Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-02-23

is something about the quaint city, where one
seems to clasp hands with the sixteenth CEN
tury. The hotels are well kept ono can
have all the comforts of northern life without
its formalties. The hospitality of its resi-
dents is charming. remember being invited
to 60 to what l supposed was a florists green
house to examine a rare collection of tropical
plants. On arriving perceived it was pri-
vate house, and hesitated at the door, fearing
l might be intruding but the charming hos.
tess met me with outstretched hands There
was not single rare plant that did not see;
cake and wine were brought out, and when l
departed, after a delightful call, / carried
away many exquisite roses,
The chief resorts, such as Aiken, St. Au.
gustine, LOS Angeles and San Antonio, are al
ready familiar to magazine readers but,
while one may justly expect greater comfort
at centres like these, there are evident disad-
vantages in the herding together of invaids
in hotels Weakness and sympathy react upon
each other, and must inevitably exhaust the
patient. How can one get well in an atmos-
phere of suffering, where disease in every
form appeals to sympathetic hearts. The
beaten paths are not always the best There
are byways, known only to a few, where the
weary exile can find softest air, perfect rest,
and home comforts not to be found in any
great hotel tcnanted by invalids. Foremost
among these smaller retreats, in my opinion.
is Summervlle Ga. Connected with Angus
ia by horse-car line, it combines city com
forts with country life. The village lies on
the crest Of the cambridge running from All
ken, S. c., to Macon, Ga Before the war it
was the summer home Of Augusta merchants; !;
now it has u settled population of these old
families, and, not having been disturbed dur
ing the var, it possesses a thrift, ordorlinegs
and prosperity very grateful to northern eyes.
The houses many of them very old and rare
ly of more than two stories stand embowered
in trees. There are majestic oaks and pines
quaintly-cut hedges, and such roses as one
never sees in Florida. l remember counting
the roses on small bush not more than two
feet high, and there were thrty-seyen full.
blown ones | did not attempt to include the
buds They begin to blossom in February,
and reach perfection in April, and in the fall
the blossoms come again with even greater
beauty, though in less profusion. The choic-
est vareties-' Marechal Mel "Jacquemi-
not, "Lamarque," and "Cloth of Gold
grow in the greatest luxurisnce, and the ground
under the bushes is covered with petals that
drop from the perfected flowers. The streets
of Summerville are well shaded, and there are
pretty walks about the United States arsenal
on the crest of the hill Possessing all the
natural advantages of Aiken, it is without the
disadvantage of cold winds. The climate is
the driest l have found anywhere, and the
drainage 80 good that one may safely go out
half an hour after heavy rainfall. The
prospect from the hill is very extended, TAX
ing in Augusta just below, with its broad
shaded streets, and in the distance the Caro-
lima hills. There are several delightful houses
where inyalids can secure board and life in
one of those sweet homes is privilege. With
fine libraries and pictures, rare old china and
an atmosphere of culture and refinement the
wanderer finds boarding changed into hospi-
tallty. Here l have seen many pale faces
grow rosy, and one who tarries long must
carry away a blessed memory of peace and
rest. There are two beautiful churches in
Summerville.
Farther west, only one hours ride from At
lanta, Ga. on the way to Chattanooga, is an
other quiet retreat for inEalids. Marietta was
for many years a summer resort for Low
country" people, but now there are many
northerners who come every winter, and some
have made permanent homes there A quiet.
dull village, all the life centering in a single
square, it offers no inducements to pleasure
lovers but for health-seekers it has dry at
mosphere, absolute freedom from malaria and
good boarding-places. The temperature from
January to May ranges between 40 and -
| There are days in winter when the snow lies
on the ground, but it soon disappears. Lying
under the shadow of Kennesaw, one can al
ways find delight in watching the varying col
ors on the mountain sides, and the sunsets are
wonderfully fine In March and April the
woods are full of exquisite wild flowers from
the fragile azalea to blue violets fully an inch
broad There is in this quiet spot sense OF
rest that will 60 far towards restoring a worn
out nervous system.
In Nav Marietta Than
| if one be not weary of quiet there is a love
| ly valley in the Blue Ridge Mountains where
| early-summer days can be pleasantly spent
until one dares to 60 home Passing through
! Spartanburg, S. c., on the Ashevihe railroad,
one reaches Tryon station after a short ride,
and goes by carriage to "McAvoys." u drive
of about two miles. At an equal distance be.
| yond looms up Tryon mountain, POO feet
| above the sea level The view is "a beautiful
| one, and the atmosphere remarkably clear
| The house is kept by northern people, who
| fully understand the invaid's need of good
! food and cheerful surroundings, and, while
the house is very plain, it is still very com
| Portable. The Blue Ridge here forms a wall
which wholly protects the peach orchards in
the thermal belt extending along the noun
| tain side, so that black frost is unknown. The
temperature at "McAvoy's" is higher than al
| Spartanburg, though it has a much greater
altitude. The mercury averages about so in
winter, and, owing to the freedom from winds
one can live out of doors. The roads are sell
dom muddy the climate is braciug, and in
such an atmosphere lungs have rare chance
to regain soundness.
There are many other places where time
may be delightfully."- passed. Asheville has
become a well-established health resort IT.
winter climate is supposed to possess pecu
llarly favorable qualities, and the completion
of the Western North Carolina railroad has
brought civilization to its very doors Sum
mervillc, suburb of Charleston, s. c., is q
lovely quiet place, set in pine barrens
| Greensboro, N. c., is a charming hating
place, where New England eyes, weary of end
less pine trees, may gaze at graceful elms
And II spring be late in coming at the north
and is it not always late !-one may do vel
to loiter in Richmond, Va, where the sur
Ahines with peculiar brightness, and where
neatness and thrift and business activity will
remind him of the north.
In order TO derive any benefit from win
ter at the south, the invalid must not fail tC
bring certain things from home. Warm cloth
| ing, especially underwear, is necessary; for
while light wraps can be worn with comfor
all winter, one feels the cold in the houses
where halls are rarely heated. 1 have otter
added to my clothing upon coming in from
walk. Many northern tourists go to Floridt
with sealskin coats but insufficient underwear
and wonder why they take cold. have worr
as heavy underwear at the south as at tn,
north, except for out-of- door use. BY Ma,
one can wear summer clothing but befor
that there are sudden changes and the patien
needs to be quite as careful as at the north
A well-illed medicine-case and good brand.
must not be forgotten, for there are man,
places where one cannot get fresh drugs o
stimulants worth the buying, 1 remembe
being at one time in ths mountains of Nortl
Carolina, in an isolated place one of the par
ty was taken suddenly ill, and there was gen
eral inspection of private chests; one coulC
furnish brandy, another opium, still anothe
bromide and mustard -plasters and so the re
quirements of the sick person, who had moth
ing herself, were fully met
Besides wraps, underwear, drugs and bran
dy, there are qualities of mind and traits q
character that are indispensable. Tact and
large supply of good nature are required
Whoever expects to find at the south norther
comfort, thrift and neatness will be dlsap
pointed. 1t is hard to bear small annoyance
patiently but it is wiser to do so than to frC
over what cannot be helped, One gets use
to seeing broken gates, missing door-knobl
and loose shingles, and perhaps can enjo
northern neatness all the more after a seaso
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