davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1903-08-16
"REMINISCENCES OF AN OLD-TIME
FASHIONABLE WATERING PLACE
lST REMEMBER very "

sc I REMEMBER very WELL" said an
old-timer from Stafford county,
Virginia, when there wasn't
such thing as a railroad or hotel
within the entire confines of the Old
Dominion. Turnpikes and stage coach
routes were as plenty as blackberries
in the fields. while inns and taverns were
located at every cross road and at every
courthouse town. and at the time
speak of the White Sulphur Springs, To-
Gated in Fauquier county. were far and
away beyond any summer resort in the
whole country. People came from every
section to enjoy its health-giving tonics
in the summer season. Not only In vir-
ginia were its patrons, but they were
located In all parts of the South and
North and the West. l must say" said
the old Virginian in a rarenthetic way,
''the South furnished the bulk OF the
guests. Those who didn't come In the
regular stage coaches came in their own
state carriages, with their Hyeried slaves
as drivers and footmen, and many of
them brought their own cooks with
them. They are called chefs nowadays,
but in the Southern country they are
few and far between. owing to the war
and the ruin accomplished by it to tho
old planters, cotton planters and tobacco
planters as well, who fairly rolled In
wealth before the war.
''The cotton men came principally from
South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Mis-
slssippi and Louisiana. while Maryland,
Virginia, North Carolina and kentucky
presented in glorious splendor the mag
mates of the tobacco fields and, as I said
before, these moneyed men journeyed In
a style that has long been forgotten and
of course, will never be revived in this
country. 1 knew personally" continued
the old raconteur, "some of the gentle
men who drove in state to tie springs
when the watering place season began.
There were the Taylors, the warrens.
and the Pratts, the Burnards. Alfred and
Arthur, and the Fays, who lived on the
Rappahannock and who never let a sea-
son pass without a long visit to the
White Sulphur. Louisiana was another
State that was never without a repre-
sentative, or more properly speaking. z
score or more of them. at the White
Sulphur. There are many descendants
OF these old families that still cling to
their old domestic traditions, and. while
they travel behind the iron horse, yet
they love the sulphur water resorts of
the old region and visit them every sum-
mer. Now many Of them go further
along to the springs at Greenbrier and
rest and take their comfort there.
The Mother of Watering Places.
"The old Fauquier county resort was
the original fashionable summer resort
OF the country. Newport. with it's
chanseless variety OF gayeties. its ban
quets to members of the Simian tribe,
its dog entertainments and similar fol-
The Washington times., 1903-08-16

lies, was an unknown quantity in the
algebra Of fashions resorts. Atlantic
City, with its famous boardwalk, its
great hotels. merry go-rounds, and
modern instances of outnowing wealth
was unthought Of Saratoga. with it's
heaIth-g giving waters. Long Branch.
Coney Island. and all the other sum
mer places with their shows, pano--
amas, phantasmagoria and frivolitios
generally, are, If you will allow me TO
use the expression, merely one horse
counterfeits Of, old VirgiDia's original
White Sulphur Springs.
and then you talk about fair women
and brave men. They were there in
multitudinous array. / do not allude
particularly to those from the South,
though these predominated. Grand danes
In their silken attire, with Iaces and
diamo nds that fell upon their ivory
shoulders, and were clasped around
their swan-like necks. as the same had
in former days ornamented their moth
ers and grandmothers. ruled with queen
like supremacy the gentlemen of the old
school, who, like knights OF old, were
ever ready tt bend the knee and pay
their homage, or resent the slightest
disrespect, or Indifference to the charms
of fair women By resort to the duello.
the adherents to which never discovered
breaks in their ranks at the Virginia
Springs in those times, half a century
gone by.
The Green Cloth and Ballroom Floor.
''Was there much gambling going on
at these old Virginia Springs?" said the
old gentleman in response to a query.
We'll, young man, did you ever know
of a watering place where men of
wealth did not part with some Of their
dollars or added 10 them in what you
call gambling? OF course. there were
games Of chance OF every description
faro, roulette, and everything else IN a
profusion sufficient to throw Monte Car
10 in dark shadow And the players
were not required to mount a ladder and
hide themselves In a cellar 20 play
cards. Everything was open and above
board. You might as well ask me-" he
said, IF there were faro palaces al Sara
toga. OF course everybody 'gambled,' as
they call IL, who wanted TO, but pro-
fessionaI gamblers, those fellows who
stack the cards and follow gambling as
a business. were not allowed to partlei-
pate. They soon found out that their
room was far preferable to their con-
pany.
'One feature of the caro- amusements
Of the ancient days at the Virginia
Springs was the playing of that noble
game of whist l don't mean this new
tangled game Of bridge whist That
was not known in those days. I refer
to the fine old English game-that hon
orable pastime that our great-grand-
fathers and grandmothers and our an
cestors before them played for a shill-
ing corner, often with a bishop and
a doctor for their partners. The ladies'
at the original White Sulphur. particu-
The Washington times., 1903-08-16

the removal of q dead man froL4
bunch of wires when the stimulus OF
whisky becomes one of the necessities
of the living lineman scarcely second to
the tools of his deadly calling. Three
dollars a day alone is scarcely enough
to hold him to the work.
A "Nest of Scorpions"
''You have seen man in climbing
irons 20 up one Of these poles, walk
ing up step by step securely as on
stair, but have you appreciated that
once his head and shoulders have ap-
peared among the wires on the cross
arms he is in a nest of scorpions such
as Milton never dreamed Of? That only
the slightest movement out of the most
limited Of cramped positions means in
slant death?
THE man. whether with sword OF
musket. who has stood in the face of the
enemy's fire OF bullets, grape, canister
and solid shot has been the material for
heroics IN all time. Do you know that in
all of the work done in aerial Washing
ton among wires. cross arms and poles
that cloud the sky. the men who do it
are picked men, chosen for their cour-
age. nerve, and understanding, and who
realize that their chances in battle would
be more favorable than are their chances
among the wires? Who know that they
follow the most hazardous occupation IL
the world?
More Perilous Than the Soldiers Duty.
Comparing the work of the Hneman
with the work o. soldier On the 1eld
Of battle, everything is in favor Of the
soldier. His chances of injury are TO
more than the chances of the Ilneman
with death. while the soldiers chances
of death from injury are scarcely one 20
four; there are no injured linemen.
Ordinarily the trolley wires and the
third rail with which the public is most
familiar have little of the element of
danger so long as they are unbroken
The voltage of the trolley ordinarily is
about 500. and in touching one of the IN
broken wires a workman is not likely 70
experience much discomfort unless the
skin should be broken at the point Of
contact When a wire approaches tur-
den of electricity at 1000 volts it be-
comes dangerous. and when it has reach
ed the &c. 900 volts used in many of the
larger cities danger OF approach to such
current may be only guessed at by tie
1avrpau
The Washington times., 1903-08-16

on load OF screenings, two sacks of
wheat. twelve gallons OF boiled meat
and about half a barrel of stale bread
soaked in water. This costs on an aver
age of $500 a month.
The largest ostrich farm In the world
is at South Pasadena. Cal It Is the
parent farm of the United States. and is
recognized as a sort OF unofficial head
quarters to which all ostrich breeders
look Edwin Cawston is the proprietor
The beautiful sweeping pIumes that
adorn the Gainsboro of the stately So
eiety dame and the feathers forming the
long boa. light as thistIedown, that
milady wears around her neck, and the
snowy fan which the coy maiden uses
10 such advantages as she knows how
all these come from Mr.. Cawston's huge
farm, from birds so ugly that even their
plumage scarce redeems their lack OF
beauty
The hundreds OF ostriches which Mr..
Cawston breeds TO meet the enormous
demand for feathers have sprung from
a single cargo which he brought fror,
Africa Here are displayed the proc
esses of ostrich cultivation from the be-
ginning Incubators filled with ecgs
about TO be Matched. young chicks and
full-g grown ostriches ready TO be pluck
ed. The owner has the world as his
market place.
Ginseng and Mushroom Raising.
The principal, in fact, the only real,
ginseng farm worthy OF the name is
owned by J. G. Osborne, of Westheld.
Pa. He raises the plant in large
quantities. and supplies dealers and
users Of it all over the country. Until
this farm was established ginseng takers
had to content themselves with getting
the root from hunters who found it in
the woods The cost of the imported
article was enormous.
1t requires about eight years before
the first crop of ginseng root can be
dug, and during all that time the grow
ing plants require constant watching and
a great deal Of care.
Chicago has the largest mushroom
farms in the United States. and fits farm
ers are women. In several low brick
structures, standing partly under and
partly over ground at Northwestern
and Bowmanville Avenues. are $1,000
square feet OF beds, from which during
the height OF the season is taken toa
of mushrooms a week.
The most beautiful American farm IS
on the estates of Arthur Cowee, known
as the "MeadowYale farm" near Troy,
y. Y.
For years Mr.. Cowee. who is one or
the country's bituminous coal barohs,
has taken a keen interest in the cult
walton of gladioluses, his favorite flower.
Seventy five acres of his farm are de-
voted entirely 10 the growing of these
blooms. Nowhere else are TO be found
the fine varieties and colors that this
farm displays every season. From all
parts OF the world at enormous cost,
MIR. Cowee has gathered gladiolus bulbs
OF the most expensive species.-Chicage
Tribune.
The Washington times., 1903-08-16
ONLY SKIN DEEP.

7 TITLE Willie Posthlewaite, aged 3,
l. brought an avalanche of ridicuIe
on the head of the house recently. A
colored man was selected to whitewash
the cellar ceiling and wall and did the
Job well. A few days after its compile
ton, while the family was at dinner, the
doorbell rang. Willie raced to open the
door, and the colOred man stepped in
with his bill.
Willie walked backward till he stood
in the dining room entrance.
who is it, Willie?" inquired his
mother.
IT'S man." answered the child.
What kind of man?'
''Well-it's man-just like papa, only
he's black"
The Washington times., 1903-08-16

No. 6's, which are about e-eighth inch
In diameter, OF No. 0, which is about
three-sixteenths of an inch. In mere
diameter each of these sizes is recog-
nized from a glance as hot To lead
a wire into a residence from one of these
feeders is the least dangerous of all the
of system farther into a new territory
that the Hneman gets into the jaws of
death, and it is in the taking out of an
overloaded wire and replacing 1t with a
heavier conductor that he finds the most
terrible menace. In either case there Is
the putting in on one of these hot wires
that may be carrying a current of 5000
volts a current that in wet weather
may make the touch of the pole to the
bare hands intolerable.
How Wires Are Spliced.
'In extending one OF these lines the
lineInan first has to crawl up the pole,
avoiding the touch of more than one of
these wires, even if hand and foot are
encased in dry rubber. He loosens one
wire from the terminal insulator and
draws the new section to him, being
careful not to let 1t touch another live
wire. With his splicing tools he must
lap the charged wire upon the dead one
six or eight inches and twist them into
a lock. At the first touch they may
burn off; if the weather has been wet
he must not allow the end of the
charged wire to touch the cross arm of
wood, or the current will burn the wood
off, Holding the end of the live wire
he must see that 1T does not sag and
touch another wire on the pole; If his
elbow should touch one of the fast
wires and his thigh another, death will
be the penalty
ain all line work the junction pole
is most feared; it has cross arms at
sharp angles. allowing one set of wires
TO cross another set. and thus multi
plying the wires by two and increasing
the danger in that proportion
Loss of nerve ON the part of line
men is not common. Yet a man who ten
years ago was a lineman in all in
difference said of the work: I couldn't
go up a pole again as I once did
But however men go up poles to-
day there is a marked difference in
the alacrity with which a linemaD
mounts to a wire at 5000 volts tension
and to one having a current at 5000
volts. And there are times following
The Washington times., 1903-08-16

larIy The old ladies, INDUCED nightly
for the nights were cool and indoor
amusements and recreations were always
in vogue either day or night-in play
ing third IN hand high and catching the
odd trick.
And then" continued this old stat
ford county man in his poetical style.
when the sable curtains OF night clos
ed in on the scenes ct Old White
Sulphur. in the ballroom the lamps
were lighted: wax candles in their re-
eeptacles grit with glass prismatic
pendants on the high mantel pieces
gave softened glow to the large room.
fiddlers, not violinists, mounted their
little platform and the dance began.
WGltzes were few. though they were not
interdicted. the glorious old cotillion,
the gliding mazurka, and the lively
polka were regnant on the list and the
balls were over about midnight. closing
generally with the old Virginia reel,
and have seen at this same place
minuet danced which would do full
justice to the most graceful ninuets
that were ever paced through in a
queens drawing room And have seen
great men in the old ball room. have
seen John W. crittenden. Of Kentucky;
Mason and Hunter. Virginia Senator'S;
John Slidell. who was frequent visitor
to the springs; Robert Toombs, OF
Georgia. and Jefferson Davis. If at
tempted to ampiify the list it would
augment the talk to an unwarrantable
extent.
Road Inns and Taverns.
GAS 1 told you while ago in my early
manhood there were no hotels in vir-
ginia. The roadhouses where man and
beast were RECALLED were inns; the coun-
~ eourthouses displayed taverns. Fav-
orite names for the tayerns were The
Indian Queen Indian Queen taverns
were located all over the State. The
Sunrise Tavern was another good name.
There was one by that name at Fred
ericksburg. General Jackson stopped
there. l am told. on his way to be
inaugurated President. at Washington.
The Planters Tavern was another OF the
obstetrics on the Fred
ericksburg Road. I shook hands with old
Zack Taylor in that very tavern once
before he was President" said the old
gentleman. Guys Tavern was another
famous one in the same part Of the
State The roads from Fredericksburg
TO Alexandria when ! was a younsster
were never without teams conveying
flour for shipment abroad and they came
back. one team after another. hundreds
of them. laden with calico, sugar. mo-
lasses. rum. brandy. and other necessi-
ties of life. which they unloaded at ev-
cry tavern or inn along the route. Oh,
these were great days" he said IN con
clusion. Inns would be acceptable road
places now even in the face OF the great
hotels and their modern conveniences-
great, I mean. for variety's sake But II
we had only inns, then we might recall
the couplet
Spring would be but gloomy weather
Had We nothing else but spring.
The Washington times., 1903-08-16

TINE resources Of the soil in the
United States are greater per-
haps than those Of any other
country; an immense variety OF plants
and animals can be supported upon this
continent, and the farmer manages to
turn every one OF these advantages to
some account. He has established farms
for raising ostriches. worms. goldfish,
pigeons for culinary purposes only.
ginseng. mushrooms and gIadioIusos.
The Largest Goldfish Preserve.
The goldfish farm near Waldron. Ind,
was the result of one mans hobby for
pet fish and the disinclination of his
ground to yield a profitable income.
william shoup, the owner, tried first
to farm his land in the accustomed way
OF til1ing the soil. The result he con-
sidered not worth the work involved.
Pet stock claimed his attention and he
gave up his extensive acres to rearing
them In one small pond he kept his
goldfish until he found that they were
muIIiPiyiHS so Iu4ShAS % " NAO"N SNA
other out of their preserves.
In order to get rid of them he sent
to the East to find a sale for his
superfluous fish. Mr.. Shoup's especial
hobby in his love for pets has always
been goldfish, and as his were among
the finest specimens to be had any
where, he received a prompt request for
more until he decided that it would
be worth while to devote additional
farming space to his fish.
So from a mere pastime sprang the
biggest goldfish industry in the world
At a rough calculation. out OF his $780,
900 fish, this goldfish farmer realizes
every year about $50. coo.
Even stranger than this gold fish farm
The Washington times., 1903-08-16

| is the industry which William Griswold,
a public official of St. Louis, pursues.
He raises worms and does it in two me-
diminished packing boxes. Despite the
smallness of his accommodations he has
as rule about 10000 head of stock.
In order to be ever ready for the
sportsman on a minutes notice. Mr.
Griswold conceived the idea of culti-
waiting his own bait instead of having
to grub for 1t as occasion demanded.
The tenants Of this stock farm are
earthworms, not strange or rare
breed, but the ordinary. common. every
day, wrfggling earthworm. There are
four species-black, red, sulphur. and
blue-clay worms. They are divided into
classes, according to their kind. and
carefully nursed in separate Enclosures.
Earth is provided for them besides the
peculiar foodstuff upon which they
live. Mr.. Griswold has been at the bust
ness so long now that he is regarded
as somewhat OF a specialist when there
is any question raised concerning these
wrigglers.
The Washington times., 1903-08-16
A Giant Pigeon Loft.

Pigeons form a means of revenue for
a Los Angeles man, who found that to
meet the demand OF dealers and satisfy
the appetite of the public. he must
raise at least $4,000 of the little feather
ed creatures every year. Fifteen thous-
and little white and gray pigeons. called
squads IN the vernacular OF the produce
market, go out to all parts of the United
States from this farm. for T. Y. John
son, the owner. has no rival In the
country.
His farm. which is the only one in
the world, covers an area of eight
acres. Three gigantic lofts contain al e
most 10000 rooms.
The menu for each meal is: One wag-
The Washington times., 1903-08-16
The "Hot Wire" Poles.

''The ordinary pole carrying these
hot wires has three cross arms OF
wood, each about five feet long, fastened
two feet apart on the pole. and having
wires tied 70 the glass insulators only
twelve inches apart. These wires are
The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1903-11-06
WRECK OF WARsHIP FOUND.
Condor Sailed From Victoria, 3. c.,
Z in 1901 Wth IA Men.

7 w lSOl N'N'' i'' ''N'''
Victoria, b. c.. Nov. 5.-After a
search lasting almost two years the
wreck Of the British warship Condor,
which sailed from this port December
al. 1901, with III men on board, mas
been found in twenty-five fathoms Of
water in Barkley sound. The disap-
pcarance Of the Condor was one Of
the most mysterious in maratime an
nails. The warship left Victoria har-
lcr in first class condition prepared
Tor a long journey to the British pos
SESSIONS in the Southern Pacific. The
ship was scheduled to touch at Hon
-piulu. but her failure to do within
= d days caused much apprehension
arch was instituted, a number Of
N'arships being sent in quest Of the
missing vessel. All efforts were futile
however Occasionally bit of wreck
age was found and identified as part
af the Condor, but none of the men
D. the i'll fated ship were ever heard
from.
The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1903-11-06
REPORT EXAGGERATED.
Irdian Fight at Newcastle, Wyo, Said
Not 70 Be SO Bad.

Washington. Nov THE commits
sioner of Indian affairs today received
the following from Agent Brennan,
who is at Newcastle. Wyc:
Report OF Indian trouble here eN-
aggcroted riym pest information at
hand rhrty-fve miles north Of Lusk
a fight occurred between officers and
abou, twenty Indians some Of them
from Pine Ridge. Seven Indians, i'm
Guiding one sQuaw. we're killed, also
a sheriff and one deputy. About ten
Indian families are under arrest here,
3ill start them for agency tomorrow.
In my opinion mistake
was made in procipitauug the fight
Would recommend Chat United states
attorney for this district be directed
TO make a thorough investigation. /
am assured by officers OF this county
that no further trouble viii occur
The Indian officers coincide with the
view that the whites were the aggros.
s,rs. and viii recommend TO S'creta
ry Hitchcock that he ask the attorney
general to have the affair investigated.
The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1903-11-06
a Remarkable Case.

One of the most remarkable cases
u a cold, deep-seated on the lu1gs,
pneumonia, is that of Mrs.
Gertrude Il. Fenner, Marion, Ind, who
vas entirely cured by the use of One
Minute Cough Cure. She says: "The
coughing and straining so weakened
ne that | ran down in weight from
AS to 92 pounds. | tried a number
Vi remedies to no avail until | used
Dne Minute Cough Cure. Four bot
les of this wonderful remedy cured
ne entirely of the cough, strengthened
by lungs and restored me to my nor
nal weight, health and strength" Sold
" all druggists.
The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1903-11-06
\ TEXAS WONDER.
sALL's GREAT DISCOVERY.

ono small bottle OF The Texas Won.
.-t, Halls Great Discovery, cures all
udngr end bladder troubles. removes
gravel. cures diabetes, seminal ennis.
iioLs weak and lame back, rheuma-
lsu sna all irregularities OF the kid.
.eys and bladder in both women and
aeD Regulates bladder trouble In
lj1sed. II not sold ly your druggist
10 be seut by mail ON receipt of 81.
Jne small bottle IS two months treat
nent and will cure any case above
Hent'Oned DR.. L.. w. HALL.
Sole manufacturer p. o. Box G29.
st. Louis, Mo.
Sold by all druggists.
The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1903-11-06
Cured Consumption.

Mrs. w. b. Evans. Clearwater, Kas..
writes: My husband lay sick for
three months. The doctors said that
he had quick consumption. We pro-
cured a bottle of Ballard's Horehound
syrup, and it cured him That was six
years ago. Since then we have always
kept a bottle in the house We can
not do without it. For coughs and
colds u has no equal" 2Jc. soc and S.
at w. b. Frames.
The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1903-11-06
FROM SOUTH AFRICA.
New Way Of Using chamberIaln's
Cough Remedy.

Cough Remedy.
Mr.. Arthur Chapman writing from
Natal, South Africa. says: AS
proof that Chamberlain's Cough Rem
edy is a sure CUa suitable for old and
young. | pen you the following: A
ncighbor OF mine had child just over
two months old II had a very bad
cough and it's parents did not know
what to give It. | suggested that If
they would get a bottle of Chamber
lain's Cough Remedy and put some
upon the dummy teat the baby was
sucking it would no doubt cure the
child. This they did and brought
about a quick relief and cured the
baby" This remedy is for sale by
+ ]. Ramsey Ardmore Drug Co, w.
b Frame.
The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1903-11-06
READ THIS.

Ardmore, l. T.. Oct. is, 1902.
This is TO certify that the Texas
Wonder Halls Great Discovery, cured
TWO OF my family Of kidney and blad.
dcs trouble. and | can fully recon-
mend it to others suffering in same
manner. Respectfully,
Il. ]. STILWEIIa.