The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. II., No. 11, October, 1836Various
History
The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. II., No. 11, October, 1836
Various
American literature -- 19th century -- Periodicals
and where the many steamers that smoke their daily course along the
Hudson, seemed like some tiny utensil discharging its culinary office.
There would we gaze upon the lifting fog-banks at morning, watching
the sunbeams as they gradually struggled forth to irradiate, first the
distant valley, and so diffusing thin yellow glory upward and upward,
until, at length, we stood in the midst of their effulgence, and saw
their vapory veil floating away over our heads, like gossamer web of
the dew spider.
Nor were our household attractions few or powerless. Many visiters
were at the Orchard, but there was a coterie of young ladies with
their brothers and husbands from the neighboring village of the
Catskill, from whose good offices and gentle hospitality we derived a
great deal of additional enjoyment. Music, books, and conversation
drove away ennui during those hours, when the inclemency of the
weather or fatigue compelled us to suspend our out-of-door amusements,
and we were thus enabled to enjoy the everlasting scenery of the
Catskill, under auspices the most favorable.
* * * * *
New Lebanon Springs next attracted us. They lie about twenty-seven
miles from Hudson, which is ten miles up the river on the opposite
side, whither we went by the same steamer that had landed us at
Catskill, and thence by stages to New Lebanon.
New Lebanon is a pleasant village, near the eastern line of the state
of New York, lying in a most fertile and valuable tract of country,
with alternations of gently sloping hills and smiling valleys, all of
which seem arable and productive. The most popular public house is
that to which the Spring that gives a name to the place, belongs. It
is very well kept, but was far too crowded for comfort,—the day of our
arrival being Saturday, and great numbers having come from Albany,
Troy, Saratoga, Ballston Spa, &c. to witness the worship (?) of the
Shakers on the Sabbath.
* * * * *
The waters of these Springs have no very decided mineral or medicinal
qualities,—but as they are very profuse in their flow, and as their
temperature is always rising of seventy degrees, Fahrenheit, they are
delightful for bathing in the summer season. The proprietors have,
accordingly, fitted up commodious bathing houses, which are very well
attended, and afford, by no means, the weakest attraction to be found
at New Lebanon. But even in this respect they cannot be compared with
the Warm and Hot Springs of Bath county in Virginia.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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