Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-01-21

bcr and tho country was filed with
riding parties. coaching groups or
pedestrians who sought diversions
away from the debiikating heat OF
their southern homes. Some OF the
invalids habitually went to the spring
for their healing draughts at sun
rise and others made tho visit to tho
tount the last thing before retiring
FOR the night Its Writer'S. however.
were ever in demand throughout the
day. Each user fclt that 1t renewed
his strength. and frightened his hold
on life.
There is witness to some OF the
gaieties at Brandywtne Springs. In the
latter days OF the original hotel. who
even yet, recalls the pleasures that
man neighbors found in tho dances
given there. He says:
"Brandywine Springs. as ] first re-
member It. was a popular resort for
wealthy southerners from Virginia,
the Carollnas and other southern
states, who came In equipages. bring
ing with them, in most cases. their
entire families. With slave maids to
walt upon tho maids and matrons. |
Delaware being slave state. they felt |
they were free to do SO, and more |
over they felt moro at home than ut |
the more northern resorts. Indeed, |
in those days they constituted the
major portion of tho hotels patrons.
"The grounds surrounding the old
hotel were kept In fine order. Stables
were provided for tho horses. Beauti-
ful shrubbery aud flowers added to the
attractions. Tho fine old grove of
oaks, chestnuts and other Indigenous
forest trees, with the underbrush
cleared away, and nicely gravelled
walks and paths Leading TO restful
shady spots and comfortable benches
and rustic chairs, invited guests TO
; linger there.
, Doubtless, too. when they visited
the grand old patriarchal oak, per-
haps then having braved the storms
of more than a century, and stu
standing in much of its vigor and
: beauty, they listened to the tradition
telling that Washington and Lafay-
, cite and regiment OF soldiers had
encamped beneath and around It's
sheltering arms the night before the
Dattle OF GTaNuyWlnc.
Then the old chalybeats spring
| was kept In attractive and cleanly
order, with an ornate building (the
? music pavilion) protecting 1t. with
stone steps leading down to It's iron-
; impregnated water.
I'm my boyhood on my fathers
farm In Hockessin con the detour sum-
mer road leaving the Lancaster pike
Z at New Garden, and joining IL again
at Given's HID on Friday or Satur-
n day afternoon--probably the latter
u 1 Would note the passing. IN front OF
e our house. of q procession Of twelve OF
II twenty York wagons. These con-
ID tained young couples on their way
a to the weekly dance at Brandywine
Springs. They came from Kenneti
Square and other parts Of southeast
IS ern Chester county. ] was too young
is then 20 have a part in those festive
70 Joy rides" so ! can't say what pro-
ID portion of those young people went
q. to join the dancers, though doubles.
" all who could. did so. while Others
8. were content TO be- onlookers, pleased
lie to have the opportunity TO SEQ IN,
ed ,erpsichorean Southern bellies ant
40 beaux dance the graceful minuet, tn,
Of Virginia reel, Money Musk. the statel,
at iancers and quadrilles-oll loved fl
at those days"
r As delightful as one is assures
G. Brandywine Springs to have been Il
a. its best days. 1t possibly never realiz
ed the financial expectations of 1t
ms builders and promoters. 1t was some
hs what run down within a few years
nd and changed owners, in the hope c
or restoring its prestige and maintain
he ing. it on the high level of excellenc
he that had characterized its earlies
en- days. Doubtless the first proprietor
and owners put mole into the hot,
ar than It returned 10 them. It wa
,m their pet project and they maintaine
of it up TO the high water mark
ch hotel keeping Of that time. It wa
ely indeed, operated with an air of ell,
nd ganee and abundance that possibl
ng drew upon the private resources OF ii
i'll. stockholders to make deficits good.
le- IL even changed managers at u
led end OF the first season, and possib
of often thereafter THhigheh s.ficAF
led often afterwards, for one finds on 4
yer margin Of an old painting Of the hot
ere that Ward Wilson OF Salem, N
nit was host there from September. 1s
cry until some time in 1929.
.ys, There was always a superabu
ere dance of helpers; so many servant
ere in fact, that they seemed in one a
ure others way. There were turban
ef aunties who swept, scrubbed a.
run busted, for the hotel was alwa
ger scrupulously clean and well-order,
,me There were also innumerable uncle
in whose chief mission seemed 10
TO stick around" until wanted,
ate small chores and salute guests wi
and a smile and becoming air of Sc
OF Witty at every meeting through I
day or evening. There were fioc
ices Of chore boys who never failed to
and in evidence upon the arrival or {
ire parture OF every coach. These WI
and often burdened with heavy trunks
te- baggage OF other kind. slowing
'uilt away on the vehicle or taking il
cad. OF. the coaches and Juggling 1t
ked rooms set apart for the new arrivi
and Usually the tip, when there was
at gratuity, was a "fip' or a '1evy
lain seven or thirteen cents-which v
light accepted with every show of apprec
Of ton and profound expressions
nork thanks. Guests We're welcomed "
idth much eclat by these young Negr
IS Of who followed close on the heels
UNI the landlord ideal hosts the lai
and were In those days. receiving
not guests as though they We're wa