The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-08-18

IMPROVEMENTS MADE DURING TIE YEAR-TllE
FAITH OF MosEs-CENTENNIAL EFFECTs-
PERsoNAL-DIsCOURsE on sOLITUDE-P0ET-
TRY FOR LOVERS.
Correspondence OF the Richmond Dispatchl
AUGUST Is, 1876.
NY firstvist to Orkney was made last sum-
mer. ] was so well pleased that promised
myself second visit this season. / have
kept that promise, and am still better pleased
with Orkney after better acquaintance.
NV attention was first directed to the
great improvements made within the year.
The grounds are becoming quite attractive.
There are grass plots, gravel and plank
walks, streams, number Of springs, and 4
fountain playing Immediately in front Of the
main hotel. With the new cottages recently
erected Orkney has capacity OF seven hum
dred or eight hundred guests. The main
hotel IS an immense structure, four to i've
stories high. The parlors and ballroom are
large and we'll constructed. The dining
room is one of the very best in the State.
The size Of this building would be serious
objection in case OF fire were 1t not Tor the
excellent arrangement for hoodlng each
floor at any time with volumes OF water
conyeved from streams on the mountains
adjacent. This gives feeling of safety to
those who are always on the lookout for
dangers and Swon't be happy anyhow"
Rev. Professor J. I. Miller, OF the Staun-
ton Female Seminary, preached an excel
lent discourse in the parlor last Sunday
morning on the power OF faith rs exhibited
in the life Of Moses. / was struck most Ia
yorably with the interest manifested in the
services and the earnest attention given to
the sermon. The full liturgical service OF
the Lutheran Church was used. DR.. Cor
dell. of Baltimore, resident physician at
Orkney, very kindly led the music, with
piano accompaniment.
AT night Professor Miller preached at the
Shenandoah Alum Springs.
Like all southern waterlng-places, orkney
has felt the effect Of the hard times and the
rush to Philadelphia. But orkney mas haa
comparatively good season-by 1ar the pest
Of the Valley springs. Even now tne nun.
ber OF visitors is variousiy estimatea at
from 250 to 800. Among these may name
William ii. Stewart ana Iamily, Ihoihas
Whelan and family, Judge w. >. Bryan ana S
crow. Hon. r. r. Banks, B. NJ. Hodges and
family. Baltimore, Nd; Colonel +. Y.
Hawes and family, General L. Bacon, zen,
eral and Mrs. John Crocker, Colonel ana
Mrs. Charles Haywood, United states Ma
rine Corps, OF Washington city; W. =.
Cazenore and family, Alexandria; John III;
Miller and family, Frederick county; anu
Judge Ord, California. ~
ThRe.visitors seem well pleased with t1,ane the
Of the springs. Messrs. Moo1e
n n. woodward, the superintendent, do their
utmost for the comfort and enjoyment OF
their ouests. The value OF the waters Is
too well known to need mention here. The
smusements are various, and may De enjoy
ID from early morn till midnight. The table
{ : abundantIy supplied with snbstantials
~ md luxuries. The man or lady who cam
not NOT enioy a visit to Orkney must be SUI
Dremely selfish or foolishly fastidious, OF
some other ugly thing. ,.... !.
These timid souls that fear ana 1aint ~
,yery turn in life, at home or abroad, should
llways carry along O safe retreat for their
precious bodies. How would one OF the
,est quality Of .'Fisk's metallic burial
,ases'' answer in case OF sudden emergen-