Smyrna times., 1904-10-12
LETTER FROM WILLIAM E. WATERS
Writes COncernlng the Fashionable Resort of
Hot Springs, Va, It's Beautiful Walks
and Drives, and Dreamy Atmosphere.

Hot Springs, Va, Its Beautiful Walks
and Drives, and Dreamy Atmosphere.
HOT SPRINGS, VA, October 8th.-
Domiciled temporarily at this oldest
of the Virginia spas it is pleasure to
get the TIMES for it seems like spe-
cial messenger from home and all
other affairs are laid aside to listen to
it's words about the things at home,
after all more important to us who are
older, than anything else. Hot Springs
has been a curative resort over $50
years. There are several different
springs near together, Hot Magnesia,
Hot Sulphur and Cold Soda Springs,
and not far away is an Alum Spring.
The water comes from the ground at
a temperature of 1O6 degrees nsver
varying, they say, winter or summer
The place was settled by the Scotch
Irish, who built a Presbyterian
church here in 1749. The churches
here now are Presbyterian, Catholic
and Episcopal. The latter evidently
supported by visitors. Mr.. j. I. Nc
Allister, the only lawyer IN the place,
and also it's historian, stated to me
that the first hotel was built in 1866
and 1t was a regular summer and
autumn resort down to 1902 when the
large hotel was burned. On the old
site a company has erected a new
structure which with the other i'm
provements cost $75O,OOO. The hotel
is 1900 feet long and has a piazza $50
feet long. 1t is slightly irregular in
shape. The lobby where the guests
lounge after dinner is 40 feet wide and
800 feet long, and after dinner is a
brilliant sight at this season. The
dresses the women show night after
night would charm and bewilder
Parlsian Modiste. 1t seems as though
many never wear a gown or hat the
second time. How cheerful to be a
man here. He needs only his con-
ventional clothes day or night.
Fashion ard the rich have decreed
this to be an all the year resort, but
its chief months are March, April,
September and October.
There are three classes here. The
fashionable of Newport, the Bar Har-
Dor stripe, the wealthy and ambitious
people who come to look at them, and
those who come to get rid of the gout,
rheumatism and other ailments. As
the classes never mix no one is in an
others way. The bath house cost
$3.50, 900 they say, (but 1 don't believe
it). 1t has however, what they call a
spout bath which 1 do believe in and
enjoy. 1t has a stream of water OF
an inch in diameter rushing out of a
pipe attached to a ceiling 12 feet high,
and the force is such as to make a
stream Is feet long at an angle of As
degrees. Few can stand the stream at
full force unless very strong. The
water comes direct flOm the earth and
is 106 degrees warm. 1t is highly
beneficial in gout. So far as I know
it IS the only spout bath in this country
or elsewhere. The tradition is that
the Indians cured most of their all
meuts with this method of treatment
The Warm Springs is five miles away
Its hotel is over a hundred years old
lHa sreat +. f. VS.. of Va, KY, anC
lem. met here regularly until the
war. 1t is still a prominent resort
A curious thing is cupalo on top the
house with a bell to arouse and cal
guests to meals. The Healing Spring
is miles away. It's water is becom
ing famous as a table and curativ,
water. Now word to the younger
folks. If your junior editor or any O
the young or that matter older mel
and maiden in or about Smyrna con
template matrimony between tn
months of March and November an,
want a delightful place to spend
honeymoon, by all means let then
come to Hct Springs, Va. Many ar
doing so. I was told there were 2
couples here at one time a short tim
ago. The place is admirably adapte
IN its situation, in its appointments
IN it's walks, drives, cozy hooks an
dreamy atmosphere to please thos
Who are for the time so fully absorbe
y each other.