The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1882-10-05
For the Democrat.
"A strangers Impressions of ST.
Clair Springs, Near Eaton.
Freb1e County. Ohio.

Preble County, Ohio.
1t would doubtless be a work of supe-
to tell a resident of Eaton that
II Is a oellghtful inland town-but hay
ing until lately, known absolutely moth
ing OF II, except that it is the county seat
OF rrebie county, population $500, (see
Wlllams' Ohio Directory it is mani
testify one o. my first duties to such of my
companions In ignorance as may chance
10 see this article, to air my newly ac-
CURED information. Or, to attribute more
benevolent motives to my conduct, 1 will
say that l propose to share with them
the pleasure arising from scenes which,
II not new, are at least capable of being
seen under new and pleasing aspects,
and which fill lie with new wonder and
pride in the extent and variety of the re-
sources of DUR State.
Time, intelligence, iberality and en-
terprlse are opening up around us, at
here and there a favorable spot yistas of
varied utility and beauty, resulting from
the skillfu@ adaptation OF arts appliances
to the lavish products of nature. OF the
force of this truth, the tract of land lying
neal Eaton, comprising about eighty
acres OF hill, dale, streamlet and wood
land, and known as est. Clair Springs"
is a noteworthy illustration. As most of
your readers are familiar with its fea-
lures, I spare them technical details but
for the benefit of those to whom it's at
fractions are as yet unknown, I will give
Tree and sketchy impressions, leaving to
a future article, more statistical and Ella
borate, all those practical descriptions
required by the splendid and growing
possibilities of the place, as well as by
the constantly increasing number OF
those who are seeking each year for rest,
recreation and health, without such an
outlay. of time, exertion, or n as
would initiate directly against the OBJ
jects of their search. AS 1 stood upon
the gentle activity which commands a
view both of Eaton and of the grounds
enclosing the Springs, I was fain to re-
peat those lines of an early poet, in s'Dy-
er's Granger Hip
ever charming, ever new,
When viii the landscape tire the view?
The fountain b fall-the ST. eamIet's aow;
The woody valleys. warm and low,
The windy summit, wild and high,"
Outlined against the autumn Ky
The quie5 village, spire and cot
Enchain me to the spot"
And as the sui sunk low and the sill.
yer moon began to shine, 1 unused Of dis.
tant friends with whom l would love to
"walk these dells," and
breathe a prayer that pure content
May ever pitch Its tent
Upon these reads. these rocks, these mountains
And peace still wander by these pulling foun,
tains." =.
Our little party wandered about, gaz
ing with a not too utterly ignorant rap,
ture at the odd, fantastic rocks which re
search and patient toll have grouped
about the vicinity of the Springs; 1, fol
one, wishing that 1 had days of leisure
with textbook in hand, for a more in
| telligent reading of times record in the
rocks. Here is a massive petrifactior
from the Carboniferous period; there, 6
granite boulder through which runs, like
a black stripe through homespun, al
inch wide, jet black stratum, sparklin.
with mica and iron pyrites; yonder is
limestone fossil, traversed by distinc
bird tracks. But the springs are our OBJ
~jective point-so we leave geology for thu
present, signing over the ponderous rich
es we could not conveniently appropri
ate. Tasting of one chalybeate sprin,
only melted our thirst for another, ant
so on, until l knew not which was iror
and which vas sulphur, by reason of tn,
chemical admixture of favors that haC
"colne to stay" in my mouth. Anothe
spring is permeated with gaseous bub
bles, breaking at intervals on the sur
face, and which, being collected in q re
tort or bottle, can be touched of with
match. U~ndeveloped wealth of an amour
! to be guaged at present only by the wild
est desires or imagination, turks in thos'