Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-07-19
VIRGINIA.
Letter from Capon Springs


pleasure of lady acquaintance by reminding
her of the date of an incident that had occurred
many years ago, of which we both were wit
nesses. Old girls take no note of time, and it is
an insult to remind them OF occurrences of their
youth. was tool for doing so, but felt
devilish at the moment and regardless of con-
sequences. | felt probably like the robber, who
having said to lady rs she pa. sed him walk
please about my face, AIN unexceptionabIe
pointing to him, faiuted. He was tried aud
after conviction confessed that mloy years be-
fore, be had robbed the house 10 which the lady
lived Of some valuable jewels, and that while
concealed under the beu she entered the room
and looking iu the mirror had expressed her
opinion OF herself to herself, as she supposed
10 the words which he had repeated when they
met, and which, though be anticipated the re-
suit, he could not, for he life of him, retraiu
from u;tcrlng; and she instantly recollectiug
that the time she had made the remark and
that of the date of the robbery were the same,
knew that the man who had heard her must
be the robDer. She had her revenge, aud my
acquaintance had hers also, tor she led nice
little girl l had just met To believe | was
benedict, and to treat me accordingly. All the
knowledge We ever receive that's practically
useful is obtained from personal experience,
and the incident I've just mentioned warns me
against repeating the inGIscreton Of recall
ing dates, 50 LII not say when | was at
Capon before. l have been here before,
however, aud the times are changed sadly
tor those who were here with me then and fur
the present proprletors, but whether Tor the
present visitors It's not for me to say Six nun
dred OF The incest people ever gathered together
we're here then. The old Waddle house and
the cottages we're all filled, and the hotel SO
crowded that mattresses had to be spread upon
the ball ROOM floor During dinner the pop
ping OF champagne bottles was incessant, aud
the noise OF the dining room Was like that of
lively sklrmlsh engagement; the bar had crowds
OF able practitioners the clicking of billiard balls
and the rumbllng of the bowling alley we're
heard from earl ~ morn till late ut night; the
tiger held perpetual levee aud Stayed bis VIC
tins by the hundreds and the ball room was
nightly thronged with merry dancers. Now all
is changed. The Waddle house and all the cot,
tages but one-aud that is not occupied have
been burned, the cover is occasionally removed
FROM the solitary billiard table, game of ten
pins sometimes played, a julip imbbed at long
intervals by those who look either ashamed of
what they are doing or as if emboldened by des-
pair are utterly reckless about one hundred
and fifty people, mostly old ladies aud children,
occupy the first and second floors of the ho.
tel, cards are only used for whist the Opening
OF bottle of champagne would startle the din
ers like the crack of rhe, and on both the even
iDgs | have been here but four couples could
with difficulty be raised to enter the ball room,
and they left it after daocing one square set.
Even the way Of reaching he place has beeu
altered. | then left Alexandria at S a. IN. by the
Manassas Railroad, and Immediately upon ar
irving al Strasburg took stage, and With John
Byrd as driver, and behind a team of six spank
ing grays, climbed the mountains at rapid
gait, and after ride of fifteen miles, came
rattling down, the driver heraIding his approach
pavilion drove up before the steps OF a crowd
ed porch. Now, suce the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad has got possession of the Manassas
Railroad beyond Strasburg, Virgiuiaus have to
70 out of their State to reach their Own springs,
and the crowds of health and pleasure seekers
that formerly poured through Alexandra now
pay their fare to toreig roads. took the six
clock train for Washington, aud the eight
o'clock train from that city for Winchester,
where | arrived at half past eleven, and had to
wait until two, when | took seat 10 barouch,
and after ride Of twenty-seveu miles reached
my destination by an entirely different approach.
Its true the ride over the Metropolitan road was
not disagreeable, for | rode in paror car in
which neatly attlred walters served on tables
such decaces as can only be obtained 10 first class
city restaurants;sn 10 addition TO the nice party
| was with, had for company plump, happy
little woman, with four children, aud rather
venerable looking husband who the lady, when
was here before, was the belle OF the Sprngs-a
light haired, blue eyed, rosy checked little girl,
whose winning way attracted many beaux, some
of whom were not overly susceptible, too. She
was bound for Orkney, aud with long faded
memories awakened | left her at Winchester.
While waiting 10 that town at the Hart
House, the proprietor Of which, by the bye, is
an old Confederate, and as accommodating
host as | ever stopped With, met M4jor Bob
Hunter, OF the Inns, the late member Of the
House of Delegates from Frederick, and if the
voters OF that county Want 40 able and efficient
delegate for the next session they needu't
trouble themselves about folding his successor.
The Major is one of the few men, who, liking
the good things of this world as much as those
who give themselves up to their enjoyment,
partake of them with moderation, and says that
sorrows crown Of sorrow is not mbering
happier things, and that the saddest words Of
tongue or pen are not those words it might
have been, but that the cackle OF the straw 10
an empty jullp glass excites more sorrow, and
is the saddest sound 10 the world, and 10 he
rarely hears it.
10 some things Capop has not changed. Its
grand mouotau scenery, its cool and health To-
vlgoratlng temperature, its appetizlng waters,
aud its moonlight nights are still The same az
10 the olden time, and though men may
come AID men may 60, they will last forever,
and as sat, solitary aud alone in the long por-
,ico tonight, after the other guests had retired
TO their rooms, and all the lamps had been ex-
tinguished, listening to the low, unbroken roar
of the winds, watching the shadows made by
the heeting clouds, and the variable shade made
by the quick and quiveriug aspens which line
the roadway 10 front of the hotel, and heard at
intervals the groans Of the young girl who was
dying of consumption in the room just above
me, logged more than | ever did before for
the power of words to properly express the
emotions excited bv the hOur and rho nloos