The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-07-27
A RESTFUL RESORT.
ON THE BANKS CFT5E BEAUTIFUL
SUZANNE.

An Ideal Place for the Weary to Linger.
Prose, Poetry and sentiment-Im
pressions of One OF the Beautiful
SPOTS In Florida.
SUwANNEE SULPHUR SPRINGS, July a.
The long summer day has drawn to close.
and the evening shades have fallen about
the scene, while gentle but cooling
zephyrs stir softly among the water-oaks
and willows, refreshing the strolIers in the
beautiful grove, and tanning the cheeks Of
the sentimental few who still linger by the
banks of the historic river.
O'erhead the banners of the night unfold,
The day hath passed into the laud of Dreams
One by one through the vista of the trees
appear the lights IN the hotel and cosy cot
tages above; footsteps ring out along the
distant plank walks, and ever and anon the
gay laughter Of some pleasure-seeker is
heard, mingled with the mirthful romp of
children at play. From below me there
comes soothingly to the car the gentle but
never-ceasing roar OF the waterfall from
the springs.
Soon the strollers have left the grove,
the couple who have been making love in
the big swing have deserted their favorite
resort and gone slowly arm in arm I'D the
incline toward the hotel, and the lingerers
by the riverside have also disappeared
And now am sitting alone on the bluff
watching the dark flowing stream beneath
me, and listening to the roar of the water
fail, the mOnotonous chirp of crickets In the
grass, the singing of the snais in the trees,
aud the occasional boot Of a swamp owl in
the dark woods across the river.
1t is time for the evening meal, and
should be on my way to the hotel with the
rest of my late companions; but the full
moon of July is slowly rising over the trees.
the hour, the spot couture up romantic
thoughts, and so am content to stay Sem
timent has carried the day, and l linger yet
awhile to enjoy the beauteous scene and
give myself up to pleasant reveries
The Suwannee is a lovely stream. well
worthy of the delightful melody which has
made it famous. in the draw ing-rooms
Of England. the salons of France
and the music halls of America
WAY Down Upon the Suwannee River"
has long held its own with "Home. Sweet
Home The Last Rose of Summer" and
other world-re1owned melodies. Whether
sung before the footlights by Nilsson, or
Patti, or lamented Emma Abbott, or
played in orchestra by Thomas, or Strauss
or Lothian, or Damrosch, it never yet has
failed to strike responsive chord in the
souls of listening thousands. Many tender
memories center around the old melody
which has stirred so many hearts and
dlmmed so many eyes with unconscious
tears as its sweet but plaintive notes have
fallen softly on the ears Of audiences all
over the world.
The Sawannee is beautiful but also mvs-
FERROUS river. 1t takes its rise sotnew here
in that gloomy spot kno wn as the ''Oke-
fnokee"-sometlmes called the "Dismal
Swamp of Georgia. The lovely river flow
ing peacefully beneath me is gracious gift
to the outside world from that awful Jungle
and morass whose depths no one has ever
penetrated fully and perhaps never will
Sometimes the Suwannee, without any ap-
parent cause, rises suddenly in a night,
almost overlooking its rock-ribbed banks,
and weeks elapse before the Ireshet subsidies
Again, while other rivers in Georgia and
Florida may be raging foods, our beautiful
river here flows placidly out to the
sea- undlSturbed by the slightest rise:
The sulphur springs at this noted resort
are one OF natures curiosities and must be
seen 10 be appreciated. They are a gift
from the Great Physician of the universe
~ hiilhe l4AOA tuAS DIl 6hIbE. AlDDRSlQ0 OF
their virtues drugs and drug stores, doctors,
medicines and patent compounds fall into
speedy dsrepute.
Throw physio to the dogs; I'll none of
il" quoth Macbeth, and 50 says the invalid
here after a few draughts of the healing
waters and plunge into the spring baths.
Away down into the bowels of
the earth, in some huge mys-
and limestone
these wonderful waters, whoa are dis
charged through five "boils" into the
spring Enclosure. The quantity coming
out every minute is estimated at 45 900
gallons The springs form a sort of niche
IN the bluff, occupying spot about 50 feet
wide and so feet long. a strong coquina
wall surrounds them and shuts out the
waters of the Suwannee when it gets in a
freshet. Through a window in the wall the
overflow escapes, forming the waterfall
have alluded to. the roar of which never
ceases Several miles up the river, where
the ''Suwannee river route to Floridan-the
Georgia Southern and Florida railroad
crosses the stream whose name Ii has chosen
for its route there is another celebrated
sulphur spring. of equal volume, and sad to
be Of similar virtue. It's called the Nv bite
spring" This charming resort, where |
now find myself, is one Of the most lncon-
y
owing to ill-consdered schedules and insult
hclent train service on the Gainesville
DIVISION of the Savannah, Florida and
Western railroad, by which it is reached at
Suwannee station, one mile distant from the
springs
Although the only summer resort on tn at
line, the officials have made no apparent
effort to build 1t up and attract travel there,
either in the way of red rates CT a con-
Veulent train service. f r some time a
sleeper was run from savannah to the
springs. which was q GIT comfort to
visitors going and comin- ut now the
sleeper has been taken oil, and there is
weeping and wailing and gnashng of teeth
on that celebrated all-nigut run which
brings one here via the classic town of Du-
poht However, when you get here you are
repaid for the discomfort and annoyance OF
the journey, for whether sick and in need of
the water, or tired and broken down in
ocuy and mind and hunting for quiet and
rest, you find it all here.
4 X
The long summer days glide pleasantly
away at this peaceful retreat on the Suwan-
nee, far from the maddeninR crowd. y
W neither lounging on the cool and spacious
tiazzas Of the big hotel, or wandering amid
ne sylvan groves. or floating Idly in a row.
y. "a down the placid river restful thoughts
c3.4e over you. and the busy, feverish world
xutslue is weil-nigh forgotten, One almost
les reSentul at the sound of a train whistle
On the distant railway. Here might the
toIos-eaters have come and made this spot
suelr nome. for, like them, the soiourner
,iere Is seized with an irresistible impulse to
Lnger long beyond his time