The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-06
THB warm SPRINGS OF VfRaINfA.

|
rival the Pyrenees. The Valley Of the Warm
Springs compares favorably with the famous
Valley Of Campan, the most beautiful part OF
| the Pyrenses.
| To reach the Warm Springs from the White
Sulphur, 1t IL necessary to take the train east
as far as Millooro depot, where stages connect
with tho morning and evening trains. The
whole distance IL about thirty miles. Of
! which fifteen Ia by stage over a picturesque
mountain road, through some Of the erandest
aud most beautiful scenery in the AlleRbanies.
| The ride on top OF the stage coach from MILL
boro to Bath Alum Springs, a distance Of ten
miles, Is Of itself almost worth a trio to tho
| mountains ~ Virginia. BIth Alum IA essential
| " NEGLECTED watering place. having fallen from
| place OF very considerable importance no a
| Southern summer resort TO the humble condi-
| ton OF a wayside inn. The hotel, Of brick, large
and well built, Ia fianked on either side by row
| Of brick cottages, which compare favorably with
| any buildings IN the mountains; but the place,
| torlorn and deserted. looks about as cheerful
as n graveyard on rainy dav. The Rockbridee
and the Jordan Alum 10 tho adjoining county of
| Rockbridce, have taken away its business. Tho
sprines-there are some four OF fve, all IN a row
at Bath Alum are, as the name dictates, i'm
pregnated with slum. 30 prolific are the noun
taius " Virginia In medicinal springs that there
| Is scarcely a farmer who has not q pet alum or
sulphur spring on some part OF his farm, which,
~ he assures you, produces the nnest water IN
| the mountains, and which he piousiy believes
| will ultimately make his fortune. Stick your
| cane In the ground hsphazsrd anywhere OF the
| road and the chances are that medical sulphur
fountain Of some description win come bub-
| bling up.
Bath Alum lies at the foot OF the Warm
| Spring mount,io. Tho road winds up about
| four mfiea 70 tha nj thsv MIR. q
the Notch, where one OF the Rrandsst scenes the
eye ever behelc lies spread before the traveller.
| One sees In every direction mountain rising
| over mountain; some In oonoal peaks, others
| In soft, wsvy lines, and others broken into fan
| tastic shapes. Nestled In the valley below lie
| the Warm Servings.
| The Warm Springs Valley presents certain
peouiaritles Of formation which greatly en-
hance the beauties OF Its sosne ry and contribute
| to tue salubritv OF It's climate Lying bet ween
two parallel mountlin RACES, whose general
course is from northeast TO south west, II is In
| tersectod at short intervals by secondary vsl-
| leys. which convoy the mountain water courses
through corresponding eaps, In the Western
| Range into Jaokson's river. This insures the
more perfect drainage and ventilation, by which
tnis valley Is distinguished from any other In the
| same section OF the state, and opsns on the
west an Incompatible vista Of beauty.
Two mites from the Warm Springs are found
| the Hot Sprin9s at the head OF one OF these In
tersecting valleys, with extensive main build
ines and conveniently located cottages. The
hotel 10 SO situated as to command the nnest
view In both directions. and to catch the sum-
| mer breeze from every quarter. Thres miles
| further down this lovely valley are the Healing
| Sprnss. the waters OF which are almost idsnt-
cal In their chemical analysis to the famous
| schlssenbad and Ems in Germany; aud what
| was said by the Frenchman to his fri end when
| taking bath In the former, may also be said Of
these baths: That one becomes absolutely IN
love with himself In this bath" Among the
many virtues possessed bv the Healing Spring
waters there is one especially which Is held IN
| nigh esteem by the fair sex-the rare power II
has Of softening and oeautifying the skin. 1t
produces the most delightful satin-like feeling,
and renders the complexion peculiarly clear sQd
TRANSPARENT The buildings and furniture 1T the
Healing SPRINGS are comparatively new an suf-
n ,ient to accommodate three hundred people.
| II IL a very popular resort, not only with Viz
ginians, but with people from the South aud the
| West.
Standing on tho Flag rock Goat feet above the
level Of the seal, which Is about forty minutes
walk from the hotel, the visitor sees spread be-
fore him IN every direction lofty mountains and
| lovely valleys, watered by endless streams and
| brooks. The valley IN which the springs rise Is
about 1880 feet above the level OF tho Tue
ride across country, following the winding
course OF JacEson's river-now hugging the
mountain, now through smiling meadows now
In the very bed Of the stream itself. now again
through wild denes aud rocky elens. with here
and there long stretches Of shady woods and
leafy bowefs-ls equal TO nythng that can be
| found in the most romantic regions OF tue Aus
| THAN Tyrol
| Sfatt0reH along In n m At
| picturesque spots, are TO be found negro cabins,
| from which run short cuts through tue woods to
| the main roa1, to the nearest farm, or to the
Deghuorhood OF some one OF the three springs
In the valley. These negroes are, tor the most
| part, a shiftless, Idle set. much given to con-
temptation, smoking, camp meetings and bap-
tisms. the latter Of wnicn generally take place IN
Jackson river, with much shouting yelling and
singing. Tue mountain negro OF virginia Is
pious after the Chinese fashion, not 50 mucn
that he loves q Cd Us that he fears the devil. He
Is superstitlous to a degree aud constituuonally
incredulous, believing nothing you say, and
saying nothing worthy Of belief. The most EN-
meat colored divine OF the valley Is one Uncle
Ezekiel, IA shoemaker by trade, very powerful
at camp meetings, aud who, as his Pensioners
say, can preach heap.
Whenever Oh ince took the writer in the neigh
borhood Of Uncle Zekiels cabin, we always
| dlsmounted ana IA al "A chat with the preacher.
Uncle 'Z'ksrs little boy, -year-old colt, Is a
| wonderful dancer. and We were invariably re-
| galed with an exh jition Of rommy's torp,oho-
rean powers when pad our respects to his
| father. Tue OLD man was justly proud OF
Tommy, and generally summoned him with
Now boy, jes' shake yer legs, and give the
| eemman ten cents worth" Old Zekiel was puz
zled at the frequency OF our visits aud the APP
parent interest We took In his al Hrs. Incredu-
lous concerning the kind Intentions and disin
terestedness Of white me n GENERALLY, he abruptly
asked us one day, What ornce he you runnin,
for2" with some dinlculty we finally succeeded
| 10 convincing Old 'Zekiel that, like ton. Grant
We were not a candidate for an once"
The following Sunday we assisted at a can't
meeting at which Uncle Ezekiel Oficated Tn
| colored people from ten miles around came oil
foot, on horseback, aud In wagons assemble n
near where the Huntersyille road crosses Jack
sons river on beautiful lawn sloplng down L
the water and shaded with magnificent chestnu
trees. We hardly knew Uncle Ezekiel. Ii
| looked like another man In full suit OF blac
| and stovepipe hat. The services commenced
with singing, and the negroes sang very sweetly