The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-09-02
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BUFFALO sPRrsGs. September /. 1874
Life at the Springs present an eyerchanging
variety. People come and people go, but
the springs flow on forever. Society Is made
mn of many, curious elements. In miniature
we see the worlds of religion, fashion, litera-
ture, art, science, and commerce. Those who
come to "drink the waters" are limited to
no single age, class, or profession. Often /
ask myself which Is the real side OF humanity.
meet numbers at the Springs whom / have
known before, but apparently they are
wholly different personalities. There is an
abandon about existence at 9 Watering-place
which suits some people to capital i.
Living home lives Of starched primness, they
gladly get rid of rules and regulations, con-
yentionallsms, and properties, and laugh,
dance, and firt la manner most unregene-
rate. For a time they enjoy life, and then 60
back to be the more sternIy proper Tor
having kicked the traces for while. Ii may
be wicked, but confess like these people
better in their natural than in their artificial
state. Religion, If it "never was designed
to make our pleasures less" certainly is not
fortunate in having so many deyotees
who look like permanent officials of the
department OF funerals. To see people
dance at the Springs would have pleased
old King David and many another Bible
hero nightly. An elderess, or deaconess,
or something Of that sort, remarked to me
lately that " she thought there was no harm
ia dancing, but that members of the church
ought not to dance" Does, then, the
church condemn what there is no harm in !?
If so, no wonder there is 80 much wicked
ness a broad, since Christians are too much
occupied in fighting sins which are not sins,
while real sinfulness is necessarily neglected.
As physical exercise the dance is highly
beneficial. But will say no more, except
to ask one little conundrum Why should
the church sanction dancing? Give 1t up!
Because it is most decided means of grace!
N. 8. That is original and patented.
I confess that ] love to see people in state
of amusement. Not that amuse much'my.
self in my old age, being altogether too worn
out and used up and grey for the purpose;
but to watch others at it's delightful. Sir
Francis Drake finished his game Of bowls
before he proceeded to smash MP the Spanish
armada, and the Duke OF Wellington had q
little weakness for whist, In fact, Ill great
men exhibit one truitof greatness when they
show capacity for being amused. The man
who never has his hours Of relaxation is 2
dangerous man. Here at Buffalo everybody
relaxes. Ten-pins seem to be lawful game
since all the orthodox lawyers play if.
Croquet is a mider dissipation, but equally
popular. If anything is donei' on the cards."
it is in places not public. But the ballroom
is the great centre Of gaiety, and however
shocking to church principles, do not lind
anybody so "Nnco 1uiG" IS to abstain from
at least looking on. Probably that there Is
no harm in little fun at the Springs is the
notion in most peoples minds, but then is it
not also true that there is no harm in little
fun anywhere! Heaven preserve the uufor-
tunate sinners who regard the world as a
looking glass for the reelection of long and
melancholy faces.
The pleasant little firtations that see
around remind NE that once was young in
the days OF "long ago." On high and adj
vanced reform principles it is doubtless
wrong to fit, but, then, it can't be avoided.
And where is the sold party" who don't
like to see the young ones happy. No doubt
these springs attachments rarely ripen into
summers love; but then while they last
they are harmless, and. az one gay inademoi-
seIle knew says, $50 Jolly" No one would
have the heart to blame the ladies' and tire
gentlemen cannot help themselves. Their
part of the transaction is to sl:rrendeFat dis
cretiUn.
wonder often how the friends 7 meet
here will look when next see them chained
to their business pursuits. viii they like to
l. I,l 90 hi. nd in, In
ballroom, of their success as squires, Of
danes, and of all the thousand and one &C.
centricites perpetrated "at the Springs?"
[ hope they will never 90 back on themselves.
Even those eminent judges who have been
so lively needn't ever pass harsh sentences
on their own conduct. They did nothing
mira dig in being happy anu making Others
happy.
Not the least valuable Of the results gained
by frequenters of Buffalo this season mas
been the information derived from converse.
tons with gentlemen from distant States.
We have such number Of guests who have
come long distances to test the celebrated
lithia water that for my part l feel myself
quite an authority on the affairs of many
States, and, really, Mr.. Dispatch, when we
come to compare our condition in. Virginia
with the way things are in other parts of the
Union, think that, like the man who buried
bis mother.in-law, we have "great cause to
be thankful" The flag of Old Virginia still
dies highest among the banners of the south
ern States. Next to Virginia, as judge from
with Colonel t. L. &. Harris,
If Athens, who has spent several weeks here,
he State of Georgia is exhibiting most en-
signs OF recuperation.
Trade is revving, manufactures develop
ng, and agriculture improving among the
1eorgians. This same Colonel Harris is the
zero of little romance, which almost re-
minds one of Sir Bernard Burke's pilgrim
lge to the ancient home Of the Findern
amly in England. An ancestor of Colonel
darris's, many years ago, emigrated from
Virginia to Georgia, and by mere accident,
n conversation with Captain j. S. r. Bur.
we'll, of Mecklenburg county, Mr.. Harris
ound that the captain was the present pro-
1rietor of the old estate OF his fathers where
rest the bones of many of his progenitors.
Accepting an invitation from the hospitable
captain to visit the old homestead, Colonel
Harris drove the twenty-five miles to the
Burwell plantation, and gathered up numer-
Gus botanical specimens and precious re-
liques to carry with him back to Georgia,
to delight the heart Of his aged
mother. When heard of this little story /
felt as pleased as if I had been able to visit
my own ancestral shrines. However the
modern philosophy may deride respect for
old families, it is to these very old families
that we can alone look for guidance to per-
manent peace and prosperity,
My genial friend Colonel Goode showed
me to-day big pile of letters of inquiry
about lithis water brought by this mornings
post. do not think that the importance of
the great discovery made at Buffalo has yet
been realized. 1t is, however, now estab-
liShed hepnnd oil ,.ayil that tho ryators hero