Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-08-19
Letter from CraWford's Springs.
Correspondence Of the SPECTATOR. I

correspondence OI UIle SPECTATOR.
August 17th 1885.
The main building at "Crawfo-d's
Springs" having been burned few Years
since, the place has ceased to he opened as
public resort. But this season. two full
soued gentlemen, Messrs. A. A. Sproul
and j. Alex. Bumeardner, have rented
West Row." and filled it with their fam
lies and their friends, so that the lawn puts
on somewhat of the appearance of eye old
en- time, when the genial souls who occu-
pied the cabins made their usual Sum
mer visits to the Springs
The code of socisl intercourse omits need
less formalites, and glides, with easy grace
about the wishes of each guest; and soiOurn
here is most delightful episode.
The families are large, their friends are
numerous, aud thelr inequalities are full
and free. A. A. Sproul and lady and j.
Alex. Bumgardner and lady, our generous
hosts, need bur be named to tell you how
we fare. In addition to their own families
they have had visitors from Illinois, from
Baltimore, Richmond, Lexington, Slaun-
ton, and elsewhere, swelling the whole par
ty to the number of fifty nearly
We've all turned tramps out here. ladies
and all. And Variety" our neighbor Just
up there. adds "spice," now and then, to our
life-sends down an impromptu picnic, led
by genial soul in clerical cloth" the
proud escort of a whole bevy of graces,
whose splendid presence adds to the FUN
light of our lawn. Two fthese fair misses
unintentionally afforded our gallantry a
splendid chance to wait upon the banks of
the lake, and stretch out our hands to res
cue the dripping misses, as they waded out
from the sunken boat.
Come, MIR. Editor, sniff tho breeze that
even now, in the heat of August, adown
this beautiful little valley whispers of the
coming frost, and fans the cheek with Oc-
tober breath. Come, and you shall plunge
this polished dipper into the coolest depths
OF the Sulphur fount, land quaff the spark
ling liquid to the full. 1t is tin dipper,
mind you, clean and bright; and there's
nothing like it but the sweet, ancestral
gourd-the good, old fashioned, long han
died, hard-cider gourd of our boyish days.
By the way, DR.. Patteson, the proprietor
here, has one hanging in his Office now. An
appreciatiye fellow, he, l hear you say.
Well, next to the cold oaken bucket" give
me the old, long handled gourd, for sweet
drink from such spring
| Say, now, don't you catch an inspiration
OF the cool and clear, at once, and long to
lay your quill aside, and take your ease out
here, beneath the arching canopy that
throws inviting shade upon the rich
green grass? Come, let the sprite of the
dance in the dipper as you drink, and the
palate shall need no primpting to relish
tull-sized neal. Such coffee-such rolls,
such broils and tOasts, as we do have; and
then such eating as we do! All we'll, if
You'll but come, and eat, you'll say the
half has meier been tod. Just whet your
appetite by climb to a deer stand, on the
lci1 do Of IL l.
adown yon rivers bank ON fish," and
then come back and rest and eatl Well,
then, you'll see. VENTURE.
| LIEUT.. GREELY's STATUs.-The officers
of the signal corps will make a special eff
fort to secure the retention of Lieut. Gree
| lyl i'll the service. 1t was announced
at the War Department that all officers of
the line who had been on detached duty in
the signal corps for a period of four years
Or over would be ordered to rejoin their
regiments in compliance with the general
order relating to details of line officers. 1t
is also hoped by the officers of the corps
that Lieuts. Dunwoody and Craig will be
allowed to remain in the service. These
are tie only officers of the line on duty in
| the signal corps who are affected by the
| recent order. An interesting case has
come up for action i'll this connection.
Lieut.. w. p. Duvall, secretary and treas
urer of the Army Mutual Aid Association,
acted as instructor at the Military Acade-
my for four years. He returned to his
regiment at Fort Hamilton, New York har
Dor, and after service ofone day was order
ed to Washington to fill his present position.
He has been here about one year, making
an actual service of five years on detached
duty. There are of course similar cases,
but this one will be regarded as test case,
and the action thereon taken as prece-
dent.