Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-08-17
LETTER FROM ORKNEY SPRINGS.
Of the Alexandria Gazette.l

u
CORRESPONDENCE Of the Alexandria Gazettel
ORKNEY SPRINGS, Va, August 16.--Of
all the numerous Virginia springs, Orkney,
this wear. takes the lead What the reason
is, is not bard to tell by those who have
been here before, for though the sky is as
blue, the land as fair, and tho water as life
reviving as ever, the host is new, having
only taken charge OF the place last year,
and the full fruition of his management
having had just time enough to develop
itself thoroughly. Every thing now runs as
smoothly as we'll conducted private ilr-
ginia household, and though there are be-
tween six and seven hundred people here.
so harmonious are they that to a foreigner
they would seem to compose one large
united family, with large man at lis head
the Statc-renowned Cab. Madaux. The
change il oil due 10 him.
| The natural attractions OF Orkney are I'M
excelled by these OF any other summer resort
in Virginia, but, owing 10 bad management,
the place had been going down for years
when Mr.. Maddox took charge Of IL. From
| that time dates tho revolution Of Orkney,
d revolution, however, that is the eYcep-
ton to the rule, for it does 60 back
ward-backwa to tho good old Virginia
Ways-noW alas so seldom seen, and which
to tho old revive many pleasant memo
ries, and to the yonng are like the gates MAR
to Gowery fields they can never enter.
There are no lions here, nor any dogs, but
all are nice, genteel people, who respecting
themselves, necessarily respect each other,
so that while courtesy is the order of both
day and night, it Is tempered with just
enough familiarity to dissipate entirely lis
formalty.
Among the guests are representatives OF
many States, but those from Virginia, Mary
land and the District of Columbia compose
the majority. The junior Senator from the
first named State was here week or two
ago, but, as the other visitors didn't suit
him any better than he pleased them, his
STAY was short and his departure not re-
GREETED. The host is unqueslionably u host
within himself While spending most Of his
time sitting On the front portico entertain
ing crowd with his jokes and quaint say
Jugs, and apparently utterly oblivious to
what is going on outside the circle OF
his amused hearers, not single thing
about the entire establishment escapes
his attention, and is remedied at once. if, as
i. rarely the case, Il remedy is required, aud
that, too in the strangest sort of way. For
Instance The other day gentleman came
| up 10 nlu eaC!ttuly ShyIbS, hi. nhuuuA,
saw some boys trying to set lire to one OF
+ the cottages" Il am very much obliged to
you sir, for the Information, but really
wish they had burned it down." was the re-
ply. Shortly after Il boy (the boys referred
TO are the sons of the guests) came up and
said, "Cub" (by which name they all call
him) "a boy shot two pigeons just now"
II wish he had killed the whole flock" was
; the reioiuder. Presently q negro girl came up
: and told him that one of her sable admirers
had threatened to she'd blood because she
had her picture taken with another one.
The answer she received was, "Well hope
he will" But it was observed soon after
that the incerdaries, the pigeon shooters
and blood shedders all wore a most subdued
look, and all have been upon exemplary
, good behavior ever since.
Mr.. Maddux has already become exceed
. ingly popular not only with the mountainers
who live around the springs and who flock
to the place every Saturday, 10 hear the
music, look at the fashions, aud make pur-
chases at the stores, but with the people of
the whole county, and was by them elected
Us FiIz Lee delegate to the late State de
mocratic convention.
In addition TO the hotel he has dairy,
garden, poultry yard, ahattoir, store, livery
stable, blacksmith shop. talks about BALD
ing church, is postmaster, and ia no! only
one OF The institutions, but ono Of the most
popular and pros perons ones Of Shenandoah
coInir.
The band here is excellent. IL plays every
day h.iore dinner and supper, and furnishes
the mlisc for tho nightly balls, which a.
waysclose al seemly hours. Fancy and phau.
tom balls frequently add the spice of vario
~ to these latter entertainments and are
often closed with delicious suppers at the
hosts expense.
O3e Of the greatest attractions Of the
place is the excellence Of the fare, which is
not, and which can nnt be eXcelled by any
first class hotel in the country This is re-
marked upon by all the guests, many of
whom have Just come from other summer
resorts Not only are all tho delicaces of
the neighborhood afforded, but those of the
city markets also, and all tastes are consult
ed and satisfied.
An admirable characteristic OF the place
this season is the order observed for among
| all the guests during the season, SO far, not a
single intoxicated person has been seen, nor
hiss Ii card been played for money, though
whist and euchre are more popular than
lawn tennis and cr0quct.
is said abova the guests now number be
| tween ak and seven hundred, and the room
clerk says there will be a. many here dur
ing the whole month ofSeptember. Letters
alone tonight were received engaging rooms
for over hundred people.
DIR. Chancellor, q former Alexandrian, is
the resident physician, but so wholesome is
the place and the Bear Wallow water that
he has not had patient for two weeks.
Among tho guests are many Alexandrians,
all of whom express themselves as delighted.
|
FAUQUIER BUSH MEETING,
The Fauquier temperance bush meeting,