The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1879-09-06
FOR ElGN LETTER.
A MARYLAND LADY IN BELGIUM
A Description of what She Saw in Spa,
a Noted Watering Resort

We have been in Spa now more than
two weeks. having been detained in Brus-
sells much longer than we intended by the
wretchcd weather. For nearly Il month
before we left it did nothing but rain in
torrents, and we thought q city prefer
able toa cool country place under such
circumstances. At last, on the 2Sth. the
weather changed and we got of. reach
ing Spa after very short and pleasant
journey Of four hours. Think you would
like the place much better than most of
the places we have visited heretofore 1t
is free from the convcntionaliticS of
city lfe-and if you wish. you can he
as retired or as gay as you please. The
town is long strcet-not straight. like
beautiful Westminster, but W winding with
Gin most places large and overShadow-
ing trees on both sides, forming a very
handsome avenue. We live on this ave
nue. and sec all the world passing under
our window. We came here thinking
the iron waters would do Lillian good, as
she had been looking rather pale and
thin all summer. The day after we az
rived we consulted the English doctor,
who said the waters were just what she
needed. and prescribed n regular course
Of drinking and bathing. for which, lam
happy to say. she is much better. | only
hope the effect will last after we leave.
Some people say it does. some say it does
not: so all we can do is to wait and sec.
The worst Of the place is. that the town
is just i'll z valley. surrounded on every
side by high hills, which keep out the
air, and i'll hot weather render it one Of
the hottest places We have been in on
this side tie Atlantic. The first Sunday
We We're here was one OF the warmcSt
days | ever felt. and We felt much
ashamed Of ourselves to disgrace orr own
climate in the way We did puff and pant
and make fuss. Since then it has not
been so bad and We have behaved our
selves better. Fortunately the park.
which every ono frcquents. is within a
few steps Of us, and we 90 there a great
deal. never was in 4 place where there
were more inducements to live out of
doors. This park is really delightful
In one part of it is q long. shady avenue.
"lltit lilt W!oIt h'I'i VI
Spa seek refuge in the afternoon. and
where YOU can talk OF walk. or look or
work. or do exactly as you please. If. on
the contrary, you do not wish to Iaingle
with the gay world. yul can take Il book
and 4 chair and. seeking some shady
nook. read in peace, listening the while
to the strains of the band. which plays
for the amusement of visitors two and
S,p,oti.nac ih,nn tIro~S u loC 1hnr, u 70
people here from all over Europe You
hear French. German. Spanish. English.
about YOU all the time You are out. with
An occasional sprinkle of the soft, but
slightly EusGl. American tone. (Strictly
between ourselves. had often heard VIC
Amer leans talked through our iicSfs, but
never wouid admit it until. long listening
to the voices Of other nations. obliges me
to admit the truth. Don't tell of this i'll
fidelity to my native tongue, beg of you.
| mention it in strict contidcncc.) Then
for other amuscmcnts there is the Cas-
sino.' where you can sit and read the pa
perS play cards. or dance of an evening.
as your taste directs. Every Saturday
night there is what they call 4 ball. when
the young ladies go in more elaborate
toilettcs than other nights. and gentle
men are not admitted without 4 dress
coat and white nccl-tie. They actually
made fuss the other night about admit
ting Charley Howard, Baltimore boy of
fifteen. because he had not on q dress
suit: but Is his mother assured them he
had no idea OF exhibiting himself on the
floor. they relaxed their rule and let him
iii. The ballroom is very handsome.
and. as usual. the best dancers are the
fair Americans. who far exceed all other
nations in the Telpsichorean art. You
SEQ we make up for the faults Of onr
nasal organs III our toes. That'% a com
fort, ANYHOW. We have some very nice
American fricnds.-Mrs. Howard. with
two SONS and two daughters. from Balti-
more. and Mrs. Coalc and her sister and
niece. from Boston. We de not 90 much
with the other ueoplc. as in such 4 place
as this one cannot. very we'll, speak to
another without an introduction. | was
amused by an English lady, who spoke
to me in the puk asking me if Baltj-
moro WIS near Cou,d;,, Unanswered ..N,t
very LEI her find ont the rest for her
self The Eno,i.h know less about the
I-nitcd States than any other n7n,,l,
think 4 LADY, VIC met in Brusscls. WHO
had relatives in New Orleans could
scarcely be convinced tina. that city was
not in south America. So much for the
Europeans knowledge of geography.
From our front windows we see every
thine that GOES on in Spa. Last Sunday
there v,s or,at excitement. surh , roll
mo of c,rria"cs. filled with nil the visi-
tors t. this cclcb.ated resort in cIcuucnt
costumes. pco,,Ir WALKING by in cr1CdS.
mt your head ont the window. and As
far rs Won could see the avenue WAS black
with pedestrians. baby CARRIAGES and
children bcG.r carried: all sorts of ycii-
cIcs voing-not coming. But what do
YOU suppose it was ali about Listen,
my dear. and wonder how sensible people
can be So frivolous. 1t was not a horse
race: there would have been some sense
in that. Not even dog race: that would
have been bea,able. But a cat race. All
the cats in Spa were collected in one
place. put in baskets. and carried in n
triumplal ear, with banners nyinw. etc.
TO the field of action. when. OH a Given
signal. GUNS were fired of and a ire
meudous noise made The cats beiu.r
frightened. Jumped hcIter-skeltcr out of
their baskets and raced home as fast aS
their feet could carry them. and what
ever cat reached home first. received a
tnn