The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-07-22
THE JORDAN ALUM.

[Corrcs pondcnce OF the RlcnIlOp" bi9p"ten'l
JORDAN ALUM SPRINGS,
RocKBRlDGE COUNTY, Va, July 21,1SI9. }
When the railroad made its way through
the businesses OF our Virginia terra 'nco9Nl.
tas it dive>Ied the periIolls stageridc OF
most of its exciting concomitantS. all olo-
time springs hd6iiueS eau recall an expert
cnce where an obtruslre stump or an VIZ
rulv team could have discharged then !. sa
the narrow mountain road into Space l.." .
boulder from an ancient catapuIt. " '"'
"parluus" times are happily eYapor1l'''
This is my second appearance In LIZ -
cipity, my first having been made many
wears since as a representative OF the Dis
match to describe the opening OF the VIZ
r1nia Central railroad to Jackson's river.
The Richmond party. which embraced Hon.
Henry 4. Wise. Judge William w. Crump,
William e RiIchla- Daniel Trueheart. Lar
kin W. Gluzebrnok, ETC., came, after an In
spection VI the road. to the Rockbridge
Alum to bali. II my memory serves me,
Mr.. Wise was then 4 candidate for Cover
nor, for when proceeding through some Of
the tunnels OF the railroad lie jokingly re-
minded his Wing companions that the tun-
ncls reSembIed the dark Governs OF Sam,
and intmutcd that Of course they knew all
about them. OF those then along believe
Judge Crump is the sole survivor.
The medical virtues OF the many springs
here make them 81 the immediate jewels y
of the souls OF many invallds. A number
of such from Richmond have been specially
ordered here. The large proportion OF Ia
dies and children will attract attention.
notice that many OF the little ones Of either
sex are in no ways backward either in the
ballroom, parlor, table, croQnet, drives, or
filtration. Here, it is not too much to say,
YOU will find good management. pleasant
and ohigiug officials, courteous associates.
and friends, and a cuisine that would not
be put to blush either in New York or
Paris. | have not seen anywhere any
striving after the unattainablc by anybody;
no male smart Alecks or female Miss
Nancys. The ladcs-why they are just as
sweet as they can be.
Commodore Nicholson, United States
navy, says that this place is located $500
feet above the sea-level. When crawled
I'D the ether day towards the reservoir on
the mountain side Judged that watery in
stltute was at least two miles above any level
had been before acquainted with in Fir-
ginia Possibly. however, was mistaken.
That reservoir and the volume OF sparkling,
cool fluid 1t forces everywhere about these
premises is an appreciate blessing GER
tainly. .-,....
The springs band, an admirable institu-
ton, by the way, is composed OF Professor
Henry F. Laube (leader). John Reinhardt,
A. Leiss, George Voeker, Ed. Leiss, and
William Wagner, most OF whom are OF
kessnich's band.
Deer and pheasants, bears and turkies,
abound in the mountains (the place is sur
rounded on all sides by the latter, while
fhrntr fla H.,
Art has provided bathing places in the no.
tells and houses here, but nature has scat
tered similar gifts around with lavish hand. |
This seems indeed 10 be the very place TO
throw away dull care, acquire health, take
comfort, and enjoy pleasure. One reason,
I suppose, Of the fascination which every |
one seems to feel who comes here is the |
air, whose wonderful freshness !
aud purity can but be kcenly appreciated
by those only accustomed to the vitiated |
OF cities. The air is so restiul
and the whole tenor OF ones life so changed |
der that one visit here produces another.
The army and navy Of the United States |
are well represented in the crowd gathered.
Large delegations are also credited to
Washington and Baltimore, while nearly |
every southern and northern State has re-
Indeed, the society mirror
here reflects the personnel of a number OF
both sexes fayorably known in The world
of fashion. Every species OF amusement |
common to mountain retreats is here eager
" availed Of. WitLal the crowd IS most |
homogeneous one.
A PANTHER.
Two days ago one Of the hotel hostIers |
said to me. with an air Of portentous gravi- |
" :. I" Dere was a painter seed last night at
De Rockbridge Alum more'n FIVE feet long,
sab. Jumped clar fru de windah OF one de |
cottages, and den Danish out'en de room.
Women folks powerfully scared, sah." An
investigating party present, noted both for
he possession OF q fine breach.loader and
disposition to use 1t, offered five dollars as |
reward for being placed cis-a-uis with the |
,he animal but the African brother rejected |
he prefer with an air that said at once
mo painter in 'mine.v Speaking OF pam
hers reminds me that there are In the |
woods around here also bears, pheasants,
turkeys, &C., which may be had for the seek
ng, and trout in the stream which passes {
trough this demense, to reward the pa
lent angling oil Isaac Waton's disciples.