The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-08-17
THE BUFFALO LITHIA.
correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch.1
BUFFALO LITuIA SPRINGS. FA..3

correspondence OF tnt richmond DlSfbatcll.J
BUFFALO LITuIA SPRINGS. FA.,}
August Is, 1878.
This month is usually devoted to recrea-
ton and enjoyment by many people. All
who are so fortunate rs to possess the sine
qua non readily await themselves OF the adj
yantages OF suitable and pleasant place to
have social conversations, agreeable pas
times. and diversions from business.
While the mountainous regions may present
sublime scenery and greater attitudes, yet
none OF these fashionable resorts can fur
ni>h such Notwithstanding waters as this
place. This fact is conceded by all who
come from the mountains here and repeat
cd shipments Of this water have been made
TO persons at some OF the most noted noun
tain springs, rs it were, " boarding the lion
in his dem 1t is asserted, without fear OF
contradiction, that the waters shipped and
sold from here exceed all from the springs
Of the Two Fir2iniaS combined, and that
the wonderful cures effected by their use.
il human testimony can be relied on, can
not be equalled by any other water on this
continent.
The medicinal properties OF these waters
have been known for nearly century.
Tradition says there was once q Buffalo lick
near Spring No. l. and Colonel Byrd, in his
history Of the dividing line between Fir-
gina and North Carolina, run in 1904,
says the first butfaocs he saw were on q
creek near here, which he named for them,
and from this stream the springs were
called Buffalo. The Lithia is modern adj
ultion, made after discovery Of Spring No.
9, which contains Hhiu, new alkali found
in Il rare mineral called petalite, from the
Greek petal0n.
The old inhabitants in this vicinity-and
there Is more longevity Just about here than
any place in the State-delight 10 tell Of the
times before the days OF railroads, when the
people of Virginia and North Carolina met
here to discuss agriculture and politics and
enjoy rest and social pleasures. They says
great barbecue was given here during the
days of Andrew Jackson, when Benjamin
Watkins Leigh and Senator w. p. Maryum,
OF North Carolina, and other great men OF
those days, spoke and ate and drank. and
afterwards walked up and down the long
table, regardless OF eatabes OF crockery.
The narrators Of these events. some OF
whom are octogenarians, say "These We're
good old times, liquor was pure, plentiful,
and cheap: we will never see such times
again" With what delight do the old re-
call the scenes OF youth. AS Coleridge
tersely expresses it:
s'When was young; ali woful when
All! for the change 'twixt now and then"
An intelligent and iovial gentleman here
now from one OF the eastern counties Of
this State says sometime ago he was return
ing from Baltimore, and on the steamer
with him were lady and her husband, the
former so feeble and emaciated that when
he and others lifted her to the carriage from
the boat he expected she would soon die,
but, accidentally meeting her some months
afterwards, 10 his surprise he found she
weighed one hundred and fifty pounds. He
immediately inquired where she had found
the elixir OF life, and was informed that she
had been drinking lithia water, which had
entirely restored her. To crafty his Curl
osity, and reetify supposed liver COM
plant, he determined to come and see, the
place, and, much to bis satisfaction, he says
he "found no medicine mixed with the
water, but the pure, limpid fluid Just as II
came from mother EARTH" and, besides, he
observed in packing water every bottle was
rlhsed before filling, and corks fitted by an
instrument, and not pressure by the teeth,
az be appreheDded." 1
Ihere Is one consideration which would
Efooabiy interest both sexes In reference 70