White Sulphur papers; or, Life at the springs of Western Virginia

SWEETSPRINGS. 49
all his friends in his vicinity. We had air durinf^
dinner, from the many fans
suspended above, and
which vrere kept constantly in motion.
Whoever comes to the mountains, should make a
visit to the Sweet Springs, if but for one day. Much
of the scenery in the neighbourhood is of the most
beautiful and refreshing kind, and the
whole place
is redolent with life and animation, particularly at a
time when thronging with company.
You enter on your arrival into a large green area,
having on each s:*de rows of white rustic-looking
cottages, and directly before you at the further end
is a green hill of a most ' peculiar diadem.' Many
little
cabins of brick and frame work are scattered
in various parts of the grounds.
The spring is under the piazza of the bath house,
the water rises in a cylindrical reserv^oir. It is
sparkling and exhilirating, and has a piquant acidulous
taste, something like soda water which has been
left standing. The temperature of the water is 73
degrees Fa.renheit, and contains sulphate of magnesia,
muriate of soda, and sulphate of soda, carbonate
of magnesia, carbonate of hme, with traces
of iron and silaceous matter, free carbonic acid,
bi-carbonate of soda, and carbonic acid gas, the
excess of the carbonic acid, gives the waters a great
briskness.
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