The Russellville Democrat., 1883-08-30

GoRRESPorTDErTCE- Leaves From My Scratch BoOh.
 EUREKA STRINGS, ARK, Aug. 20, 1883. l Editor Democrat:
 But few of your readers, I pre- sume, ever visited this remarkable watering place, and, during the dull season of this, "off year." they may not refuse to read short letter, slightly descriptive of the place. Sn If these leaves from my scratch book will not exclude something better make use of them.
 The city partially covers great many high hills and deep ravines. The hills are composed of rocks and gravel, aud LITTLE rich, limey soll, The buildings, with one exception, are composed of wood. The best two streets, Main and Spr,ng, run as nearly parallel as is possible for crooked streets to run-the first in the ravine and the other on the hill side or bench of the mountain. The streets are narrow and, if fire should get under way in a windy, dry time, but few buildings would survive.
 There IS great deal more busi- ness done here than people abroad suppose. Farmers from every direc tion come here to buy goods and the lumber trade, in pine and walnut, is very considerable. and a great many cedar posts are sen. to the prairies to support barbed wire fences. A quarry of beautiful mar ble, within the corporation, is beng opened, less than a quarter from the railroad, ana all these are but "in fant industries" So it will be noted that the town does not depend en- tirely on it's celebrated springs for an existance--it has railway--lots of pine, cedar, walnut and marble it has splendidly pure air, little rich earth mixed with the gravel (enough for gardens and orchards ) and the springs besides. The heart of the town is alive but some of It's extremities cold in death. It will not die.
 1 People here are friendly and cos 'mopoiitan. Some pant their houses white, some red, quite number blue, and many tenant!ess box houses are as innocent of paint as the cheeks of the mountain maids who sell peaches, apples and berries in the streets.
 | Board, rents, houses, lots and pro. visions are cheap, and it. is the best poor mans watering place in the wide world.
 People come here by rail, wagon, horseback and on foot. "Yes, but what do you think of the place?" Well, I've told what I KNOW of i, and 1t don't matter what think of l it. But, then, what about the springs-the water!' Oh yes, well the water is--is--pure water, like the air here; about as pure as it can be. "Will it cure every disease which affiicts humanity?' l don't think it will. People have died right here of consumption and can cer, but it is the ,.ealtniest place ever visited and most cases will be greatly relieved or cured by pro- longed stay here. I talked to-day with q man, sixty years old, who come here with a large cancer on his breast to die, but he IS we'll lively. and hard al work, with two big scars to show the inquisitive. A lady opposite my boarding house has the scars on her face cbut slight ly disfigured where once the hate ful cancer threatened her life. Such cases are numerous, but such cases should not be put off too long. It is no use to come here hoping to cure an incurable decease in three weeks (pardon the bull). There have been many remarkable recoveries from cancer, rheumatics, dyspepsia. sore eyes, and other afflictions-whethe the water, the air, or the doctors, ol uii OI LuefU tpScbutf HdNt uUNt Lut good work, 1 shall not tell your read CTS; for don't know.
 The afflicted are continually com Ing and going, lew remain long enough to test the waters of the many springs within q radius of (
 uiie, which MIGHT restore them to ,he enjoyment Of the best Of earthly blessings
 Since Capt. Perry and Joe Wilson left, our part of the country has not been very extensively represented, Havn't seen Lawrence Russell and Prof. Yonley for several days, but James c. Ferguson, formerly oi Russellville, has been here for sev- eral days with the "Eureka baby" and the great "unknown," drawing fair houses, 1 think.
 forgot to mention that nearly every denomipat has a house for worship here. Society good, with only very small sprinkling oi ''codfish" aristocracy.
 Y K froprv