The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1902-05-08
A TRIP TO THE HOT SPRINGS.
| |

was Durham and that he was engaged
in business in Boston. That he has not
lost interest in his native place was
manifest when he said that on his re-
| turn home he should subscribe for The
Journal. Our conversation was inter
rupted, and when renewed later he re-
marked, Il was at this hotel IS years
ago." to which l promptly responded,
so was l." On comparing dates, how
ever, l find that it was in 1858, A years
ago, that for about six weeks | was a
guest at the Planters Hotel The
building, as | now recall it, was of the
type of the Old fremont and Revere in
Boston, while the present house, on the
same site, is modern structure. An
other Belfaster was met at the Hot
Springs-Mr. J. V. Havener, who had
been playing all the season in the fine
orchestra of the Eastman Hotel. He
was engaged to play the French horn,
but at the time of our visit had the
first violin. At the close of the season,
| then near at hand, Mr.. Havener expect
ed to 60 to Milwaukee and later to Bos-
ton.
Other Maine men were met, as they
are found everywhere. An acquaint-
ance made last year at Buffalo with
Mr.. F. c. Stearns, President of the
+ Business Mems League, Hot Springs.
was pleasantly renewed. Mr.. Stearns
is an oxford Bear, and with his family
| spent some time last summer at the old
homestead in Lowell Centre. where his
mother still lives. He is in the hard
| ware business at the Hot Springs and
| his firm is one of the largest concerns
| there. Mr.. Stearns as a member of the
reception committee was generally at
tentive, but looked specially to the
comfort and pleasure of the Maine dele
CATION. who headed the procession on
one of the mountain drives. accom-
panied by some of their Massachusetts
friends. Another Maine man met was
a Mr.. Jones, who is in the ice business.
and who expressed his satisfaction with
the Hot Springs as place of residence
| think he said lie was from kennebec
county.
The headquarters of the Association
were at the Eastman Hotel, and there
most of the delegates reported although
all the hotels We're open to them. The
meetings were held with few exeep-
tons, in the Casino of the Park Hotel.
nearly OF quite half a mile Distant but
etctrics ran OetNttn the two and ac-
commodated tie lame and the lazy
The majority Of the delegates walked
The Eastman is tive-Story brick build
ing. finely located and equipped, and
with accommodations for 900 guests.
There are baths in connection, the tele-
phone and telegraph at hand. and our
party of between four and five hundred.
which would have taxed the resources
of most hotels, was cared for and
well cared for, without the least confu-
sion. All had good rooms and prompt
service at meals The walters, BARRIERS
and bath-house attendants are colored
men: and judging from the numbers
met on the streets the colored popula
ton of Hot Springs must exceed the
white. As the season" had practically
closed the large floating population had
departed.
On oul arrival vegetation was not
Is far advanced as we expected to find
it, but the days that followed of bright
sunshine and increasing heat brought
out the full foliage. A first we found
the temperature very agreeable, and
the nights were invariably cool so that
a refreshing sleep was ensured. But
after a time one began to seek the
shady side of the streets, the breezy
side of the yerandas, and when we
were packed into the Park asino Fri
day afternoon for the election of officers
it was like being i'll a Turkish bath.
Tie meetings of the Association will
be the subject of later article, and |
shall only speak here of the gayeties i'll
terspersed. Tuesday evening there was
an informal reception by citizens at the
Arlington Hotel, which is under the
same management as the Eastman.
Music and dancing were enjoyed by
large number. Wednesday afternoon
the ladies of Hot Springs gave recep-
ton to the ladies accompanying the
Association in the parlors OF the East
man Hotel Refreshments were served
and the Eastman Hotel Orchestra fur
nished music. Thursday afternoon the
editors were the guests of the Business
| Mems League az the Horse Show,
| Wilmington Park: and here | am re-
minded of the Arkansas apple. The
/ Arkansas delegation at Buffalo last
year wore as badge a representation
Of a big red-cheeked apple, and we were
told that if the Association met in Hot
Springs in 1902 we should have our fill
of these apples. The promise was
| faithfully redeemed AT the first
session of the Association in the Park
| Casino it was announced that on
| adjournment there would be apDleS for