New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-04-09
HOT SPRINGS OF VIRGINIA.
EXPERIENCE OF WINTER AND SPRING
WEATHER.
AN OLD THEORY ABOUT THERMAL wATERs-THE
HOMESTEAD UNEMPLOYMENT VISITORS.


arrived, brilliant dance celebrated the opening in
the evening In its hundred more years the VEN
cradle hosiery has seen many display OF beauty
and fashion but this. doubt. although not fuli-
dress party in least the first respect My COM
pared with them all. The stars in frosty splendor
lit up the procession that wound gayly UP the nil
from the Virginia. and merry laughter mnglins
with the strains Of the orchestra. woke unwonted
echoes in the solemn mountains around Inc oa'd
is equal to its eXigences. and the dancing "indhS
UP appropriately with ecampering virginia reel
was hugely enjoyed by both participants and spec
tators.
There has been some sharp weatner-the tail end
ncrhaps Of Northern and Western Billiards. The
thermometer has been. on one night as low as "
degrees the days oorrespondngy chilly ana oiustei-
ing and furries OF snow have bianched the enierad
fields The genial sunshine OF ten days ago was
aslow with hope. Strangers judging from what IS
seen ami heard. looked TO walk forth any hne morn
ing and discover not daffcdis and violets only but
clusters Of splendid rhododendron gay blossoms OF
the larestinus and everchangng azalea ara 10 near
the greeneries vocal with songbrds. The change may
be- the more exquisite when It comes, but truth COM
pe,s the admission that yet one has to wait Tor
it,
Meanwhile. although winter fingers. some OF the
owners OF villas that adorn the neshbornS mis-
have already arrived. and speculative inquirers are
al hand seeking. like tn, robins ana the jays Tor
spots to build their nests hereafter. Among the lat
who offered A round for picturesque promon-
tory near the Virginia but has rot as yet concluded
his negotiation. Other contracts are pehu'hs Ior
property adjacent to that OF the Hot Springs Com
pany. and point to the anticipation OF speedy de-
veopmert.
Among the cOttage-Owners now here or eXpecteu
soon are NJ f. ingalls, T. f. Osborn. Decatur Axtell.
f. +. sullivan. X. j. Harrison and c. w. Richard
son. Several noted capitalists or newborn nave
Of late here for healths sake as IL understood
rather than with other Views. Among these j" A.
Van Hoffman and Il. J.. Iorton-who il already
largely Interested In Virginia property-have left
for home after some weeks stay. George Bliss or
Norton Bliss Il CO.. remains and looks much bene-
tifed by his visit
Attention having been SO sharply directed OF late
II the Virginia Valley and its thermal springs
springs that H. whose temperature ia higher than
the mean OF the surrounding atmo"phere-that de-
bate become animated to the source. or rather
cause of these remarkable waters. Some say this
H. volcanic that the springs are merely prod
ucts OF the vast watersheds OF the mountains that
percolae TO depths ana pass In their journey
over mineral deposits. one theory noted by the
writer. however. has been observed by him In no
American publication. and this time II may con-
stltute whatever It's value curious and attractive
contribution to the discussion. This is the theory
Of the celebrated DR. Granville. published in Eng
land sixty years ago. Warm springs here
in Virginia are said be most like the German
recognized as the foremost authority on such SUBJ
jects wrote " II:
Both in this and in the cases OF all the warm
mineral springs have visited am led TO ascribe 10
temperature the principal effects which the water
produces upon the human constitution. But II IL
not the thermometrical temperature TO which al
lule when proclaim such opinion II is 70 the
caloricty ~ the water which Is not ~ be measured
by Raamur Fahrenheit: principal impaired by
the springs in question from sources which
yet escaped detection. but which. at no dis
tant period. will probably be found connected with
electrical forces and therefore not appreciabe by
ordinary instruments OF thermometrical mensur-
alton - 49,,
for the natural heat - warm or hot springs
admixture ~ cold water before being usetl-such az
thoss ~ Carlsbad. Wiesblden. Toplitz. etc.-must
b. used at once At their natural temperature SUCH
OF curse Is precisely The with the virginia Ho
Springs. the daily yield Of which IL 10000 gallons
not 1000. AS by clerical errOr. was stated In a
prsyious Letter Pu6lish1,Gd in The Tribune -,
pose which Hot Springs IS designed henceforth t.
the year round and 50 viii never c;ose The Home
stead Is summer houss only AMI being much
the help of adjacent cottages pertaining to each SUI
ply The presen' demand II. however. the springs
day IS a., far or when existing accommodations
Will have 10 be- largely increased.
on hears at Hot springs naturally enough: much
draught help the invalid. and how far his improve
Such talk Is almost old the hills themselves
often finds relief from his COMPLAINT less from
the healing virtues Of the spa Itself than because
s Of S5I lax Me& have n st satr
fore" save. mainly for two things. one Is that ar
nn . t a. from th ti ~ SiI Wii,am rnhnson
who was cured a. Saratoga when taken there for |
dying. and from that of chief Justice fancy. whv
left positive records OF his and that OF MS wife
fl4S. o flt
health under like benignani influence
This letter. which began with frost and SNOW ends !
In sunshine. Spring has stolen back. dsarmins !
Win her the singing birds and ir-shly swelling buds
The band Is playing in the open air and the lite
birefooted children arr back again with their bask
cts OF slmp. flowers The hills more trodden
by the pedestrians. enjoned by the doctors
bring tdIngs OF what all have heard o. bur which |
mos. have 50 far failed 10 see certain neighborng |
\ word may be forgiven to the colored folks
Many changes have been noted in their race during
the last generation and no, always. or by al oh
servers. to their advantage. The present writer /
has seen much of them In all parts OF the Union be-
fore ana since the and at the earlier time. not
The impression brough, home to him Is that there
is less Of change in that here In the mountains
are si merry. open-hearted. courteous and willing
They still take NE lightly and cheerfuy. The
that many OF their brethren elsewhere share with
the race TINT once rul%l them seems to them yet !
you. the ready ,lonlng of the cap the hear;y but
never too familiar sautaton one remembers OF yore
All the servants at Hot Springs. except the cham
bermlids-and some Of them inleed-arp coOrel !
people and no experienced traveller would think
that they could with advantage be replaced. VIVA; ,
the reason Is for this survival of the Old charac-
teristcs II would not be 10 set forth. Perhaps II
lies I'm ISOLATION Perhaps because Of continued life
in region which while close to the war
was always practically shut out OF and free from H.
President ingalls,. OF the Chesapeake and Ohio
has just arrived here
The latest names registered AZ the Hot Springs
hotels are as follows: Mr. and Mrs Henry Randel
Mrs. +. r. Hart. Miss Skinner John r. StilwelI
Miss NJ A. Chaplin. Miss Blanche Parker. Dr. and
Mrs. W. H. Caswell. Mrs. VI. A. Crawford Mr.. ami
Mrs George II; Allen: Mrs; Henry F. Dimock and
Miss DmOck. Miss Bliss. Miss \. Bliss Mr. and
Mrs. George 3 Hasbrouck and Charles +. Hunting
ton. OF New York; Mrs. -. X. Floyd-Jones and Miss
u. L. F,oyd-Jonts. OF Long Island: Miss /, II Kean
Df Elizabeth. " j.. MIR and Mrs. NJ. Il. Metcalf and !
Mr. and Mrs \. X. kmbalL Of Orange. ~ J. /
Ai... L. Il-aaa Illll