Salmagundi; or, The whim-whams and opinions of Launcelot Langstaff, esq. [pseud.] and others. By William Irving, James Kirke Paulding and Washington Irving. Printed from the original ed., with a preface and notes by Evert A. Duyckinck.

322 SALMAGUNDI.
the Springs: where the gentlemen, who wish to make themselves agreeable, have an opportunity of dipping themselves into
the good opinion of the ladies: and it is truly delectable to see
with what grace and adroitness they perform this ingratiating
feat. Anthony says that it is peculiarly amazing to behold the
quantity of water the ladies drink on this occasion, for the purpose of getting an appetite for breakfast. He assures me he
has been present when a young lady, of unparalleled delicacy,
tossed off, in the space of a minute or two, one and twenty
tumblers and a wine-glass full. On my asking Anthony whether
the solicitude of the bystanders was not greatly awakened as to
what might be the effects of this debauch, he replied, that the
ladies at Ballston had become such great sticklers for the doctrine of evaporation, that no gentleman ever ventured to remonstrate against this excessive drinking for fear of bringing his
philosophy into contempt. The most notorious water-drinkers,
in particular, were continually holding forth on the surprising
aptitude with which the Ballston waters evaporated; and several gentlemen, who had the hardihood to question this female
philosophy, were held in high displeasure.
After breakfast, every one chooses his amusement; some
take a ride into the pine woods, and enjoy the varied and romantic scenery of burnt trees, post and rail fences, pine flats, potatoe patches, and log huts; others scramble up the surrounding
sandhills, that look like the abodes of a gigantic race of ants;
-take a peep at other sand-hills beyond them;-and thencome down again. Others who are romantic, and sundry young
ladies insist upon being so whenever they visit the Springs, or
go anywhere into the country, stroll along the borders of a
little swampy brook that drags itself along like an Alexandrine, and that so lazily as not to make a single murmur,