Helena weekly herald., 1882-09-28
FANNIE PALMER'S LETTER.
A Paradise for Missionaries Temperance
and Sulphur Water Suicides, Religion
and Gossip-The Birthplace Of
Mormonism.

and sulphur Watef-Su1cldeS, W heIg1on
and Gossip-The Birthplace of
Mormonism.
CLIFTON SPRINGS, N. Y, Sept. II, '82.
A Sabbath days journey land by that /
mean very long days Journey from New
York city over the New York Central road,
through some of the most picturesquely beau
tiful sections of the Empire State, brings the
traveller to the quiet little watering place of
Clifton Springs. Literally watering place,
for nothing stronger than water is to be had
in the town for love or money, they tell me,
and the greatest successes in the treatment
of chronic cases is effected by the plentiful
use of the sulphur water that bubbles up
about here in ever-fowing, healthful springs
for the entertainment of man and beast
Horses and dogs seem to have great liking
for it, and well the local canine knows his
appointed spring beside the public watering
trough, but well does he love to take a sur
reptitious lap from the invalids fountain. 1
have watched him bound into the pavilion
in an innocent, playful way, watch his oppor-
tunity, sneak down to one Of the forbidden
springs, look cautiously about him, drop his
tail between his legs as though he knew he
was mean, take good drink, sneak off to an
innocent-looking distance and then begin
bounding about again, evidently thinking he
had perpetrated good joke on the too fas-
tidious invalid, and enjoying it, too. He
never feels remorse unless caught in the act,
like great many other sinners. Truly has
it been said that there is either good deal
of human nature in the dog, or else good
deal of dog in human nature.
1 don't know whether there was town
here before the healing qualities of the
springs were made of use and the Sanitarium
founded or not. The public highway ran
through here, and believe there was an inn
and few houses, forming small hamlet,
perhaps, but it was not till DR.. Foster dis
covered the place, thirty years ago, and
opened a then small water cure, that the
hamlet assumed the dignity of town. Ger
tainly the town could not now exist without
the Sanitarium. There is no business here
aside from that induced by that institution
in some way, and as it prospers so prospers
the village. 1t is charming little place,
quiet, peaceful, and beautifully situated
between rolling hills, up the sides Of which
the streets and cottages are spreading them
selves as time advances. Beyond the town
in every direction extends beautiful sweep
Of country. Nothing grand and majestic in
the way of scenery, but scenery that calls to
mind Mrs Browning's lines
"A nature tanned
And grown domestic like a arn-dooor fowl,
Which does not awe you with its claws and beak
Nor tempt you to an ayrie too high up,
But which, in cacking, sets you thinking OF
Your eggs to- morrow at breakfast in the pause of
finer meditation.
Rather say
A sweet familiar nature, stealing in
AS dog might, or a child, to touch your hand
Or pluck your gown, and humbly mind you so
Of presence and affection"
This seems to be a great farming district
and in driving, for miles around, one never
gets beyond the smell of new-mown hay and
clover blooms Orchards and meadows and
ields and barns and farmhOuses, vnd cattle
grazing upon thousand hills, more or less,
and occasionally very disreputable flock of
sheep, these make up the scenes of sweet
familiar nature" about here No wild forest
or frosty, snow-tipped mountain peaks-no
ocean. Just a quiet nook where the tired
wanderer may find rest.
Not fashionable, giddy place is Clifton
Springs. Not by any means. The Santa
rum has been established upon strictly reli-
sious principles, and is intended more espe
cially for retreat for returned missionaries
and wornout ministers and their families,
and no one comes here for the pleasure of
the thing, but for treatment so, taking it all
in all, it can't be called lively resort. Any
sort of gaiety other than temperance meet
ings is frowned down, as emanating from the
evil one, who, poor old soul, doesn't get even
his due here. One might almost be per-
suaded he had been banished FROM the place
if they didn't see the print of his hoofs occa-
sionally
If there is any fault to be found with af
fairs here it might be urged by calm
looker-on that religion is just a little over
done However, this may be a mistake, and
this heroic treatment of souls may be the
proper thing. Certainly some of the chronic
cases of hypocricy met with would seem to
require moral fy-blisters and cuppings and
doses of blue mass and all the other good
strong treatment prescribed by the Calvan-
stic creed, which, if it be true, must rejoice
The heart of the cloven-footed old gentleman
above referred to, for, according to it, about
.wo-thirds or three-fourths of the human
ace will be handed over to him to roast as
,oon as they have strutted their brief time
lpon this stage. No wonder too much learn
ng of this sort hath made men mad.
A short timesince ayoungm man came here op-
pressed with the thought of his unworthiness
md dread of the future punishment as set
orth by Calvin, and in fit of melancholy
tole halter from a stable in the village and |
,oing to an old tumble down barn in a field |
lear here, hung himself, his body being
ound some days later. Last week gentle
,,o,, of l,,.l, ,xool;x,. -, Tororfo ConaJo