Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-07-16
AMONG THE ADIRONDACKS.
Interesting Letter from memphian
Abroad, In Search OF Health
and Pleasure.

From an Occasional Correspondent
ADIRONDACK MOUNTAINS, WELLS
House, SCROON LAKE, July 9.-This is
a lovely spot, but we can't go into "ke-
nipchensn at all the beautiful lakes,
grand mountain ranges, and the cOncat-
enation of marvellous nature that char
scterize this wilderness; suffice it to say
that a summer is well spent in wander
ing here in quest Of health or recreation.
ScrOOn lake is about siXty-five miles
north of Saratoga. 1t was named after
Madame ScarrOn, wife of Louis XIV,
before the conquest Of Canada. Bass
fishing is excellent in the lake, and the
neighboring brooks afford ample amuse-
ment in catching trout. These fishing
excursions are simply delightful, but one
must rise very early to attain large re-
suits. Trout-fsbing involves being bit
ten by mosquitoes and black flies, but
this cal be guarded against by using on
the face ard hands tar oil. People in
the south must not imagine that this
part of the world is exempt from
mosquitoes. l have found them more
fierce on Staten Island, New York, han
1 ever did in Memphis, and even j.
London, England, they presented theii
bills both day and night. People lviag
in the woods, or on the borders If the
lake, make smudges (?) Small fires) in
the evening to keep the "pesky critters"
away. Going through this wilderness
on an excursion the other day, 1 met old
Keasel-he OF epitaph nOtOriety. /
thought he lived in Pennsylvania, but
he told me he had moved from there.
The old man is eighty-fve and looks
poorly. or course you know the story
of his wanting an epitaph, but it will
bear repeating. In his Well-tO-dO days
he had heard Of epitaphs, and Once-up-
on-a.time Yankee passed his way, and
in the course of conversation Kessel
asked him if he could write epitaphs.
That was just what he could do if ne
was paid for it. Five dollars was the
price agreed on. So my farmer got up
an excellent dinner, to which Mr..
meal completed, the itinerant sat down
and wrote:
"There was man who died OF late,
For whom angels did impatient wait
With outstretched arms and wings Of love,
To watt him to the realms above"
This delighted the old farmer, who In
Quired if that was all. "Oh. no; but [
must have my money before l finish"
Whereupon the five dollars was duly
paid, and the following was then pro-
duced:
"While they were disputing about the prize,
Still lowering about the lower skies,
In slips the devil, like a weasel,
And down to he'll he kicked old Keasel.'
Which he no sooner lead than the
Yankee disappeared through the door,
Kessel after him with pitchfOrk. The
visitors here are almost all northern
people. There are many families at the
hotels that seek the benefit of the noun
tain air. The price of board ranges from
six dollars per week to three dollars per
day. The use Of boat costs about three
dollars per week. II you wish to make
pedestrian excursion guide is neces-
sary costing two or three dollars per day.
1t seems mockery for people to seek
health here unless they have learned 10
control their appetite and regulate their
mode ofIiving. This going to the cOun-
try, to Saratoga or Europe, to cure dys-
pepsia, with its attendant evils, ia only
an expedient. Ask any one advanced
in years, whose health is good, and you
will then learn that he has always TAX
en- care of himself-has always lived
moderately. An old gentleman Of;seven-
ty-three, hearty as buck, told me he
eat but two meals day; breakfast at
Americans eat both too much and too
often-eat without regularity and poorly
cooked fOod-eat in a rush, with brain
all excited-in fact, with an utter disre-
gard to the laws of health. What folly!
Aud then keep their eyes on the sum-
mer in the expectation of getting all
right. Mr.. A. T. Stewart is an old
man, full Of schemes which he
has a fair prospect OF re.
aliziug, but he knows health is
too precious to be Indifferent to; so,
philosOpher-like, he lives on the SIM
plest diet and maintains rigid regular
ity. On rising he takes bowl OF mush
for breakfast; eggs and plainly cooked
meat for dinner. I advise people not to
go in the country, but to stay at home
and learn the laws of hygiene, and
they'll be much better for IL. Man nor
maIly has immense vitality, and the
Frenchman spoke wisely when he said
we do not die; we commit suicide.
The French statistical society showed
records of a number of comparatively
recent deaths Of people who attained the
ages Of one hundred and thirty, one hun
dred and forty, and even one hundred
and seventy years. Only the other day
Sam Waldeck died, and in harness,
too, with one hundred and ten years on
his shoulders. And this old man had
yeIlOw-fever, was shipWrecked, was
shot so badly in duel that he was left
for dead on the field, and heaven only
knows what other casualties. | warrant
you he didn't oVer-eat himself, or he
would have gone to dust years before.
We are told that Count COnnarTo, after
being given up by his physicians as a
1, 81 hn off ~ fa5k
living, not able TO survive year, then
forty.odd years of age, took himself to
the country, lived on milk and simple
food, and only sssociating with people of
the dmetest tastes, attained about one
hundred years, writing some books
when he was past ninety. l might
write ten volumes on this subject of
illustration and commentary, and, boil
all down, it comes to this: Have regu-
lar habits, eat what agrees with you, but
don't OVer-eat yourself. whats one
mans meat is another mans pOisOD;"
SO let each adult select that diet which
suits him best. Even in this little out
of-thetwsy place ladies, as a general
rule, dress ia rich and fashionable at
tire; they must show their clothes.
Instead OF coming here to take it easy
they torment themselves with "What
am 1 to wear?" Mrs. Moneybags sets
the fashion and all tOddle in her foot
steps. Mrs. Moneybags is rich,
enough for "custom to curtsyn to her
she ought to know that such display at
this country inn is out OF place; but be.
cause she is weak enough 10 "blaze out"
others say can't make myself conspic-
uous by wearing home dress, and so it
goes. Vdnitds UG1itatuHl! And these
poor creatures talk on the same princi-
pie as they dress. When they take this
lady to pieces and say something almost
scandalOus, it is not out of any badness
Of heart; it is only they like to exhibit