St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1888-10-20
LIFE AT ABITA SPRINGS.

THIS season has been one OF con.
tinued seenssa and routines OF pleas
ure in every conceivable form
for all have been able to remain
long enough to become acquainted
and initiated. We eat breakfast at
8 O'Clock. A. ~. when all who can
move around. light out for q rambls
to the springs and through the pine
woods. the girls and boys gayly
romping over the gargling springs.
and far away over hill and dale, fill
ing the woods with the CHEEKY voices
of the pleasure seekers from among
the wage workers aud counter hop
pers Of the great Southern Empo-
rum.
Tie old crippled vets both of the
wars aud baser turmoils. hunt
ing out some radical "Reminiscences
Of a fallen foe; some improvise u
resting place beneath the deep
shade Of wild oak groves near the
musical bubbles Of lympid waters Of
the far fame ALita. its crystal stream
beautiful to behold aud refreshing
to the thirst OF the delighted be-
holder, or can reclins upon the seats
Of tho ample pavilion provided for
the rest AMI amusement OF visitors.
Dinner at 3 o'clock, P. NJ. and then
rest aud leisure the balance Of the
evening. or game Of croquet. or
music in the parlor agreeable to tue
taste and inclination.
Night brings the western bound
train with the mail. After the dis
cassion of which. aud the greeting
of fresh arrivals. supper. with the
pleasant tete-a- tste Of family circle
with the flow of wit and the Cow OF
soul. making al as merry as the
marriage bell.
After supper. We have a regular
"pitch in" for jolly good time in
the way Of music and otter parlor
entertainment. and a. We have had
few theatrical oddities to aid in
conducting recita!s and dramatical
episodes through the whole season.
this part Of ~ amuse'nsnts has
been quite : fch treat; the whole
concluding With . merry country
dance, wl5sh each one gives away to
the fupand glss in good old coun-
try style. trying to ont dance his
partner. Sometimes We have plays
in which both young and old join;
~. "Pleassd or Approximations
parison." or the popular game of
Feather" where all assemble in a
circle OF chairs. stretching sheet in
tue circle. and placing . feather on
the eheet, EACH one blowing the
feather. away from himself and to
his neighbours side. and 10 who
catches the drop OF the feather gives
forfeit to be Cancelled by the per-
Torrance of some frivilons act; gen.
erallv making the actor the subject
for fun for the balance OF the party.
As y specimen. n gentleman is re-
qnired to mako love and a proposal
to q lady according to the most i'm
proved style of the age. This re-
quires as much cheek and talent as
the getting of Of an extem-po on
court occasion.
I have seen the digni6ed gentry
hopping on all tours like frog. for
the amusement of laughing specta-
tors.
1t is considered dishonorable to
repudlatc penalties.
This closes the amusements OF the
evening. about 10 or II o'clock
each one retiring to their cozie cot
tage room for . nights rest after
the innocent frolic Ola day.
Sometimes the horses are hitched
up to the hacks, and little wagons
used in the country. for q jostle over
the rough roads, and over the coun-
try to the villages and other neigh
boring watering places. (for there
are not less than haif-a-dozen in
three miles ofthis place. The trip
is made at rafting stride. and
back again for breakfast at 9 OF clock.
and .noh is life at Abita Springs.
There are four we'll kept ard COM
molious hotels in . few hundred
yards of the main Artesian Saline
Calel,iaL Springs. winch has been
anslized by physicians. and found
to contain the various medicinals
ooncomitauts of carbonic gaes. soda
iron. magnesia and Sulphur.
Without speaking to the detri-
msnt of the other hotels. we cannot
refrain from mention Of the Booster