The Dismal Swamp As A Health Resort

A Virginia fiaper tells some things which are Dot gencral'y known about the Dismal Swanip. It is iiot s vast bog sunk low in the round, Dto which the drainage of the surruunding country flows. On the contrary, it is above the level ground eome uiteen or twouiy fuet. as was lenionntrated by actua!_ surveys. Instead of beiog a reseptaole intn which rivera and streanis enter and flow, it is in reality au immense reservoir that, in its vast sponge-like bulk, gathers the waters that fall trom the heav ens and dours tliem into the five different rivers which flow onward to the sea. Any one would imagine that the I ism:il Swamp was a veritable oharnel-house that spreads its miasmas throughout the country. On the contrary, it ia the healthiest place on the_ American continent. The hwauip is outirely of green tiiuber. There is absolutely no decotnposed wood ; ono stos trees lying around tho foreste and swainps. The twu principal woods that grow in the place are the jupitor and cypresa, which never rot. They fall prone on the ground likc other trees, but instead of the wood decomposing it turna into peat, and lien indissoluble by air or water lor ages perf'ectly sound. There is uothing in the swamp to créate miasma ; no rising of the tides and decuuiposition of rank vegetables; no marsLes exposed to the burning raysof the sun. All is fresh acd sweet and the air is laden witb a sweet odors as the fragrant woods in May, when tho fragrauce of flow era ïuingles with the pungent scent of the pine and dogwood. In the ante-be'lum days all planters were anxious to hire their slaves to shinKle-makers in the swamp on account of its healthfulness. Mr. Roddick, a well-known contnictor. says he worked a gang of fifty hands f'or liftees years in the Dismal, getting shingles, and in all that time there was not a tingle case of iifíue uiid fever. I have seen numerous affidavits of overscers and agents who have lived in the swamp their wholelifetime, and they never kuew a deatli caused by miasma or a solitary instance of ague and (ever. The air is pure and sweet, and the water, tinged to a faint wino hue by the Júpiter is as potent a medical drink as is to be found at tlie famous watering places of the Virginia mountain spas. It is often used by ve8sels going on a forcign cruise on account oi' Lts healthral properties, and also bccause it keeps fresh and clear for years. It is a strong and invigorating tonic, with a pleasaut tasto.