The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1894-08-11
NATURE IN ARKANSAS.
The Famous Hot Springs and De
Soto's Legend.

hHONH III ny lllc luuluHS lOE lntIT TtIHc-
dial properties, Those who are IA
miliar with them like to surround
them with halo Of romance, and be-
gin their speculations concerning the
history Of their discovery by allu-
sions to the visit of Ponce de Leon TO
Florida in search of the fabulous
fountain Of youth" 1t was De So
to, however, who is supposed to have
discovered the springs, or at least TO
have been the first white man who
bathed in them. Mr.. Frank NJ.
Thompson, the General Superintend-
ent Of the Hot Springs reservation,
gathered together the scant evidence
Of De Soto's visit. The principal bit
Of testimony is the observation Of
Portuguese writer, who says: 1.-The
Governor (De Soto) rested a month in
the province of Cayos, in which time
the horses fattened and thrived more
than in other places in longer time,
with the great plenty Of maize and
the leaves thereof, which think was
the best that has been seen, and they
drank of lake of very hot water, and
somewhat brackish."
This is the story so far as anything
like authentic history knows. The
legend Of the Indian Princes Ulelah
is very much more interesting and
touching. Ulelah was one Of those
beautiful and fawn-like Indian prin-
cesses whom the Spaniards and the
early English and French explorers
al IN, lao. In Of
country. Their descendants had long
died out and left them mere tradi-
tions Of beauty and loveliness. But
Ulelan was lovely-as lovely as Poca-
hOntas and n thousand other waits of
the forest-and she saved the life of
De Soto. The Spaniard was i'll in the
home of Ulelah's father. The lndi-
cality of their famous spring, but
Ulelah finally obtained the chiefs
permission that De Soto should bathe
in it. He was dipped in the healing
waters and was healed, but he nei-
ther carried the secret out of the
country nor married the princess who
saved his life.
Tradition and legend lend to the
charm which surrounds the place,
but the mondaines who pass the win
ter there have very little concern,
probably, about De Soto, or Ulelah,
or anything else that is mythical and
substantial. They are devoted to the
realities of this world; and, when
they 90 to resort, dismiss its ro-
nance in the background, and want
good dinners, good rooms, plenty OF
good air and sunlight, and opportu-
mites to enjoy them, and plenty OF
good and congenial company, Find
ing that at Hot Springs, the ghosts
will be laid, including Manual Prud'-
homme and the others, down to Lu-
dovicus Belding, who built cabins
there and spent profitable and whole
some lives about the Springs. There
is a good deal more in the pleasant,
full life OF the modern day at Hot
Springs than in the history of the pi-
oneers and prospectors Of the region.
The City of Hot Springs lies in n
beautiful region, the Heart of the
Ozarks," in the State of Arkansas.
In a lovely detile, surrounded by
pines, the city of 1900 people COM
bines the comforts Of civilization and
the beauties and delights of nature.
Its streets and roads run through
the natural courses which have
been worn by the waters from the
neighboring hills. The United States
government, which owns the reserva-
tion, has wisely permitted nature to
have its way, and its engineers have
followed with the roads the devious
windings through the wooded heights.
Not far off from the city winds the
Ouachita River, fed by numerous
creeks. The approach TO the city Is
through wild country, passing
through forests and corn and cotton
fields. and by mountain brooks. The
woods are rich in evergreens, in holly,
pine and cedar. What was once a
dreary and toilsome ride over rough
roads and through u wilderness, Is
now comfortable journey in lux
urious ear through rich country.
abounding i'm evidences Of agricul-
tural wealth The train runs by the
Ouachita and crosses many creeks.
The tourist catches glimpses Of tumb-
ling cascades, while lofty peaks give
him n vision of what he is 10 enjoy
when he reaches his destination.
The climate of the place is beauti-
ful and health-giving. The noun
tains are resort for Southern peo-
pie who escape the sultry nights that
make life burdensome i'm other parts
OF that section OF the country. The
spring, winter and autumn OF the
Ozarks are delightful. The air is
soft and balmy. The winter is a.
pleasantly warm and rs pleasantly
cool as the months of May and Oct
ober in more northern climates, and
pleasures out OF doors are quite as
possible. and moro invigorating than
in Florida.
What is there TO do when you get
there? Pretty much everything that