St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1871-09-01

his work, the monk suddenly seized Il
pair of tongs, red-hot from the blazing
forge, and-but we will quote the lines
from the ancient poem:
ST Dunztan, the story .,o,s,
| once pulled the devil by the nosc
With red hot tong, which made him oar
| That lac was heard three miles or more -
And when released from the tong, he
took Il Tremendous leap riaht over brooks,
fields, hedges, hills and valleys, aliehtina
at TuubridgG Wells, in whose cool spring
waters he plunged his Glowing Hose, and
obtained relief.
Ever since that memorable dip, the
waters haze had a very peculiar flavor,
and, what is very curious, have Gained
the valuable power of strengthening the
debiIltated, and celebrating the deprc-s-
cd Some scientific men of late years,
It Is sad to relate, have pretended 10
make li"ht of this story, and Assert that
the waters owe their salutary qualities
to an infusion of steel and iron, derived
from the strata through which they bub-
bic up; but it Is fur preferable 10 adj
here to tie popular tradition, and Give
these skcptical y1rLt Il wide berth
dudley Lord North, Il distinguished
young noble, one Of the comrades If
Prince Henry, son OF James the First,
whose health had been shattered by his
wild dchauchcrics, visited Tunnrd@c
Wells III lUOG, and received much bcnc-
fit from the waters. He afterwards pub
li,hcl Il book in which he cNtolcl them
as equal in medicinal properties 10 the
Spas Of Germany. At this time there
were but few houses, and those of low
condition, at the Wells, and visitors re-
sdrl iiv" miles away ut TunbriIge-
whence the Wells obtained their present
apprllatioE-or ut Soullborou"h and
Ru>thall, Villages in the Immediate Vi
cinity. During the later yeas of Charles
the First's REIN, the Wells Grew into
wonderful rcputr, and lords and ladies,
and stern republicans tlockcd to drink
the waters, though they did n"; lay
aside their political differences The
Cavalier party LODGED only at South
borough, while Ru-tlrall recognized none
but Ruundhcad-.
After the restoration "lhr Wells" he
came Il place of the highest fashion, and,
according to some accounts. cxccllcd in
the multiplicity of its attractions even
the metropolis itself. "l'hc Merry
Monarch'S satnrnlnc Cnuntcnanac mi"ht
often be- seen there, and the light laugh
ter OF the trail fair ones OF hi- court rang
constantly through the tree. Rochester
brought there his wit and animal spirits
Grammcni, and Hamilton, and S.lIey,
their Vices and gay qualities 1t WAS Il
pleasant mctamorpho~is for thcm-lrom
the Sparklin" courticrs OF buckingham
House and the Mall, to the amateur rus
tics of Tunbrid"c Wells :"
There was Them" says Lord Macau-
lay, mo town there but within a mile
OF the spring, rustic cottages, somewhat
cleaner and heater than the ordinary
COTTAGES of that time, were scattered over
the heath. Some of these cabins were
movable. and were carried on slcd"cs
from one part OF the common Ia another
To these hnt1 men of fashion, wearcd
with the dim and smoke Of London,
sometimes came in the summer to
breathe fresh air, and to catch Il Glimpse
OF rural life. Durin" the season, a kind
Of fair was daily held near the fountain.
The wives and daughters of the kenti~h
farmers came from the nci.hburug VII !
lagcS with cream, cherries, wheat ears.
and quails. To chatter With them, 10
tlrt with them, 10 praise their straw hats
and tight heels, was refreshing pasiimc
TO voluptuarics, sicl, Of the airs Of ac-
trcs>cs and maids Of honour. AIiIlincrs,
toymcn, and Jewellers came down from
London and opened bazaar under the |
trees. In one booth, politician might
find his coffee and the LOnip4 G,tzfth ; |
in another were gamblers, playing deep
at basset and on fine evenings, the tid- |
dlcrs were in attendance, and there were |
morris dancers on the elastic turf of the |
bowling-grcen. In 1861 a subscription
had Just been raised AMONG those who |
ircqucntcd the Wells for building Il
church, which the Tories, who then dom
inecred everywhere, insisted on dcdicat-
Ing TO ST. Charles the Martyr" (Charles
the First who had been bcIleaded)
a rivalry soon sprang mp between two
different quarters named Mount Zion and |
Mount Ephraim-it is said they recciv-
cd these names from a fancied similarity |
between the site of Tunbridgc Wells and
that of .Jcrusalem-and both crew might
lily into aristocratic favor. Royalty
smiled upon the place and caused it TO
flourish. Many improvements were
made, streets laid out, groves planted,
and promenade in close proximity to
the fountar-now known as Tie PuuL