The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-09-23
n the VIRGINIAN.
Lone Fountain Springs.

fof tile N1RCINIAN.
Lone Fountain Springs.
Having passed the entire past month Q
August most pleasantly and beneficially a
these springs, the writer takes very grea
pleasure in being afforded this opportu
nifty OF saying few words in richly dc
served praise of the waters of the plac
from a medicinal standpoint of view, it
people socially considered, its surround
ings, &c, through the columns of the VIE
GINTAN.
The Lone Fountain" Springs are mos
picturesquely AS well as advantageous
located in the mountains distant abou
five miles southwest of the well-know
village of Churchville, and eight mile
from Stribling Springs. The approach t
Lone Fountain lies along road that i
almost universally familiar, and one pro
verbal for the beauty and variety of it
| scenic displays, as well as for it's cas-,
facilities for travelling. Comparativel,
speaking, this watering place is not eyer
as yet, too well known, and until within
the last four or five seasons we are con
strained to believe, was almost an unhear(
of summer resort, except to number oil
the farmers in and around Churchville
to whom for many years it has proved {
most desirable haven of rest from the in
Vulnerable cares and responsibilities SC
trenchant upon the heels of farm life.
But for several seasons past, its increase
both in popularity and numbers has been
quite encouraging. The fame of the un-
failing efficacy of it's waters to recuperate
broken-down constitutions, and to grapple
successfully with that bug bear of human
existence-physically, mentally and NOR
ally considered dyspepsia, having not
only penetrated into our surrounding
towns and villages, but in many instances
reaching to distances as remote as Balti-
more, Washington and Richmond The
waters of these springs, subjected to analy-
sis, have been proved chalybeate of most
superior quality, tinctured quite percep-
tibly with alum. and containing arsenic in
more moderate proportion. They are re-
ported to resemble closely the waters of
the famous Bear Wallow spring at Ork-
ney Springs, Virginia. To the arsenic,
doubtless, is due that desirable metamor-
phosis which the complexion is tabled to
undergo after duration of certain
length of time on these grounds, when
it is said to have acquired beauty of
coloring, and delicacy of texture, which
battles the effect of the most costly CO.'S
metics however artistically applied. But
however far this theory concerning the
of the Lone Fountain waters
may hold good, there is no possible ques-
tion regarding that peculiar excellence for
which they are more especially celebrated,
and for which they are recommended by
the best of medical advisers when all
other remedies cease to avail, namely,
their potency as a tonic in extreme cases
of dyspepsia, nervous prostration, and
kindred maladies. Indeed, the best GER
tificate that can be adduced in support of
the above statements is the testimony of
patients on the ground who testify to hav-
ing been borne there upon filters and at
the termination of week to have been so
benefited as to have been able to walk the
distance between the upper and lower
springs aided only by cane. Also dys-
peptics suosisting previous to their arri-
val upon cracker ''per diem,'' have in
like brief period of time been promoted to
coffee, ham, eggs and other diet of an
equally substantial nature. In view of
the above facts, and the very moderate
rates of board, one does not mind the IN
ostentatlous scale upon which life at Lone
Fountain is mainly conducted. On the
contrary. after the first experience, the
aheer novelty of such life acquires
charm of its own, and existence between
walls of undressed plank is capable of b.
ing rendered not only tolerable bu, de-
llghtful
More particularly is this true when
through the windows of these same
walls, with every mornings sun, the eye
IS invited to revel in acres upon acres of
mountainous landscape teemng with the
prodigal luxuriance of leaf and vine, and
the bounding pulse is moved to send an
answering thrill to greet s'the new wine of
the morn" eareering madly in at the
easement. With things still bordering on
the primitive, however. at Lone Fountain,
nevertheless, the improvements in the
general condition of the cabins standing,
ny tho Wy
while several new and thoroughly com
Portable. as well as more pretentious
buildings have sprung up since last sum-
mer. Prominent among these is the
Mountain House, the property of the
enterprising and youthful proprietors,
Messrs. Dudley and Dunlap, whose efforts
to render their hotel a success have been
most untiring as well as praiseworthy.
Perhaps Lone Fountain were no mis-
homer of this place at the time of it's dis
covery twenty years ago, when Mr.. j. G..
Slower, in quest of an atmosphere more
soothing to his malady OF hayfever, cut
his way through wilderness of tangled I'M
dergrowth, fallen trees and brushwood,
and here in the depths of the lonely forest
stumbled not only upon the pure mountain
air which he sought, but also upon the
spring which baala this cognomen, and
near to which he erected his first cabin.
For some time Mr. Slower was permitted
to enjoy the seclusion of his sylvan re-
treat in undisputed possession. but grad
ually rumors concerning the life-giving
qualities of it's waters spreading, other
families began to break in upon the soil
tude of the first settler, knocking up rude
aiming only to render them
water-tight, certainly with no thought of
turning these impromptu dwellings into
boarding houses but so it was destined to
be. Physicians prescribe the use of the
water to their patients 'sto be quaffed, if
possible, right from the Fountain head, :"
and the owners of these cabins were COM
PEELED in the first instance, ''nolens,
uolens, to take them in. Now they come
prepared to do this every summer, expect
ing nothing else, and, to use their own
words, enjoying the prospect. +" This
hac OF veu rise tn dapraa of harmloso com