Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-09-30
THE NORTH CARoLISA SPRINGS.
SPARKLING CArAwRA SPE1SGs. N. c.,
SAINT N I,nr O21 1870
MAJ. ENGELHARD:

| SPARKLING CATAWBA SPRISGs, N. c.,
September Odd. 1870
MAJ. ENGELHARD:
Dear Str:-Those 'last days" of Cataw
| ba's season have come, the melanchol
days, the saddest Of the year, as our Bry
ant called them. in which these beautiful
groves and woods pnt on their "scre ant
yellow leaf"
| The nights chilis, The winds aaues, ant
the mi! day feyers, now combine to Fl
vegetation to be lain to rest in the bosom
OF mother earth, and like life in the cradu
al fading away Of the consumptivc, ':it
brightcns ere it takes its flight" Even
now, the surrounding woods are begin
ming "'o touch up their garments for the
truly gorgeous apparel Of the lovely Indian
Summer.
Il is a sad time up here just now, not
withstauding natures royalty. Ills true
the Springs are just rs sparkling, the skies
are not blucr in Italy, aud tho air SO very
bracing ana invigorating that one feels
light and airy enough TO long for wings to
fly to the blue hills seen in the distance.
@A0NA } C0 IL 40 ot1AA hN1tS iCA bAIOC "ilASs
and shades. fit haunts for Gods" are de-
serted and when going over them to take
my last fal eweil, feel as pathetic as Mil
tons mother Eve in her alieu TO Paradise.
From lie little white cabins that dot
thee bill sides but four or five Of them
have blue curling wreath Issuing from
their chimneys, telling Of inmates
The Pavilion has forgotten to give
forth even the echoes of ''that smart brass
band from Fayetteville. The ballroom
is gathering dust, disturbed only by the
fitting of the ghosts of the merry voices
light.
The Alley" is dcserted-left to its
pins" and ''cocked hat''-on high, en-
graved ''sacred to the memory of the
achievements of Maj. Engeihard and Miss
Katie w. "By the way" we have that
same Miss Katie here now, and another Of
Richmond's beautiful bellies. Were it not
for their lively, cheerful voices, their social
manners, and their merry laughs, aud bon
mots, time would have donned his Ieaden
shoes to bear US along-With them thew
are yet feathery and silver-tipped.
What q volume there is in refined
maiden's Taught is the foam that covers
the rich wine don't mean the hoyden-
ish screams and screeches that some of our
pretty maidens deafen us with, even in
polite circlee-but that musical ripping.
hearty bubblipg laugh of traly refined
girl
You must excuse all this sentimental gro
mancing," we positively can't help it, with
these ghostly reminders of the dead past.
''Fond recollection" will bring them up to
haunt us. just as ''the scent of the roses
aCW hang" around the vase in which they
have been distilled. Pardon this old
Quotation-you know we only have our
Bibles and the JOURNAL up here to study.
If al the kina regrets 1T your absence,
and the hearty wishes for your presence,
from your many friends who visited here
this summer, could have reached your
ears your heart would have been gladden.
ed. It is very fattering to be SO kindly
remembered by our absent friends.
trust you will not deny yourself, and
your friends such great pleasure another
season, and [ wish here upon this subject
ito point moral p"
Ii [ had an able, persuasive pen that
would coin words as effective as those of
great diplomats would turn the hearts
ind the faces of our town people Catawba-
wise from hCnceforth.
We have been accused tao often of fail
ing in State pride; and are we not accused
Justly? These are the only North Caro-
lima Springs of any note or accommoda-
tor, and yet, comparatively, how few
North Carolinians visit them, or sustain
them. Instead OF wisely improving them
and building them up, the money is car
ried to the Virginia Springs, to Saratoga
and elsewhere. These others have obtain
ed too great prestige for me to institute
but if you had been here
this season you would coincide with me
IN assuring our town people that the ac-
commodatlOns have been excellent, the
fare Incompatible could it have
been better.
We have had about four hundred visi- |
tors, composed of the very best society in
the country-its tone unexceptionable and
This ought to be State institution. 1t
,an be easily made one of which we shall
all be proud. Instead of stunning it, and
taking away to other States patronage and |
influence, let us lend helping hand in |
building it mp until all shall acknowledge !
hat it proudly and fairly completes with
any of the noted Virginia Springs.
presume you are al fat with pro
ect on foot to materially change the |
managers and management. The Com |
oany is being rapidly formed; several |
thousands have been subscribed. The |
hares are $500 each-two shares emitting
he holder to lot on which he can erect
/ cabin of his own, if he so chooses, either
o rent Or occupy.
7 know you feel very much interested
n the welfare Of the Sparkling Catawba,
nd have en- approaching sense of its
Natural beauties, and its remuneratiye ca
liabilities. I therefore beg you for North
Cardinals sake to give it the weight of
our influence in Wilmington. It needs
My to be known to be appreciated, and
on can bring it before the public with
etter grace thar these over-modest native
'arolinians.
I think you would be equally sorry