The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-07-25
THURSDAY........JULY -. 1901.
Weather forecast for Fred
erickSburg and Vicinity.
Fair ThurSdGy; stationary
temperature ; light north
1oiRdS.
SOME OBSERVATIONS.


Committee of the Virginia Press ASSo-
citation as the place of mcetingfor its
18th annual session, and accordingly
the scribes of the Old Dominion re-
sorted thither last week, nearlyevery
member being accompanied by his
wife. daughter or some lady member
of his family. The reasons for its
selection were manifold. among them
being primarily its location in the
mountains this being the alternate
wear for going to the up-cOuntryh
its convenient location and accessl-
bilitv from the {. \ O. and y. X W.
railroads the principal lines OF the
State and those most used by the
fraternity in rendezvousing every
wear. Thecourtesies of MessrS. Bevill.
of the y. 4 W.. and Fuller and Potts,
OF the c. \ O.. were unbounded-but
OF this We shall speak in another
chapter.
Arrived at Luray, every arrange
ment for the comfort of the editorial
contingent had been made 10y Mr.. I.
]. Berrey, editor Of the Page Courier,
a member of the Association. The
whole town was wide open Tor the
reception and every soul seemed anX-
ious to be good to the Virginia Jour
nalists. How we'll they succeeded Is
perpetuated i'm resolutions OF the rs
ISOLATION, adopted at the meeting,
but the greater memorial willremain
in the hearts of those who were the
recipients OF probably the most gen
erous treatment ever extended a body
of visitors.
The caverns and other places OF IN
terest were at the guilds command.
and it would take columns to chrOn-
icle every visit or event. more OF less
familiar to Virginians. But one item
demands special attention. Nature
has been muniicent in her patrimony
to this blest country, and holds out
an inviting hand TO mans craft and
enterprise. His acumen has not been
altogether slumbering, for among
Others an enterprise has been built to
add a crown of triumph, as it were,
tooneof nature : greatest curiosltles.
the Luray Caverns. On the brow OF
the hill overlapping the cave has
been built a house OF modern con-
struction and of advanced ideas in
arrangement of apartments. Mr.. 1.
c. Northcott, with Northern energy
and means. has here built the Limair
Sanitarium. HYGIENE writings have
lately suggested the Inhalation OF
cave air as treatment of diseases OF
the respiratory organs. The lime air
(see the appropriate selection OF Linn
air Sanitarium as a name) OF Luray
Cave stands at a Uniform temporal
ture of 80 to 56o the year round.
To harness it for the purposes indi-
Gated Mr.. NorthcOtt has built his
sanitarium apertu"es largely OF glass
and easily closed From a shaftsunk
into a recess of the cave huge ian,
operating after the manner OF cleo
trio fans, conveys the extracted air
through a tight passage-way into the
main nall of the sanitarium. From
here it is conveyed to each apartment
throughout the building, each Of
which is provided with proper ven
tilators. Furnished with the same
air. but warmed and rarifed, is the
sun parlor-for in conjunction with
his advanced idea of breathing cave
air this man of original ideas has
more or less faith in the sun bath
and this apartment caters to those
who may be enthusiasts on the
subject.
The sanitarium is just completed
and already has a few guests, Will
promises OF many. So great was the
rest and comfort experienced here by
the tired editors and their fair ac
compartments that, stirred possibly
by recollections of long ago bible
readings, bronzed pencil-pusher eX
claimed: Lets stay here Away
let's buy it as a home for the Vir
ginia editors" OF course the COS
was no consideration, and only tn
unselfish recollection that thousand
OF readers could not live withOu
these noble knights dissuaded then
from acting upon the suggestion theI
and there
Virginia claims the first innova
ton OF this kind and the future Wi
no doubt hear much of Limair San
tarium. OF it's protector recollection
will long linger in the minds Of Vii
ginia newspaper men. 1t was thi
same public-spirited man who ter
dered to the Association the splendi
banquet at Hotel Laurance the nigh
after arrival. A hundred plates wei
spread and emptied by theladies an
gentlemen Of the Association as I'll
courses we're served, and intersperse
with these were responses to toast'
the first speaker being Mr.. Northcot
ne t...s.<.,,,,(Io d a rOVol NQlcOml