The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1882-07-19
For the Farmer and Mechanic
WARM SPRINGS, } uiy !

The first dress ball OF the season came
off here last night. Heretofore there
have been informal hops, but last night
by special request all the dancing ladies
appeared in evening costumes.
As the night was damp. DR.. Howerton
had the decks cleared for action in the
dining room so that the old folks and the
lnva!lds could enjoy the fun. As am.
at present, on both these lists. | nitched
myself III a corner, and, like Dickens
Mrs. Bothn,' took my pleasure lii see>
ing the young folk have a good time"
As we have now over four hundred
guests, the room was well filled, and there
was plenty to interest one. Raleigh was
represented by Mrs. Paul Faison, Mrs. j.
VI. Heck, and her two daughters, Mrs.
[. t. Hay, Mrs. Burwell and Miss Laura
Devereux; Columbia, Tenn. by a
brilliant quartet of the two Misses Pointer
and Miss Bethel. But the most striking
aud distinguished looking couple of the
evening was the white haired Gen. Beth
ell, of Columbia, and Mrs. Albert Baldwin,
of New Orleans, as they ~promenaded the
floor between the dances. There are
quite a number of Louisiana families
here, and it carries me back to the days
of ''auld lang syne" to hear the soft ac-
cents of the Creole-French, and see the
graceful dancing and exquisite toilette>
of the ladies. All that is wanted, at pres
ent, to make this a paradise for young
ladies is plenty of beauX. There are
lovely walks, quiet hooks, and secluded
Irritation orners, but not beaux enough
for the bellies, a defect however which Is
lessening every day with the new arrivals,
so that by Dext Friday, when DR.. How
erton proposes to give a fancy dress bail,
there will probably be nothing wanting to
render it a complete success. Like the
water in the bath the stream of guests
flows constantly in and out the arrivals
keeping a little ahead of the departures :;
sometimes as many as fifty arrive In one
day, but the average j. about twenty
five All things com to him who
waits and if one will sit quietly down
here for a season they will have full OPP
portunIty for seeing some OF the best SO
ciety Of the South Western and Gulf
| States; this being a f~avorite resort for
persons trom these parts, as well as for
Bostonians and New Workers. There
are enough prominent North Carollnianl
to season the dish, and TO persons who
desire to open the windows of their brain
and let new ideas into its inner chambers,
airing them with a fresh current of out
side thought. and Frightening themselves
by the attrition of other minds, the va
rlety of persons one meets here is de-
lightful. liz is very pleasant to meet old
a,qualntances season after season and rub
up the links of the chain of acquaintance
or friendship, but here North Carolinians
can do this and something more, for
| celebrities gravitate to this place, and if
one plucks up courage and talks to the
person rext them, whether at table or
on apc long galleries where guests prome>
nade>and sit all all day long and half the
night, or in the numerous beautiful walks
around the place which are daily thronged
with seekers for ferns and wild flowers,
more pleasant acquaintance can be made
here than at any other summer resort in
the State. | sat two days at table beside
Miss Martin, of Vicksburg, the author of
Feet of Clay" and because of bron-
chitis, which rendered talking fatiguing,
missed my opportunity of really making
her acquaintance till just before she LETT;
but as she expects to return o and
DIR. Howerton tells me if | will follow his
directions about the bath, he will have
me off the invalid list before then, | shall
improve the occasion.
Anything more delightful than the
bath it would be bard to find, the five
most enjoyable minutes OF the day |
spend immersed to the neck in its waters.
But for Aunt Patsey" fear | should
be tempted to extend the time and stay
in ten minutes. but the old bath attend
ant allows no transgression OF the Doc
tors orders the we'll folks may splash
round as long as they please, but her
your time is up mum is decisive tor
those who are invalids, and out we come
to be spanked and put to bed, like bad
children. But after being-lke Dots
baby-''left to simmer for an hour be-
tween the blankets one rises .invigorated
and ready for the life around us.
NJ. B. c.