Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-10
THE HOT SPRINGS.
It's Waters and Its Attractions of
Scenery and It's Gayeties

scenery ana us GayeueS
HOT SPRINGS. VA, July 9.--(Special)
II can be said without fear Of contra
dctlou that The Warm Springs Valley
is certsinly at this time the gayest spot
within the mountains of Virginia. That
this should be so. however, does not
seem strange when one stops to count
the hotels and resorts within the COM
pass Of three miles from the Hot Springs.
AZ the latter alone are four notes.-the
New Homestead. the Virginia. the Nc
Cllntic House. and the Alphin, while
within a radius of three miles are the
Healing and WarT Springs. Probably
no place within the entire territory OF
this country possesses more natural ad-
vantages than does this valley. Nature
has indeed been most lavish in her gifts
here, and man has made the best use
Of them, and converted this beautiful
stretch OF country into a very garden
spot. sheltered beneath the towering
peaks OF the Alleghanies. on the Hot
Springs grounds, within the space OF
probably twenty acres, four mineral
waters are found, they being magnesia,
soda. sulphur and lithia. With the eX-
ception Of the latter, the waters of all
OF these springs are OF a high tempera-
ture. Water bubbling out Of the ground
1T a temperature OF lN degrees would
seem to be rather a freak Of nature,
and as such springs are found In only
a few chosen spots Of this world, 1t may
really be called such.
While hundreds Of those who flock to
this valley do so solely for the purpose
Of regaining their health, yet, as Is the
case at all resorts the majority probably
-I1. a,.,A ffrvs
with the Amos. certain knowledge that
their physical welfare will in no wise
suffer while inhaling the pure air Of an
altitude Of nearly 5000 feet above sea-
level. and imbi, freely Of the health
giving waters how from almost
every hill. C laying is the fad OF
the Gay. and the splendid tennis-courts
would grow up in grass were they not
Kept in such excellent condition by the
company's employees.
To enumerate the many events Of the
past week would be but a tedious task,
and prove OF little interest TO those woo
did not actually participate in them. The
gayeties commenced, Of course. with the
ushering In Of the Glorious Fourth. which
was indeed one Of the most glorious the
country has ever known. The pyrotech-
mic displays at the Hot, Warm, and
Healing Springs eclpSed anything or the
kind ever before seen in thir valley The
darkies at the Hot" gaze a genuine. old
fashioned "cake-walk' on the night OF
the Fourth, which proved a most unique
entertainment to the guests, the ma
jority OF whom had never before witt
messed this favorite social event OF the
BLACK Four Hundred"
Many spent the day by the side OF
some limpld stream. with rod in hand,
while others visited some OF the points
from which can be obtained view OF
the beautiful scenery Of tho Warm
Springs Valley.
Probably the largest OF these parties
was that from the McClintic House, the
picturesque hotel situated at the summit
Of a gently-sloping hill, and commanding
a magnificent view OF the valley below.
in which are erected the buildings OF
the Hot Springs Company. The younger
members among the guests OF this house
went on a hay-rlde TO the Cascades,
five miles distant. The great farm
wagon was almost transformed with the
flags and bunting with which it was de-
corated and might have been taken for
a float In some big parade. had 1t not
been for the tell-tale hay. which peeped
over the sides. Four horses drew the
merry crowd in their gayly-bedecked
vehicle, and the turnout" attracted
considerable attention on the road.
causing more than one of the natives
to stare in wonderment.