Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1886-05-28
EDIT0RL1E CORRESPONDENCE.
oTxxEr SPRINGS, Va, May Is, 1886.


EDlTORI1E CORRESPONDENCE
ORKNEY SPRINGS, Va, May IS, 1885,
Engaged here for short while and de.
lightfully located in the luxurious cottage
Of the proprietor, Col. H. q. Maddux, it &C.
Cured to US that we would break the mo-
notony of our usual editorial routine by
sendinga communication, giving something
Of what we have seen and some of our wan
dering thoughts born of the shadows and
the sunshine, INDUCING the idea that the
same will not be altogether uninteresting to
our readers, and particularly to those who
make yearly pilgrimages to this place of ro-
nance, beauty and health.
We promise that the letter shall not be
lola Ind though il shall lead our readers
fAWpleasure grounds and life giving waters,
through rich pasture lands and historic fields
and take them to the woods, it shall be full
of no murmurings, but the murmur of the
trees, which wake up from their Utmost
depths at the murmur of the coming wind
and soon are vocal with those unwritten
melodies which are the music of the forest.
1t is not in every mood OF the mind that
we can enjoy and appreciate to their fullest
extent the beauties and the harmonies of
nature, much more is this the case when.
those beauties are the monotonous and SIM
pie ones of the lowlands. In the vast noun
tains there is something for every mood of
the mind, grandeur for lofty thoughts, beau.
ty for poetical dreams, which rejoice in
every shadow that gallops along the belts
OF pine-dimness and misty outlines for
curious thought and wandering speculation.
No where on this continent, certainly no
where among the blue hills of Virginia,
eternal in the beauty OF their towering sub
Unity has Nature hung in her great art
gallery richer, rarer and more enhancing
picture than that which opens up to our
vision this morning. Beauty falls upon us
at every point, as moonbeam comes In
when you lift the curtain at night softly
luminous and without sound. The trees
are heavy laden with their rich green foliage
and gentle winds fan delightful fragrance
in the air from the waving and dancing
flowers, the fruits of Natures profuse, but
uncultivated gardens, scattered here and
there with lavish hand. The food of
color, the song of birds, the dewy freshness
Of awakening nature, the coming line of
shadows as they creep along the mountain
sides or sport on the green swords gently,
and as softly as come and go the touching
and hallowed memories of some happy
dreaming hours; cottages hid here and
there in the TANKS OF the valley and only
reminding us Of their existence by thin
vapor that curls up from a solitary chimney
and is soon lost in the trees; the pillows of
crimson and purple as they bank and break
along every horizon like the brazen fargo
of victor's shield, the thousands of little
vistas trembling with romantic interest
through which the light steals ike some
faultless beauty as she throws aside the lat
tice of her boudoir, fountains fiingng dia-
monds to the sunshine and streamets laugh
ing all the day long with gladness, are some
of the touches that the great Artist has fas-
tened to this breathing canvas.
1t has been several years since we have
visited Orkney, then, though impressed with
the belief that ii possessed rare advantages
for th0pall Lhe pursuit Ql health and recrea.
ton, we reached the conclusion that as a
successful summer resort it had seen its
best days. Unfortunate management as well
as pecuniary embarrassments seemed TO pre-
clude all hope Of any extended development.
Our surprise can well be imaged when we
drove up few days ago and found, 10 our
delight, that II was basking in the sunburst
of promise, re-invigorated, re-habitated, "A
thing OF joy and of beauty" Neither time,
pains nor money seems TO have been spared
in giving it new life. new attractions, new
comforts and new properties. The grounds
have been enlarged. ornamentcd and beau
titled to an extent that challenges the ad-
mration of the most fastidious artist. Its
suburbs are lined with gardens luxuriant
with promise for every vegetable, fruit and
wine that the most exacting epicure can
possibly imagine. The sanitary arrange.
nents have been extended, enlarged and
\ approved until their parallel can only be
nnd in the Oldest and richest cities of
n Yrope. The several magnificent houses
I'VE been remodeled and handsomely re-
furnished, verandas have been added en-
circing the same and reaching from the
roof To the ground floor. The dining room,
which has undergone an extensive enlarge
ment and ornamentation, has an elegant
annex To be used on special occasions by
private parties. The cottages, viz; New
York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Richmond, ,
Savannah, Charlestown and New Orleans,
have all been re-papered and refurnished
10 strengthen and add 10 the attractions
all of these buildings have just been painted
white, with blinds and trimmings painted
emerald, venetian and pea colors. Some
idea may be formed of how beautifully these
colors open up in the sunlight aud blend
with the deep green of nature.
hS f"ehuiJ, shc h'Ciy departments duu
the completely arranged bath houses and
adjoining dairy all come 10 for their re-
spective share Of admiration The kitchen,
with alisof its departments and improved
advantages, must be seen to be appreciated;
suffice to say that every needed want has
been anticipated in order to have cleanli-
ness and everything according TO the most
cultured taste.
some idea may be formed of the amount
Of labor and executive ability required to
run this institution, yet II is nicely balanced
10y the cool and discriminating Judgment of
the gallant proprietor. aided by his accom-.
Nplished chief clerk. r. G. Burke, for many
YEARS connected with the Carrollton and
NGreenbrier White Sulphur, together
finished corps Of clerks.
have said. that the picture is beauti.
4. and yet the expression is almost
pgless when II is used TO convey an
its real beauty. Yesterday all the