Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1890-08-29
COMMUNICATIONS.

country Lille IN NOrtn 0afOlIuu.
Tothe Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
Several years ago, in the early eighties.
it was my good fortune to visit the M
sulphur springs in southern North Caro-
lima. These springs were situated in the
midst of an immense pine forest, eighteen
miles distant from the village of c.,
which was also the nearest railway station.
The road leading to the springs was rough
and uneven; one of the worst of North
Carolina thoroughfares. We had been
travelling over it since early morning; our
passage had been obstructed by an occa-
sional gate, stretched across the road, sig
nifying we were about to enter another
county, which we were obliged to open for
ourselves.
1t was long past noon when we reached
the borders of the great forest and drove
slowly along the country road, through
the sweetly fragrant pines, which were vocal
with the song of birds. We rode slowly,
enjoying the delicious GOODNESS and spicy
odors-a delightful contrast to the hot
glare of the sun on the red clay roads
which we appreciated fully-when a sud
den bend in the pine avenue disclosed the
u
of mile away.
AS we approached, we saw row of
| women, evidently guests of the house,
seated on the broad veranda, who gazed at
us curiously. They were seated cross
| legged. with snuff sticks in their mouths;
some were sewing bits of bright calico into
| patchwork; others held small tin boxes
| filled with snuff into which they dipped
| their sticks repeatedly. AS we alighted
one of the number, who proved to be the
| landlady, came to meet us. After few
| preliminary questions and answers she
| asked where we came from. At our reply
| that we came from the M hotel at c.
she looked at us quizzically a m moment,
then said, 81 lowed yer mought come
| from the north" This ques-
| ton had been asked us before,
and, in answer to my inquiries why we
We're supposed to come from the north had
received this reply: 'Waal, yeou doan
| walk like we-uns dew"
The hotel was charming; built entirely
of the native pine, it was guiltless of paint
or color, and, being yet in its infancy, was
| fresh and unstained by the weather. A
| wide hall ran through the house, opening
| upon another veranda similar to the one in
front. The interior of the building was
also pine; the floors were uncar-
| peted and spotlessly clean, while
the sides and ceilings were sheathed
| with narrow boards, beautifully fitted and
matched, the grain of the wood making 9
handsome and very unique decoration,
All of the furniture was made from the
same sweet wood; bedsteads, on which
were heaped downy feather-beds; wash
stands, chairs and tables were all made OF
the fragrant pine. Two long tables cover
ed with spotless cloths, were on either side
of the dining room
AS the bell rang for supper the guests
invalids, who were here for the benefit oi
the waters, fiocked to the tables, which
groaned under the weight of eatables upor
them. Such collection of caday
erous, bilious, hungry looking peo
pie l never saw before. Evidentl,
the water had proven beneficial as al
appetizer, for, how they ate. Great plate'
| of hot biscuits and hoe-cakes disappeared
platters of beef and bacon vanished, pyra
mids of white mealy potatoes grew small
| and beautifully less, while cakes, pies
honey and preserves soon became invisibl
A handsome young negress, waving a want
of gorgeous peacock feathers, stood be
hind my chair. AS we were the lates
comers she bestowed on us the most atten
: ton After the tables were cleared an,
i the guests filed to repletion, they still ha,
the same clean and hungry" look tina
characterized them before.
A narrow, well-beaten path down a stee
declivity led to the springs at its base
Here was pretty little pavilion, the to
of which could be plainly seen from tn
house, well supplied with seats for the ac
/ | commodation of those who wished to drin
of the sparkling mineral waters, the mos
| agreeable being those containing larp
percentage of sulphur. Others were her
l containing iron and arsenic, very goo
tonic indeed when used sparingly in homs
opathic doses.
A number of cottages were scattere
over the clearing, or situated at the edg
: of the wood. Some of these were rente
9 to families, who did not wish, or coul
not afford to board at the hotel, Will
: some of the regular boarders had room
there, when the house was fuller tina
/. usual. They were mostly residents {
that and the adjoining counties, and spok
Q in the vernacular of that section.
v In nearly every instance, the first que
ton asked, after my introduction to tf
different people, who first glanced keenl
y at my ruddy sun-browned face, wa
ssWhat mought yer ailment bel" and whe
I confessed almost apologetically to m
a enjoyment of perfect health, it SCENE
g quite heartless among that colony of su
r ferers.
. One of them, a tall, gaunt woman, w
!. especially friendly to u.s. Meeting her ol
l. morning l inquired after her health,
70 which she responded that she WAS ''rig