Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-19

Crayon lived here. and among his
guests was Washington Irving, the
first American man Of letters to gain
recognition in England. There stili
stands a little stone house whore he
wrote some of his sketches. SO 1t may
be said that the springs arc associated
with tho birth Of American literature.
as well as of American Independence
and American society.
Martha Washington Is said to have
been especially fond Of the springs.
though whether she came for society
or to cure her rheumatism is not a
matter of record. The bathing dress
which she wore at the springs may
Still be seen at Mount Vernon. OF
washington there are very few tradi-
lions hereabouts. but he must have
been n frequent visitor There IS u
giant elm which he is supposed to
nave planted. and which is universally
known as the Washington elm.
Greatness and Fame Abroad.
As the new American nation grew,
springs grew with it. In the half CEN
fury before tho Civil War, this little
valley was probably the Eayest place
In America. Tho North did not como
here. for that cleavage which resulted
in war had already begun. but the
aristocracy OF the South came in force.
and from many days drive across tho
mountains. Berkeley held then some-
what the place In the public mind that
Newport and Palm Beach do now II
was not merely gay: It was shocking.
There are old people hereabouts vet
who will shake their heads over the
terrible and wicked things that were
done mere: but you may try in vain
TO get any details. Somehow 1t Is hard
to picture the courtly gallants and
hustled beauties of that day guilty OF
shocking Eayetles: but no doubt the
more rigid the conventions :hc moro
brittle they are. At any rate. II shows
that high society even then gave PEG,
pie something TO talk about and FUR
ntshed the righteous with text.
Little Town Grows.
So the fame of the warm springs
spread. and the little town grew. There
was g. hotel here in those days with
room for $40 guests. and there were
numerous and some very splendid pri-
vatc places. Tho oldest OF the bath
houses. which still stands, is known to
have boon built over a hundred years
ago: SO that the open bathing or Revo-
lutionary days had been superseded
ny The little private baths with their
tiled plungcs and trained attendants.
berkeley was getting to be- efrete and
luxurious. when It's gaYeties were
shocked and shattered by tho frst
had made the hills echo their revelry
rode away on their horses-rode away
to man and most of them never cana
back. The following year the famed
warm spring was deserted The men
were in battle and the women were
at home saving and sewing. And when
the long struggle was over there were
Few To come back. Many were dead
and all the rest ere poor. Americas
great landed aristocracy. the South Of
bsfore the war. had been bled to
death.
So Berkeley. after n career OF TO.
nance unrivalled. relapsed into a vii.
hge calm. Virginia and West Vir-
GINA had lawsuit over its owner
ship. West Virginia won out, but did
nothing about II. One. DR.. Chancel-
Tor. a physician of Picketts Division.
who had known the place In its hey
day and had great confidence in its
waters. made a determined EFFORT to
revive its fame but failed Now. an.
other promoter has taken hold with
somewhat better SUCCESS. A good many
strangers reg ister at the old Washing.
ton Hotel; the bath house has been
renovated. and the village hardware
store does growing business in din
pers.
AS for the town itself. It is ono
pleasant shady street along a mar
row valley shut In by wooded hills. II
is also notable as one Of the last and
most determined stands OF the horse
and buggy. 1t is full OF birds and
small boys and Bunshine-and memo.
riea OF long apo