The New York herald., 1874-08-28
.CHmcoTEAauE ANTIQUITIES.
Fresh Air and Political Diet at
Lake George.
THE VIRGINIA SPRINGS.
Notes OF Flying Tour Through the Al
leghenies-Baneful Effects OF Dila pida-
eion and Bad Management-Remar
bio Spas and Wonderful Cures.
JOURDAN ALUM SPRINGS,
yKBRIDGE COUNTY Ea AnDust o. 1874 [

ugu0us to that famous resort. My stay at each was
brieE While some OF them could boast ofa fair and
probably paying company, 1t was, nevertheless,
vtvidly apparent that they we're all suffering from
m attack OF the general debility and falling on,
consequent upon that disease at the White Sui
phur, to which they are in some degree trbu-
tary and dependant for q supply or visitors.
The great mob OF summer tourists to the Virginia
mountains invariably rendezvous at the White
Sulphur, where, after brief sojOurn, during which
consultations are held and parties formed. they
depart, under separate leadership, for their
favorite watering places, ana settle down for the
remainder OF the season In the cool enjoyment OF
Qulet social intercourse Coming east by the
chesapeake and Ohio Railroad six miles, take
stage at Allegheny station, and a ride OF eleven
miles brings me to the Sweet Chaly Springs on
She very border of the Old Dominion,
AS cosEY AND CHARMING
q resort as there Is In the whole country This
place has the advantage OF being under the same
management as the White Sulphur. so that visit
0rs here are supplied with sulphur water as well
as the calcic-cnalybeate of the spring here. 1t
abounds in substantial looking matrons. alder
manic looking old gentlemen, babies, baby car
riages, black nurses, misses In their teens, with
sprinkling OF marrageable young ladies. and alto.
Gether has homeike attraction for the wanderer
Like the great White Sulphur It thrives sluggishy
on the natural beauties Of the place and
the specific eXhilarating effect of its
water; but like that place, too 1t
needs an infusion OF energy and iberality into it's
management to make 1t a success. A lew hundred
yards westward and you are in the new State OF
West Virginia, and one mile further down the
Sweet Springs valley brings you to the Old Sweet
Springs, in Monroe county, perhaps
yHE MOST FASHIONABLE AND ARIsTOCRATIC NOUN
tn this region. 1t is situated in avalley exceed
mgly rich and picturesque In its scenery; the
buildings are or brick, large, spacious and we'll
constructed, consisting OF semcircular row or
cottages one quarter Of mile in extent, all OF
them radiating to the Spring building in the
centre, which is unique structure, with turre Is,
hooking very like military armory. There Is an
elegance and refinement visible in the
society here, without any gaudy display
that at once strikes the observer. and l found
among the guests representatives of many of The
most historic and wealthy families of the South.
Lest this place should be classed with the White
Sulphur in the character OF its appointments, 1
would mention that the rooms are neatly fitted
with black walnut cottage furniture including
wardrobes; rhe floors are plainly carpeted, the
mirrors are good and the attendance (negroes)
tolerabe, the latter being under the strictest
supervision, and cleanliness is made the first qua
icaton OF a table waiter. Here too however,
there was marked decline in the annual as
Bembage Of visitors, which, as l said
owing s' to the growing unpopnariety Of i''S: i5s
Or nndergOes most vigorous process Of recon-
structlon the falling or IN visitors TO the
to the table below, showing as near as possible the
estimated decrease from last year at each OF the
springs have s visited 10
mi east, from whence staged It to the group OF
springs known as the Hot, the Healing and the
Warm springs, lying about twenty miles In north
westerly direction. These three watering places
can with the greatest proprety be called
THE HOSPITALS OF THE ALLEGHENIES.
They are especially visited by Invahds OF every
conceivable description, and the waters OF each of
them have proved their efficacy in the cures OF
every degree and form or malady known to medl-
cal science. The waters or the Healing the first
you to- are said TO be Identical with those OF
their chemical analysis; the temperature Is tepid
and they stand alone on the Continent on tine con-
nnes Oh cod ana warmth wnicn gives tnem aG
prased the bath as the most delightful, and though
q eority OF the visitors had some special all
ment OF their own, l found here quite
Interesting, gay and fashionable company, though
not numerically as great as in former years. Pass
ing up the beautiful valley that lies at the base OF
the Warm Springs Mountain, a distance of three
miles, you arrive at
which are as famous in virginia as the same springs
OF that name In Arkansas are IN the United states
Here were numbers OF wealthy MANNED and halt,
them seemingly III a stage OF advanced GONZALES
cence, and most OIL them wearing smiles on v'sages
wach had been twisted and distorted by
periods OF great suffering and agony. 1t was
. matter OF surprise to me that Tits place was not
more extensively advertised and II furnished an
additional. proof OF the lack OF YANKEE 'push"
and energy in this grand summer region OF Vlr-
glna. Just tnlnk OF u hot spout oil water shoot
ing up from the bowels OF the earth, which keeps
bath at temperature OF ITO degrees Fahrenheit
said to be the hottest path in the world. The
water rises in some OF the baths from the moor at
n temDerlture OF 100 QeyrceS. hluhly charged
with carD0nic acid, nitrogen, oxygen and
sulphnretted hydrogen gas, when, bursting on on
sparkling champagne. and Il mas buoyancy that
is remarkable and an exharating effect that Is
deriul springs, which have performed miracles OF
cures, for the information OF the thousands OF
annually on ouacks and patent medicines that
only conduce to hasten them to early graves Five
THE WARM SPRINGS
from which 1t takes its name. There are less in
valids here than at any OF the other springs,
properties The bath Is luxurious, the springs
nestle in charming little bend Of the valley. the
scenery Is rugged and grand beyond conception
the climate is saluprlous, and think for quiet
alleged comfort and retired enjoyment, alter the
1atgues and dust and ain Of on great city, the
think there were :, visitors here from ;%a
.'Warmn some claims as a national resort. More
gayety there was, too ana more Courtng and fllrt-
ing, and more vigorous dancing, than at either OF
the neghboring springs Just mentioned; Tor all OF
which liked it much better. But. like the others,
It suffers in the lack OF Its usual throng OF VISITORS
and has to bear its share OF the baneu effect pro-
duced by the chronic decline and dilapdaton OF
the While sulphur Springs and the suicidal policy
Of the owners OF that property.
On my way here l passed very pretty and
agreeable little resort known as the Bath Alum
Springs, which is of the same class OF watering
place as the Healing, Hot and Warm, put wneie
did not have time to STOP
For the first time In the mountains OF Virginia
found quarters which will compare 1ayorably with
any OF the leading hotels IN New YORK nc
THE JOURDAN ALUM SPRINGS. .
Ihis Is entirely a new place, last year belng tne
nrst season 1t was open. and then III an unnn-
1shed state. The buildings are new, handsome
ana commodious, the black walnut iufni r,
ture very neat ana tasty, the no0rs are
comfortably carpeted, two gas burners, which
consume actual gas, are In every room; the mos
MODERN Dedsteads, with hair mattresses; sheets o.
pure snowy white Irish ltnen and comfortable
blankets and covers; bathroom attached to every
room, with not and cold water, and electric enun
49, ~