Miss Randolph oncc rode her
beautiful and spirited horse. And to which
the guests of this and the ncighhoriDg springs
mako frequent visits.
There arc several caves in the vicinity, al
forlng opportunities to these who are dlspos-
| cd to make subterrancan explorations. Thomp
sons cave, Kincoid's and Clarkc's are all in
easy walk of our hotel. CIarkc's cave bears
the marks OF incessant operations during the
war. The walls with their beautiful stalacttes
arc blackened with the smoke OF hundred
furnaces constantly engaged in the manufac-
turc of saltpetcr Tor the brave boys in gray"
Several streams around US abound in fine brook
trout, and our breakfast table + as twice lately
exhibited strong evidences of the skill OF Col. Is.
| OF Richmond, as lover oil plScat0rlal pursuits.
| These streams arc minus one hundred and
| fifty five fine trout, which the Col. and our &C
compshed book keeper Mr. Z. brought 10
| from two excursions.
There arc nina springs nov in operation,
| Magnesa, Alum, Chalybeate, and Sulphur
| Chaybeatc. Thrco very strong ChaIybcatc
! Springs arc now opened at the mouth OF Ehomp'
sons cave, which in my humble judgment are
unsurpassed in Virginia, if not in the world.
The water is very limpid and cold, and after
walk to the cave and hearty draft OF these
Iron waters you feel an appetite enough tc
frightcu even the large hearted proprietor, and
puts his cooks, baker aud walters up to all they
know, to keep you going at the table.
| We have charming company here. The
venerable John Janncy and his family are
amongst them. All are very social ana agree
able and vie with each other in efforts to con
tribute to the enjoyment Of the others. OF
course VIC are happy and arc having a cham.
ing time.
The young people here last night gave Us
beautiful series Ct Tab!caux, splcndldly gotten
| up under the skiIlful management of Miss W.,
| of Leesburg, quite too beautiful to De omitted
in this SKETCH The first was blue Beard,
represented by Mr.. II. p. g., who, to my ut
ter surprise, made magnificent rufian. lie
| is such pleasant gentleman, that no one sup
POSED him capable Of such bloody deeds. But
| there hung, by their hair, stark and cod
| his seven dead wives, represented BY Miss W.,
of Kentucky, Miss B., OF Richmond, Miss Car
| ric g., OF Alabama, Miss Mary T., 81 Massa-
chuscttS, and the Misses NJ, Of Georgia.
His eighth and living wife was represented by
the lovely Miss Minnie B.. CT Richmond, in
knccliDg posture, with the horfd savage
| clutchiDg her by the hair and in the act OF
| killing her with long battle knife We have
hardly gotten over our indignation yet, and but
| for Mr.. C'susuaI good humor and pleasant
smiles, We would have lyuchcd him before
| breakfast this morning.
/ NlOtICT DCaulllul sCSNC IclicSCDlCu HC
Novice" by the accom- piished Miss Lizzie B
OF Va. The Nun" by the beautiful Miss Lou
B., OF Nd, and "thc Bishop" by the elegant
looking Miss g., of Alabama. This was charm
ingly done and was repeated hy request. Another
that must not be omitted was "What i, home
without mother" ty the widowed md dis
consulate Mr. e., (hlm with the blue beard y
and nearly hat score of lit t c. 81 every
size He tried to look sad, but think he had
look out the corner Of his eye next to me-,
that said plainly ''anoihcr chance -
might and Morning. was magnificent.
Night, by Miss Ella S., Of Va, and Morning
by Miss B., of Va. They were most sG:cudld,
ly dressed in appropriate character, aud we're
bcwitchipgiy beautiful. first liked might
best, and then Morning, then Might" ard
"MorHing" both best. After this, | could not
sec Might" for Morning" and.then ccu;d
not SEQ ''Alornirs' for "N'ght,' and finally
when the curtain dropped, l could not see
either, to my sad discomfort, amt | hardly
knew where was.
was relieved from this pcrpIcxity Ivy 'lllt..
tie Red Riding Hood on her way to Grand
Mas" by the dear little Lizzie Nee, of New
Orleans. This vas quiet but lovely scene.
4 Tea Drinking by tour venerable and know
| Ing "old gossips' brought down the house.
1t was so natural The ladies were SO dis
guised that they were altogether lncog. l
thought | recognized one by the fun in her eye
and who can 'do" "bishop' as we'll as an
old cronc
| Several Gipsey scenes closed the entertain
mcnt. They we're enacted BY the previous
performers with the addition Of the gifted
Mrs. -, who is a natural actress. These
scenes were charmiagy performed, and the
whole entertainment was gotten up with rare
taste and skill, ard reflected great credit upon
the accomplished manager and her talented
troupe.
How much better to be here witnc s,ing these
innocent amusemonts of the young folks, than
to be sweltering at 920 Fahrenheit 10 Jour slrc-
tum. Drop your pen and scissors ard pay us
]
visit
| VIRGINIA NEWS.