Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-08-30
LETTER FROM PROVIDENCE WELLS.
"THE REST" Aug. 26, 1889.
To the Editor of the Eagle.

|
them, and finding it ''just glorious" W,
cannot refrain from telling you bi
about it and the pleasure it has afforded
us to be here.
Our party are at ''The Rest" cottag,
built by Mr.. A. A. Hyde and presided
over by his sister, whose generous hos
pitality is dispensed in a most gracious
manner, her genial presence making I'll
all feel at home at once and thoroughly
in love with everything. Then the cot
tage itself is charming, SO cosy and ar
tistic in all its furnishings and appoint
ments. The wide porch, with its octo
gan end, where the breeze blows merrily
all the while, the spacious hammock:
and fine view, is luxury and thing Of
Joy to remember.
Providence is indeed beautiful for sit
uation, high and healthful. One car
see over the prairies toward the east fol
miles and miles and miles, and lover
of nature cannot but be imbued with
the spirit Of quiet beauty and serenity
pervading the peaceful picture, and
resting like benediction upon him.
The air is so fresh and pure it tastes
''simpiy delicious" We are reminded
Of the sea, and In the morning, when
the sun peeps out smiling, we can
imagine his throwing kisses to the waves
and the waking winds are laughing
gaily everywhere, tossing US snatches. and
catches of the fun and commotion out
on the waters The crisp freshness all
about us fills US with new VIM and vigor,
and with elated step we start for the
mineral well, few rods distant. We
find the water cool, smooth and pleasant
to the taste. You might not like it at
first, but we like it better and better
every day, and can testify to its benefi-
cial effects. 1t was analysed at consid-
cradle expense by Prof Banks, of the
School Of Mines, New York city, and its
chief constituents are magnesia, lithia,
| iron, lime, soda and sulphur. You can
drink all you want free, for nothing: and
although we We're tempted to take a
good deal on this account we refrained
| from an overdose, remembering the ex-
perience Of Samantha Aliens husband at
Saratoga, who got quite beyond his
| depth and almost drowned himself for
! five cents.
The bath house is constantly open and
visitors most cordially welcomed. Pa
pers, magazines and games are provided
shows d goodlv number Of names from
! the peerless Princess" The baths, hot
and cold are highly recommended for
those who suffer from rheumatism and
kindred diseases. And beyond the bath
house and well are peach orchards of
| pleasing proportions, whose fine fruit
and cosy corners we can also highly
| recommend. Miss E. can tell of the cor
ners and j. of the peaches.
To drive IN Kansas is always q genu-
inc pleasure, and here we find the many
winding ways, with their green hedges,
tall corn fields and waving prairie
grasses, particularly pretty and interest
ing. The Walnut river, three miles
distant, quite surprised us. We
had not imagined to find a stream SO
picturesque and decidedly romantic look
ing in Kansas.
Standing on the bridge at the mill, we
see the quiet water flowing around the
bend, and on either side the banks are
heavily timbered The trees SO close
together, overhung with vines, that they
look like huge hedge. Below, the
scene changes to one of varied beauty,
the water goes tumbling over the dam
and is tossed into foamy spray, beating
boisterously against the mill, which is
built upon steep bank, and down into
the water. On the other side great,
wide spreading trees, and their smaller
sisters, grown SO bushy and round, are
sprung up from among the rocks III
pretty confusion; and down by the
waters edge is graceful fringe of tender
green foliage, bending over and swaying
gently with the little ripping waves as
they pass onward by. The fishing is
quite an attraction, hunting ditto, plover
and pointers" are constantly on the go.
Now you may think that this would
all be very nice, IF one
were only there" and imagine
the drive down long and tedious. You
can easily come in from five to six
hours, and the country is full of beauty
all the way, midsummer sweetness and
fragrance meet you everywhere.
For us, the time of our stay in this
paradise of a providence. has passed all
too quickly by. Rest and repose, deris-
ion and and distraction has been the
daily program. Two of Wichta's most
entertaining and lady-like lawyers have
been the prominent promoters of the
two latter. when twilight let her pur-
pie curtains down." and we were ready
for some fun, they told us fairy ana set
cetery' stories that must have made
Baron Munchausen turn in his grave
with alarm. Then we would weep
laugh till we cried. That is, sing and be
gay with a right good will, and our kind
hostess SO Jolly herself did not frown, but
told us to rejoice all we wanted to, and
we certainly did so.
Douglas, tive miles east. is place of
no mean proportions. and thither tour
lists usually wend their way viewing the
various places of amusement, etc., the
opera house and hotels with high-sound-
ing names. OF course we went. Coming
out from the northern part
of the city, we wound up and down,
now little hill with pretty views on
either side, now little vale with
tangled bits of woods, and great high |
weeds, some sixteen feet and over. |
Finally we struck real live hill, ''hill |
what Is a hill, with rock and rilIs along |
side. Almost straight up. three-quarters |
straight, any how. This made us |
little homesick and we might have !
grown pensive, and lost our appetites. /
but as the hour was almost and dinner I
near AT hand. we couldn't entertain the /
thought more than moment. You see /
this festal hour Is one Of Importance. !
We put on our prettiest and dine de- .
lightfullv. Here I must say a word /
about our dining room. 1t IS such Il !
cute and cool little apartment. The |
luxurious big backed chairs took me-
Immediately. and the thing about the !
fireplace took my eye. The pieces are /
of Mnton tile, hand painted to represent !
the months of the year Then the table !