Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1886-07-31
Letter from Orkney Springs,
Virginia.
ORKNEY SPRINGS, Va. July 2Sth.

/ wrote you last week from Wash
ington, but as congressional matter
is at present in what the President
terms "a choice state of inocuous
desuetude," / trust q letter from
this charming resort may interest
your readers quite as much if not
more, than my conventional etfn-
sions from the National Capital,
which fear are not always regard
ed as being recontre bien.
This famous resort is no longer
the place that was once ranked in
the category with the mediocre wa
tering places, so abundant in this
state. 1t has, in point of fact, pas
sed through a rapid course of evolu-
ton, and although not endowed with
the miraculous and fabulous waters,
supposed by the benighted Ponce de
Leon to ngender immortal youth, it
nevertheless possesses five mineral
springs, of very decided rejuvena-
ting tendencies. Orkney in brief,
has unquestionably every qua'ifica-
ton conducive to health and pleas
ure, and is indeed fine specimen of
the practical Elysium.
There is quaint little legend ex-
tant regarding the principal spring,
which bears the explanatory title Of
4'bear-wallow.n Nearly century
ago, it was noticed by the settlers
of the country, that sick and wound
ed bears were accustomed to resort
to this locality, and wallow in the
spring. In this way the medicinal
virtues of the waters first became
know. There can be no doubt as to
the authenticity of this rare bit of
tradition, as mine host who is most
truthful man, is ever ready to ac-
company the interesting report with
a whole library of af1idayits.
The society at Orkney is eminent
ly refined and pleasant. The as
sembly gathered here this season, is
especially agreeable, and comprises
many distinguished persons from
every section of the country-New
York, Pennsylvania, Georgia and
Tennessee are well represented, and
to note the personal characteristics
of the people from these several
states, is quite interesting. LII would
seem somewhat paradoxical, that
such q marked difference in dialect
should exist among persons speak
ing one tongue, and habituating one
country. | was greatly edited sew
eral evenings ago, by oyerhearing q
conversation between a Northernor
and Southerner, The gentleman
from the frigid districts was Judge,
while his companion was frey Col
onel from ALBANIA. The legal train
of the former had developed q re-
markable proficiency in the art OF
subtle reasoning. The Colonel's ar
dent nature and natural volubility
balanced the profound learn
ing of the Northerner. The late
war was ostensibly the most peril
nent theme for wordy emulation and
it was therefore discussed in most
eloquent and spirited manner-be
ginning with Sumter and closing
with Appomatox. The Colonel
with legitimate pride remarked that
he and friend killed nearly three
thousand Federals during the war,
but whether with a cannon, or the
"jaw-bone of an ASS" he neglected
to mention. This statement was
something too much for the Judge
who after a polite "good-eveningn
walked away muttering something
about the law pertaining to perjury.
A great deal has been said about
the veto of pension bills. Two old
pensioners were sitting in front of
the hotel the other evening discus
sing the relative merits of their pen
sion claims when one of them wan
dered off into the domain of delusive
extravaganza in his language to such
an extent that the other felt a little
piously inclined that way himself.
"Well,' he said, .sCol was only a
private soldier during the late war,
but at one time / had a small amount
Of thrilling experience but of course
nothing to compare with yours. 1t
recurs to me as only Of yesterday, /
had been up for about week on
picket duty and had not had a wink
of sleep. / had just been detailed
for another solid week and was
travelling to my post Of duty all
alone, was kind of nodding on my
horse rs went along, when all at
once somebody yelled out ut the top
( ofhis voice: HALT n / looked up
and there was johnny about
forty feet from me with his gun lev
eled at my heart. 2-"Well, what did
YOU do ~ ooh, / pulled UP my pis.