The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1908-01-16
Hot Springs, Hrk.

Puper Read Before the Chautaaqua Circle.
I'm the valley of the Ozark Noun
taine, nestled close beside the over
hanging cliff, is situated the little
city of Hot Springs, Ark one of
Americas well known health resorts.
Doubtless, my hearers have all heard
and read of its wonderful waters; per-.
haps some among yoa have, in other
aud brighter days, visited this little.
city, and therefore know allthere is to
know about it. If so, then for the ben
eft of those who may have been less
fortunate, the writer begs your kind
Indulgence for few moments while
he tries, in his own humble way, to de-
scribe few of the many sights and
scenes in and around this little city of
boiling waters.
Hot Springs is, we should judge,
about eighty miles as the crow flies
from Little Rock, or to be exact, just
twenty-five miles from Melvin. little
station on the Iron Mountain Railroad
where one must change cars, as the
only Foad entering the springs is-or
was at the time the writer was there
iast-the Diamond Joe, altho we now
understand that new line has en-
tered the city in the last few years di-
rect from Little Rock, no doubt much
TO the chagrin of the old diamond Joe
line, for while they had clear field
1hey charged the excessive rate of five
cents per mile for every passenger car
ried over their line to and from the
springs.
Leaving Melvin the railroad takes a
winding course thru the mountains, up
here and down there. sometimes trav-.
cling along at pretty good clip but
more often creeping along like a snail,
stopping every now aud then at one of
the many little stations along the way
70 set out an empty or pick up loaded
box-car, for the train is OF the COM
bination class. S
However, if the train is slow, walk
ing is good, for the path along the
right-of-way ia wide and well beaten,
and one will always find plenty of conn
spany. They come from all over the
land, from the North, South, East and
West these down-and-outs, men who,
as it were. have one foot i'll the grave
aud not u dollar in their pockets,
vending their way to the springs, their
last hope.
OF course there is another side to-
Hot Springs-a bright side we may
say. Like all health resorts worthy Of
the name it has its elite and well-to-do
class of visitors and fine hotels to ac-
commodate them. There is the East
man hotel, the third largest in the
United States, with its six hundred
and eighty suites of rooms, a magnifi-
cent structure with its splendid view
of the city. Then comes the,Arling-
ton, a close second. whereinsthe guests
revel in its gorgeous aud brilliant din
ing halls. Next follow the Park, Great
Northern and Cottage hotels, each just
a trife lower in the scale, but like the
: Eastman and Arlington, catering to
the rich and well-tO-do only.
This little city also boasts of mil
lionaire's club, 'erhe Arcaida," which is
run iii conjunction with the Arcadia
bath house. Rates, three baths for,
$1,000 or seven for $40 90 with special
]. rates to members. The rates at the
Palace are somewhat cheaper, while
one can bathe at the Ozark for one
dollar, or with attendant for two dol
lars. But 1 am sure you have all
heard and read time and time again
how the rich and well-to-do take the
water cure. Let US pass on to the
rank and file, for it is the desire OF the
writer to acquaint you with Hot
Springs from the poor but self-respect-
ing mans point-of-view.,
First, let me say that the city Of Hot
Springs stands on government land, or
rather what was government land, the
government letting out certain plots
of ground with the understanding that,
In order to get 9 clear title, such pri-
eyate party favored should build upon
4 and hold the same as under the
homestead act. But the government
RETAINED and still retsins the most val