Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-07-19

RAWLEY SPRINGS, July li.-liaVing heard
Of but few visitors here, thought, SO. early iu
the season, | could 6ui not only the ''healing
waters, but also, that rest and quiet for which
| sorely logged, after unusua and protracted
confinement to business.
Reaching here last Friday, what was my sur.
urise a. we approached The. hotel, TO see iroul.
every gallery and window bright eagertaces,
while SO great a crowd seemed at the p aceot-
arrival, as to cause wonder 10 my mind as to
where passengers and baggage were expected
IN land. and where the inmates of the three ar,
irving coachcs were to be housed. Looking up,s
however, at the building, l took conllurt-lt
seemed SO to stretch out, aud up, that its ca
pacily must he great. Still | own to a feeling
of disappointment Was this the place | had
come to for quiet This the Rawley had
heard of as the springs where no galely ever
obtrudcd ?-where only invalids resorted? No
one seemed sick all guy and festive,
while bright quick cnliveniug music aided to
the impression that this was not the place Tor
NE, who desired to lose sight of all that per-
tains to activity aud excitement. But | an.
swered these eager questions by hush!
dou't be 100 hasty, Walt aud see further.
ITron reaching the landing we were met by
Mr.. Woodward, the agreeable host, aud by DR..
Evstcr. the resident physician, who received US
most kindly ,as if indeed they were welcoming US
TO their own homes. This made i PLEASANT i'm
presson. Entering our names ut the office,
we were escorted by Mr.. Woodward to see
our rooms, being told that the most desirable
ones at urcscut available, were IN the 'Baltl
more H.usc; if we had no objections to be
lodged out of the hotel proper, he would take
MS there, if We had be would show the best he
had in the hotel The "Baltimure HOUSE" be-
ing pointed out it seemed near, and we said we
would try that. Passing over plank walk about
the distance Of ninety yards, We entered Que
end of u porch of two story building with
porchcs the whole length iu front. The rooms
10 this house are of remarkably good size, all
the front ones accommodating easily Two double
beds, with the customary furniture, and the
covered pegs; while all the back rooms have
stoves, which they say are very necdtuI in the
mornings and evenings Of ear y Junc and Sep
tcmbcr, and sometimes IN August in cases Of
Sickness These rooms communicate in twoS
making it thus pleasant for families. We were
pleased and decided TO remain there
The genial manners OF Mr.. Woodward en-
boldencd us to speak Of the apparent crowd and
life of the place, when he said ii we had come
the night before we would have found it far
diifc cnt-that very morning picnic party
had arrived, numbering over one hundred and
twenty people. Sixty of them had come all the
way from Baltimore, being the Sunday School
that city. They had left Baltimore the Mon
day previous, reaching lIarrisonburg, gave a
sacred concert there Tuesday, Wednesday went
to "Weyer's Cave, and arrived here Friday
morning to stay till Monday. The increase to
the original parry came from Harrisonturg and
Country round This statement encouraged me ;
after all Rawicy might be as quiet generally as
represented to lue After a hearty and good
supper, We retired to our rooms ard fell asleep
to the sound of music, having been prl lieut.
enough to furcgo a taste OF the water uutll the
morning. Saturday VIC had time to look around,
but look which way we would the Sunday School
party was ever in our vision, and SO full OF
spirits did they seem, that 1t was refreshing to
see people eujuy themselves SO thoroughly as
they seemed to. They were most OF them young
men and girls, just at that period when life
seems all holiday The pastor hiuself did not
seem more than live or SIX and twenty. They
were protected by some old ladies' and gentle
men. At dinner we were able to estimate how
many were here, all being more together then
than at any other meal. Allowing one hundred
and twenty Tor the pic uic party, we concluded
there must be about one hundred aud ulncty
regular guests. The dinner WAS excellent and
well served, and we rose wishing no worse tu-
ture would ever bctull us than always to have
Mr.. Woodward as a caterer. Saturday night we
went to the ball room, which WAS well filled,
many pretty and stylish young ladies' while the
beaux seemed abundant The music waS good,
consisting Of six pieces, the band Of Hayes, Of
Washington. III.
Sunday there was service iu the ball room.
The Rev. Mr.. Jno. Harmon, pastor of Trinity
Church, preached the sermon 10 good and at
tentive congregation. The singing was fue, the
in the evening. Never was there such singin
party as this Sunday School; hymn after hymn
all day long when the Superintendent was with
them; he away, song after song. Rawlcy seemed
one vast singing school music, music, music
till | wished such thing had never been heard
of, and then to exasperate further, Monday
plight serenades were the order, aud till one to
two clock, Hayes band performed airs, me-
odous enough, no doubt to some, but which
| wished in Egypt Tuesday morn, to my re;
lief (for | was tired ofmusic) the Sunday School
party left, and then, turning my attention for
the first time. to the regular bOarders, l found
had wrongly blamed the Baltimore people for
the serenades; that they were meant Tor others
still here, two young ladies from New York,
three from Richmond, one from Washington,
one from Philadelphia, and bride aud groom
from Washington being the recipients of the
musical compliment The walks | find are
beautiful and many delightful hooks abound
where one can be as quiet as he chooses and
commune through nature with natures God 10
solitude undisturbed. So am reconcilcd 10 the
life at Rawlcy, even glad Of the brightness, tor
none seem to have cares, all on health and
pleasure bent.
Among the guests are ladies lair to look
upon TO make comparisons would be odous
to Shakespeare, and | should hesitate long to
decide which had the most attractions. OF the
beaux | may mention Dames, a few OF which
will be familiar to you: Geo. Mason, of Fair
fax; Robt. c. Lee; Ccdevse and Long, and
Perry of Washington. Others are here from
the north-W Waterman, from Philadelphia, and
Col Dechcrt being the most prominent.
Of the amusements will write again, my
lo,tor hoioo ,lre,dv long There are not so