Part 3 (2/2)

”The Red Sulphur water may be used with the most decided benefit in obstinate cases of bowel complaint, gleet, leucorrhoea, catarrh of the bladder, and uterine derangement.”

ROUTE TO THE VIRGINIA SPRINGS.

The other route from Was.h.i.+ngton City to the Virginia Springs is by railroad to Harper's Ferry, 104 miles. Stopping at this place, the traveller has an opportunity of viewing the ”Pa.s.sage of the Potomac through the Blue Ridge,” which, says Mr. Jefferson, ”is one of the most stupendous scenes in nature. You stand on a very high point of land; on your right up comes the Shenandoah, having ranged along the foot of the mountain a hundred miles to seek a vent. On your left approaches the Potomac, in quest of a pa.s.sage also; in the moment of their junction they rush together against the mountain, rend it asunder, and pa.s.s off to the sea. The first glance of this scene hurries our senses into the opinion that this earth has been created in time; that the mountains were formed first; that the rivers began to flow afterwards; that in this place particularly, they have been dammed up by the Blue Ridge Mountains, and have formed an ocean which filled the whole valley; that, continuing to rise, they have at length broken over at this spot, and have torn the mountain down from its summit to its base. The piles of rock on each hand, particularly on the Shenandoah, the evident marks of their disrupture and avulsion from their beds by the most powerful agents of nature, corroborate the impression. But the distant finis.h.i.+ng which Nature has given to the picture is of a very different character; it is a true contrast to the foreground; it is as placid and delightful as that is wild and tremendous; for the mountain being cloven asunder, she presents to your eye, through the clefts, a small catch of smooth blue horizon, at an infinite distance in the plain country, inviting you, as it were, from the riot and tumult warring around, to pa.s.s through the breach and partic.i.p.ate of the calm below. There the eye ultimately composes itself, and that way, too, the road happens actually to lead. You cross the Potomac above the junction, pa.s.s along its side through the base of the mountain for three miles, its terrible precipices hanging in fragments over you, and within about twenty miles reach Fredericktown, and the fine country round that. The scene is worth a voyage across the Atlantic, yet here, as in the neighbourhood of the Natural Bridge, are people who have pa.s.sed their lives within half a dozen miles, and have never been to survey these monuments of a war between rivers and mountains, which must have shaken the earth itself to its centre.'

”From Harper's Ferry, we take the cars to Charlestown, 10 miles.

Leaving the cars at this place, an opportunity is afforded of visiting

SHANNONDALE SPRINGS,

”Another of the celebrated watering-places of Virginia.

”They are in Jefferson County, five miles south from Charlestown, on an eminence of the Shenandoah; in a healthy and delightful region. The reputation of the water is so well established, that it is deemed scarcely necessary to mention its qualities. It is sent for and taken to New York, Charleston, and other distant places. The a.n.a.lysis of the late Dr. De b.u.t.ts, in 1821, cla.s.sed the princ.i.p.al fountain with the _saline chalybeates_,--a combination of the most valuable description in the whole range of mineral waters, and closely resembling those of the celebrated Bedford, in composition, operation, and efficacy. There is also a highly valuable sulphur spring in the vicinity. Apart from the merits of the waters, Shannondale is remarkable for the sublime and beautiful natural scenery, which is said to surpa.s.s Bath and Bristol in England, and that of Saratoga and b.a.l.l.ston in New York.”

Returning to Charlestown, we again take the cars for Winchester, 22 miles. This is a very flouris.h.i.+ng town, and the largest in the valley of Virginia. Here ends railroad travelling on this route. Twenty-two miles west from this place, in Hamps.h.i.+re County, are

CAPON SPRINGS.

The following account of these springs is copied from an advertis.e.m.e.nt of June, 1850.

”The high reputation of the waters of the 'Capon Spring' is not permanently established, but is yearly increasing, particularly in cases of dyspepsia, general debility, &c.

”Its convenience of access renders it an available point for invalids, or persons who are not disposed to undergo the fatigues of a long journey, over rough and dusty roads, in the heat of summer. Being near the route to the White Sulphur, in Greenbrier, it will be a delightful resting-place for persons visiting those celebrated springs. The well-attested, cool, dry mountain atmosphere of 'Capon;' the fine sulphur and chalybeate waters in its immediate vicinity; its neighbouring trout streams and river fis.h.i.+ng; its shaded walks and drives, (now being constructed,) with the usual amus.e.m.e.nts of a mountain watering-place, impart to it some of its attractions and claims on the public, and fully establishes it as one of the most agreeable as well as accessible summer retreats in this country, either for the seekers of health or pleasure.”

This watering-place not being on the main valley route, we return to Winchester. Six miles north of this place are

JORDAN'S WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS.

This watering-place has lately come into notice, and is growing in popular favour. The water is said to resemble the celebrated White Sulphur Spring of Greenbrier. Again returning to Winchester, we proceed on our way upon the macadamized road up the beautiful valley of Virginia to Newtown, 8 miles, Strasburg, 10 miles, Woodstock, 11-1/2 miles. Eighteen miles from this, in Shenandoah County, are the

ORKNEY, OR YELLOW SPRINGS.

”These waters are composed of several lively springs, and are strongly chalybeate. Everything the water pa.s.ses through, or over, is beautifully lined with a bright yellow fringe or moss. The use of this water is found beneficial for the cure of several complaints. A free use of this water acts as a most powerful cathartic, as does also a small quant.i.ty of the fringe, or moss mixed with common water.”

Returning to Woodstock, we once more take the macadamized road, to Mount Jackson, 13 miles, Newmarket, 7 miles, Spartapolis, 6-1/2 miles, Harrisonburg, 11 miles. Twelve miles from this place is

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