The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-08-30
Variety Springs.
For the VIRGINIANl.

The place is what its name implies-a variety of
waters-alum, alum and magnesia, chalybeate,
healing, and sulphur, in easy distance. These
waters are all good. Mine host, Mr.. G w. Leckie,
is the prince of good fellows provides capitally,
and scarcely fails in anything that contributes
to the entertainment of his guests May his
shadow never grow less. is the universal senti-
ment.
Upon my arrival, 1 found an exceedingly pleas
ant company. We have visitors from Norfolk.
Richmond, Baltimore, Charlottesville, Lynch
burg Danville, ST. Louis, and from number OF
the counties of the State; also your city and old
Augusta were well represented The place has
been crowded to overlooking, and many turned
off greatly regretting it. There is every variety
of amusement: croquet, billiards, ten pins, or
nine if you prefer; and last, but not least, dane
ing There are quite number who engage in
dancing, and must add, by way of parenthesis,
it is not confined to the gay and the young; but
the life-giving waters of these Springs produce
such buoyancy of spirit and elasticity OF frame,
together with the soul-stirring music from the
professional musicians, such John Floyd,
George Walker or Carter, discoursing and pour
ing forth the inimitable strains of 'Old Virginia
never tire "Natchez under the HILL .'Forked
Deer George Booker" mississippi Sawyer"
and score r more and II be aeSs
for yourself, syour haar would have riz on your
head,'' as a colored friend said to me-.
We had, on last Friday night, what they called
a phantom ball, but l think it should receive,
and very properly, the nomemclature of the
ghost ball for it was ghastliness personifed. 1t
seemed as though some nearby cemetery had
surrendered its occupants, hapilitated in the
spotless cerements of the tomb The apparition
produced quite a sensation with the juveniles
and some of our cOlOred friends !; but IN little
while, familiarZation with the ghouls caused the
commotion to subside. The maskers all being
in, the fun commenced in earnest. The ball
opened with the old familiar air, q don't mean
hymn but the old dancing tune), ut Will never
do to give it up so, Mr.. Brown,'' aud L thought
they would neUer give it up, for they carried II
was not surprised at it, for they play the game
of '.catch as catch CAM that is, you have the
right to encircle within your arms any you may
catch; and the whole of 1T was, both DANES anG
damsels were sQueds without knowing who did
it. There may have been exceptional cases, i
must add. but don t speak fit please, for know
that under the influences that were brotsgh,I 10
bear they could not help it, Several el6ers dea-
cons stewards, and tnelr demu music ica as
both and if any bashf needed l. en- n
6er side and whspeP which had the effect
to disspate hsSi1Hidity, and SO reassqre her
through Il DkstiGsmazes of the dance with
the eiega1 md grace of Madam Celeste. l
a gas]gslty They appear to come in in at the op-
y dine moment. We have number of ele-
lht performers on the piano. accompanied by
)|the sweetest voices, each of which can, with
propriety, be called Mllicent.
We have several elderly gentlemen here, but
there is one rather more conspicuous than any
of the others, in that he is great ladies' man.
/ can't say whether he Odgsts a wife or has one;
at least, he is very attentive, and there is some
talk about it. We have several unmarried la
dies here-some on the sunny and some on the
shady side of thirty, and Madam Rumor says
that not single one of them will marry. Funny,
isn't it?
The table is excellent; the best in the noun
tains for the money, by odds. Several are leav-
ing this week, and proprietor and guests would
be pleased to have their places filled.
A little nonsense now and then,
Is relished by the best of men.
SYLVESTER,
w. P. Harris, superintendent of the
Huntington division Of the Chesapeake
and Ohio railroad, and John M. Robertson.
engineer of the same road and division,
have rendered their designations to take
effect at once. Engineer Robertson is a
son OF Judge Robertson, of charlottesville,