New-York tribune., 1870-08-26
SUMMER LETTERS.
ON THE WING.

wTSNFoUA--A HoP-DIsTINGUISHED VISITORS
THE WELL.
M,SNEoUA SPRINGS, Penn, Aug. 19.-ln the
midst of the hottest Of the hot weather in Washington
about two weeks ago, remarked IN THE TRIBUNE,
among the Personal" paragraphs an announcement
that your present correspondent was at Newport ie
Chronicle and Star reported the aggravating fiction TO
my very race, with added aggravation that was
enjoying the brilliant society of the Hon 3 3 CoX'
Alas the pleasures of that most charming OF seaside re-
sorts accompanied by such "opa delights as Dickens
called the glories OF sunset not for me- and the
fair false paragraph cooled and refreshed me no more
than mig "a meditation "on the frosty Caucasus
We had ,Aought to endure unto the mtter
end OF the heated term, in Washington, ana
travel in the Autumn, when travelling is most enoyaoie
but the fierce unmtgated heat was too much for us
gave in at last and took up our march, not TO the sea-
hut to the hills Rumors had reached us Of pleasant,
cool retreat rs yet and unthronged, away among
the highlands OF Pennsylvania but spot which tradition
said was fashionable, aboriginal watering place centu
res ago when the six Nations ruled and ranged at their
own sweet will We resolved to take it on our way to
Central New YOrk-and it has taken and held cap
day after day. and the end of stay is not yet
Our days journey from Washington Williams
port continuous delight TO the eye, particularly
after struck into the valley OF the Susquehanna.
have any river scenery grander love-
y than that which one gets every now and then,
glimpses of this Northern Central Road At Williams
port found had reached another climate, had
a
from atmospheric atness and deadness into elastic and
electrical life An evening spent at the beautiful, spac
Hurdick House, gay with Summer guests and bril-
liant with lights, and night of real rest of COOL sound
sweet sleep, a fitting close TO a day Of
iatguing though pleasant travel 1t is almost worth
ones while to get good roasting for the sake of having
such cooling of. The spaciousness and unexpected
luxury of that fine hOstelry and the beauty of its
grounds, make the buildings, fixtures and surroundings
Of the Springs some forty miles to the northward seem
little rough and rude; but the head and hand of
matchless enterprise and energy that have done such
marvellous things for WilliamspOr are at work here,
and but the beginning Of what convinced is
yet 10 he very popular Summer resort both for nvads
and pleasure-seekers.
Mnnequa (healing oaer in the Indian vernacular) lies
in valley though some 800 feet above the level of the
The country about exceedingly beautiful and
in an admirable state OF cultivation though Of the
forest tracts have almost primeva wldness and i'm
penetrabity. Such wood lies dark and tangled and
mysterious relic Of barbarism just back Of the hotel
while Immediately in front Of it lies the trues symbol OF
civilization the railroad, and above that stretch |
green pastures and meadows and fields of buckwheat,
in fun white flower seeming like a resurrection of last
Winters snow. Quiet and isolated may seem, the
great noisy, tumultuOus world comes laundering in
upon from the North and from the South many times
day, and the mighty shock of European reaches
through the telegraph, in sharp, attenuated thrills
Not being Imperial Caesars the groans OF wounded
and the throes Of dying dynasty disturb our
tranquility"
Here also come the vanties Of the world and hold high
carnival, at least twice week. when the fiddler and
pianist come up from Williamsport and have hop
But in the rock grove the neghborhood of the
miraculous well there is stream small and turbid and
cOnditoned as yet but capable of being made some
thing o-and there are rough paths leading into the
sonber wood and there rustic seats and bridges and
swings, and there is bear-a real, live Bruin-good-
humored 10 froicsOmeness and fat to obesxy. He is
safely chained to tree, which he is continually climb
ing up or backing down. or cireling round and round
every little clumsy motion marked by the tinkling of
bell, which he wears about his neck Though well and
faithfully fed. he sucks his paw good DEAL probably as
sort OF dessert or relish, giving out, he does So
singular ecstatic murmur, like mOnstrous purr During
the nrst days srangeness, we thrown much the
bear for amusement, and found him a very droI and
divertng fellow indeed AS watch his awkward gam
bols, we feel that very to Nature sti-hs
presence adds sort OF savage flavor to the scene and
the forest from which he came, baby-captve seems
more than ever full Of awful yet inviting mysteries
Saratoga has as yet the advantage of Mnnequa the
number and style Of its hotels in the number and fashion
of its bellies in the number and variety Of its wells I'm
the number and spendOr OF its hels in its trpouts
and races and concerts and hops but Mnneaua has the
advantage OF Saratoga in GOODNESS, aness and secu.
sion, In fine scenery in more central and healthful
position ana In the perennial attraction OF bear that
dance and throw summersets and stand on his head
IKE Qulps boy We are convinced that there has been
nothing ike him since the good natured Bear of the
nursery tale. He has no rivals, even with the young
ladies, who smile continually at his quaint antics We
had some hope for military friend OF ours but he was
only major by breyet so the UTsa Major outranked
him.
Young yet Mnnequa and her career all before her.
This hotel plain but neat and comfortable, like
the growth Of single night Another year the propre
tor will have the hill opposite and commanding
magnincent prospect large hot the finest in all the
state, or his name is not Peer Hurdek If he under
axes It, tits as good as done he is whose grand
enterprises are no. given to "peering out" to use
mining exprcs' ,on !
Within aD easy drive there is delecabe mountain"
rom WI ch one has enchanting views of goodly land,
M ere is dark picturesque lake. with boats on It,
nd fish in it, and only hours railroadng brings
Won to Seneca Lake, and to Watkins Glen, that d
wonderful mountain gorge, through winch nows II
IN ever-swelling torrent OF visitors. We go 10 8
,weu the stream tomorrow, God willing There Ii
we have clearinghouse, and a fine bowling b
alley laundering away all day into the night,
disturbing the OF the Bearand the Bear don't for
get that! And we haveh private postofhee, and teie
graph and Sunday evening service, and gas-works and
THE VRIBUSE every day, an Aurora Boreals almost
every night We have delightful society here-marked
nv Car Isss stiffness and than give such an IN
cspfortable and hostile look to the "hgh-hyers at
tsshion in other watering places-cold inaccessible
beipes who meet to harder than ever but not
toeetber-who come like icebergs, and 80 depart we
have az charming ladies here as there are at Saratoga
and no more melancholy scarcity Of nice young men,
and we have fine dancers besde the Dear)-graee-
ful walters and agile hoppists"
By the way, we had Hop" last mght ana III orueI
.o do my my full duty watering place correspondent
suppose ought TO give little description OF the
toilets of our ladies that occasion Poyons: Inc eo
cant Mrs s. Philadelphia wore her hair "a Jugre'
style admirably suited to her peculiar and poetic style
q, beauty and she clouds Of white muslin over black
"A with