Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1872-08-06
EDITORIAL EXCURSION.
wATERTowN.


EDITORIAL EXCURSION.
WATERTOWN.
As we descended to breakfast on Thursday
morning, June 9th, we discovered the follow
ing notice posted on the door of Room No. 2,
at the Woodruff House:
NOTICE.
Presents of all descriptions received in this
| room by four impecunious editors. New clothes,
hard soap, tooth brushes, not much worn, new
linen, tacks matches, and such, are respectful
| ly solicited.
Those who cannot contribute Immediately
can send to our address by express, prepaid -
Apply at Office for names
Podunk Eagle please copy aud charge Is cts
per line.
Z. S.-No more paper collars or blacking re-
qulred, as two of our number have exhausted
the adjectives of the dictionary in puffs ON those
articles.
Second p S.-Wanted to borrow four com
plete toilets for our suffering wives who have
nothing to wear at the rink reception. Water
| falls not needed"
| Thursday forenoon was devoted to riding
about the city and visiting the various points
of interest. For this purpose private, as we'll
as public, carriages were placed at our disposal.
Watertown is a city of over ten thousand in
habitants, pleasantly situated on Black River,
which, by its series Of falls, affords an almost
unlimited water power. The leading manufac-
tories we visited were, those of the Davis Sew
ing Machine, which employs one hundred and
fifty hands, and completes sixty machines
day; large Touring mill ano bakery combined;
an extensive steam engine mandatory a
large paper manufactory--of which there are
tour In the city. We were then shown the
pumping apparatus Of the water-works, where
water pumps itself into an elevated reservoir a
mile distant. This young city is remarkable
for the beauty and symmetry of its buildings,
for its capacious hotels, for its cleanliness and
perfect system Of sewerage. 1t is the capital
OF Jefferson county, has live business, and,
In addition to the manufa ctories above men
toned, has ten banking institutions, four flour
ishing insurance companies, two daily and four
weekly newspapers, and four iron establish
ments employing large number Of hands
Having, as you see, thoroughly "done up the
city, we returned to the hotel where we spent
the evening in resting and recuperating for the
Ball to come off that night
This Ball was the grand elimination of the
three days ovation given by the generous Wa
tertonians. 1t was given In the mammoth Ska
ting Rink which is two hundred feet long by
seventy in width, and which had been trans
| formed as by the hand of magician, from a
plain, substantial structure to miniature park
| of flowers, evergreens, slrnbbery, fountains,
statuary. and grottoes Of exceeding beauty.
The street for some distance from the en-
trance was brilliantly illuminated by Chinese
lanterns, and over the door the word
WELCOME
| shone in bright letters. 1t is impossible to
justly describe the scene of beauty that burst
upon our sight as we entered this truly minia-
ture Paradise, where the sweetest M usic fell
upon our ear, and where the light fantastic toes
of thousand fairy feet were tripping merrily
to its inspiring strains. We take the following
description of the Rink from the Ballston Spa
| Democrat
I'm the centre of the floor stood pagoda
Of evergreens 49, feet In height, 16 feet in di-
ameter, octagon in shape. 1t consisted of "a
columns, rising ten feet to the lower plate, and
two feet higher to the top of the column, ex-
| tending thence In pyramidical form to the
apex, and finished there with terraced vase
Of marble filed with flowers and surmounted
by Cupid who had relinquished his accustomed
vocation, and was patriotically waving the stars
and stripes. In the centre was a vase rising
/ five feet above an elegant mound of rocks and
MOSES, containing fine collection of flowers
in the form OF a mammoth bouquet. Over this
hung globe of flowers sixteen inches in diam
eter, while all about glistened colored lights of
every hue. In the mound below was minia-
ture lake, whose sides and bottom were COM
posed OF giltterlng minerals, and In whose crys-
tai waters gold fish sported, while over its mar
gin hung rare tropical plants and vines whose
varied foliage were mirrored on its surface
The branches held birds Of brilliant plumage,
aud canaries carolled sweet songs Of welcome
from rose covered-cages. Rare plants, valua-
BILE minerals and beautiful shells of the sea,
contributed to make this glimpse of fairy land
complete. Starting from the centre of the
building. just above the Pagoda, about five
thousand feet of evergreens were festooned
from the ceiling. About the sides of the room
were arches of evergreens decorated with flow
ers, while gigantic bouquets In large, elegant
vases were distributed throughout the room.
At either end of the rink were miniature
fountains playing upon mounds of ferns and
MOSES, and glittering minerals upon which
were pieces Of statuary supporting globes of
gold fish. At the Southern end of the room
in large letters of green stood out the words
1.-THE North to the South" and Welcome the
Press" At the other extremity: ''Watertown
Greets the Editors, - and Danish Dull Care. +"
About two thousand persons were present at
this brilliant reception"
All this had been brought about under the
direction and supervision of Mrs. E. r. Woley,
assisted By the young ladies and gentlemen Of
Watertown. They were at work upon it fol
three weeks, and spent three thousand dollars
in the decorations
,, About ten o'clock the dancing was suspended
to allow those who did not dance an opportu
nifty to make speeches, which, we must say
they did very well, Notwithstanding we were
very impatient for them to put a period to theil
remarks, for, in our opinion, it was throwing
away very precious time, but our judgment ir
: this matter may be somewhat influenced by oul
youth.