Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-07-09
THE SEASON ROCH ENON.
Correspondence of the Star.

about the same time delighted the Washing
ton small boy, and brought uueaSineSs to the
heads of families At the moment of awaken
ing one might almost imagine himself in TIE
c ty and become sleepily indignant at the
I lure of the authorities to cheek the gun
powder demonstrations Of patriotic Young
America. But glance from the opened win
d wa minute later, and the refreshing coo
n IS OF the air that enters dispel the illusion.
A green and shaded lawn stretches before tie
n use, showing here the many cOlOred croqu
stakes, with accc cmpanylng WlcketS, and there
the graceful jet OF a fountain Springing Up
from among ferns and flowers. Beyond lie &
woods, extending to where the ridge is out
lined with picturesque ire gularitY against the
blue and white of the sky. Or if the obServ-
er s window faces in the opposite direction, he
sees vine clad summer houses, each protect
ing spring, and beyond, the pavilion, for out
door music and dancing, the Pinnacle Noun
tain rising lOftily to the view, and looking
down on four different states.
THE GLORIOUS FOURTH AT ROCK ENON.
The day which Americans delight to honor
was celebrated by party of Rock EnOniteS,
ladies and gentlemen, on Graf, IS Rock, whose
masses OF gray and moSSy stone seen indiS-
timely through the trees as the hotel is ap-
broaIcht d remind one OF an ancient ruined
guard the dWelliI gs at its foot. At the highest
point the American flag was unfurled and
more powder burned. Giant tire-crackerS of
Impressive size and redneSS were lighted in
hInor OF the occasion, and their reports rever-
lerated through the mountains like that of
small cannon.
FIRE IN THE MOUNTAINS.
An unexpected addition to the excitement
Cf the day followed the discovery that the pine
needles, cones, and branches over conSid-
trabt space Oh the elevation had caught fire
and that the flames were Spreading The
ladies of the party who had in fear and tremt-
ling and with much assistance clambered to
cool shady place among the rocks, retraced
their steps unaSSiSted with the greatest ease
and rapidlty. After prOdigieS of valOr on the
part OF distracted looking heroes, armed with
green branches. and battling with their eyes
full of smoke, the flames of this imprompt1
bonfire were subdued.
In the evening Rock Enon and the sur
rounding neighborhOod rej0iced in magnii-
the extent Of the exhibition no lives were lost
through accidental explosions nor buildings
burned through casual sparks. This fact
served TO comfort that portion Of the Rock
their patriotism, and whose ears We're offended
by the violent and unusual noises OF the day.
THE FAyoRlTE RESORT OF wAsHINGTONIANs
Rock EnOn has been such a favorite resort
with aSLlngtOnianS, that any elaborate de-
ScriptlOn OF the scene OF these Fourth of July
incidents or of the journey here by way Of
Harper.S Ferry, with its familiar beauties in
tne way of scenery, through Charlestown,
where John Brown was tried and eXecutei
and through Winchester, so often taken lost
and retaken in the late ''unplca aSantnesS y
would be superfluous. Its accessibility from
the city, its convenient mail arrangements,
the varied beauty Of the surrounding scenery,
its GOODNESS without dampneSS, owing to the
pure air and the breeze through the elevated
mountain gorge III which the hotel is situated,
IFS we'll supplied table and it's excellent man.
agement generally, are all we'll known in
Washington.
NO END OF SPRINGS.
The great variety of mineral springs within
easy distance of the hotel, with their chalyb-
cate, alkaline and SulphI4 waters, constitute
natural medicine chest for the invalid guest.
In the Capper Spring, the discovery of which
dates pack q century, the imagination may be
permitted 10 recognize the fountain of life
and beauty for which Ponce de Leon once
seem to adopt this view, and take .copious
draughtS of its water, which is said to give a
DeWltchlGg SoftneSS and fairness to the skin
Numerous other springs gurgle up through
the rocks in the vicinity, and are the pleasant
turning points in an evenings ramble. Alto
gelher the place IS SO dotted with springs that
they compare tdyOrably in point of frequency
with the captains on the ship i'll which Mark
Twain went with other inmOcentS abroad who
were so numerous that stone could hardly
be thrown IN any direction without striking
the captain The notable absence of surfaces
OF water in the surrounding country, as seen
from neighbOring mountains, cannot be fully
explained without due consideration of the
amount of water diverted from other localities
and collected at Rock Enon in the form sug-
geSted;, The surplus waters of these springs
are collected IN large pool, seventy five feet
long, twenty five feet wide, and five and a half
feet deep, which is highly refreshing in warm
weather. The low temperature of the water
is partially relieved by steam heating appa-
ratuS, recently improved and put in operation,
Dy which also hot mineral baths are made
available.
NO TROUBLE TO KEEP COOL,
IL would seem to be an easy matter to keep
cool when health giving and refreshing waters
may be taken internally, and an invigorating q
plunge bath, or the breezes from the noun
talns be enjoyed externally. Think of these
ad1uncts to co0lneSS, with the thermometer in
the seventies, ye parched citizens whose mer
curry dispOrts itself in the nineties.
In leaving city diScOmfOrtS, city pleasures
are by no means abandoned. The ballroom.
me stage for amateur theatricals, charadeS,
etc. the pavilion, the billiard table, the bow.
ing alley, the ubiquitous croquet are among
the means of amusement outside of those
which are the accOmpanimentS of agreeable
social Intercourse. To pedestrians visit here
opens
NEW FIELD OF EXPLORATION.
the Northern part of the wonderful valley
which constitutes the springs region of Vir-
gina. There are Short and shaded walks,
generally terminating at spring. in every d-
rection from the hotel, in which the less anibl.
tiOus pedestrians indulge. But there are also
longer stretches which will try the experienced
mountain climber, and which will repay the
patient toiler with diversified and beautiful
scenery. One may make his way up a gradual
slope to Sunset Rock, where lovers most do
congregate, or he may largely extend his tour
ana nlslt flnnacle Mountain, or Anderson's
view, or Zane's Cave, or Capon Bridge, or
Lost River, or Ice Mountain, or Candy'S Cas-
Tie, Wnlch are FAR enough distant to furnish
any required amount of exercise, and will
richly reward the curious visitor.
Rock EnOn, with its attractions for eyery va
rlety OF guest from the invalid to the pedes-
trlan, with it's springs which represent in a
small space three great classes of mineral
facilities for social pleasures, is miniature of
the entire springs region, reproducing to some
extent an OF the characteristic features that
give attractlveness to the various watering
places in Virginia