Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-09-21
correspondence of the Spectator.

| ,ueSSfS. Edtt0TS:-IhlS is indeed the Juetr0p0tlS
sof watering places. The crowds WHO frequent
the place help to enhance its intrinsic Importance.
Every body goes where everybody is expected
OF more than 1900 persons who have been regis
tered here this season, great many, doubtless,
nave come for health and yet many also merely to
have been at 'sIHe White Sulphur" Few whs
visit the mountains, either for health or pleasure,
can feel that their objects have been accomplished,
without visiting this place. But there must be
something intrinsicay valuable in this water, THAT
such popularity was ever established.
Its reputation has grown up, not only without
the advertitous aids which have been invoked in
! favor of other Springs, but even in despite of
drawbacks, which 1t might seem, would have ru-
ined any such place. never saw an advertise
ment or puff or certificate of the value of this
water, published in any newspaper. No large
snowy Hotel, attracting public attention by IFS
architectural beauty, rises on the view. No lux
urious table, to tempt the palate, has ever been
known. On the contrary, the fare has been the
subject ofmerltedor unmerited censure ever since
| heard of the White Sulphur The place is nat
nraly beautiful. On the east and north, two short
ranges of hill, which in Eastern Virginia, might
rise to the dignity Of mountains, protect large
grassy lawn, sprinkled with shade trees, at whose
western extremity$a as it gradually subsidies into a
meadow, is the Spring.
large building, or rather two buildings, providing
the reception office, Dining Room, Barroom SC.
Running to the west for some fifty or sixty yards
is row of Brick Cabins. On three sides Of the
Lawn are other rows, and radatng to the S. E.
from about the western extremity OF the south
row, are two others. Some six or seven hundred
persons can be accommodated But there never
has appeared to be any special effort, to adapt the
plan to its manifest purpose, commensurate with
the public want. Private enterprise has erected
several large and tasty buildings, which enure to
the benefit of the proprietors, when those who
have erected them do not occupy them. True,
the general appearance of the place is far from be-
ing unattractive and seen from several points, there
is something exceedingly interesting and pictu-
rescue in the view. But there is as much or more
beauty of this kind, in various other watering pla-
ces.
Many other Sulphur Springs exist-Red and
Salt and Blue, in this vicinity each of which has
acquired some character; at the Eastern base OF
the Allegheny in-he neighburhood ofCalaghans,
there is Spring which but for its vicinity to this,
would be noted, and at the base on this side, with
in three miles of this place, you are informed by a
notice on board set up by the road side, that ''n
fifty yards, you can find a cold Sulphur Spring.
and its water is truly refreshing; in Botetouri
and Augusta and Bath and Rockbrdge, we have
Dagrer's and Stricklaud's and Millboro and the
: Cold Sulphur and Lebanon and Augusta Springs
but after all the admissions which Partially
and interest can demand in favor OF such places
there is but one WHITE SULPHUR. Indeed
throughout the country and the world, so far as
can learn, there is no equal to this Spring. And
this wonderful fountain with lis astonishing viz
tues, like all other wonders Of nature, appears We
nv simple 1t issues out from among the rocks
and the water has been walled in 81 as to make
an octagonal pool about five feet in diameter and
two and half in depth The volume otwater as
it issues from the enclosure may be represented by
SAYING, that section of the stream measures sew
en- inches in breadth by two in depth. 1t is diff
cult to conceive of clearer fluid. In all respects
the Spring resembles tie limestone fountains
with which the Valley abounds. Butthe remark
able mineral character of the water is obvious ia
one sense for a quarter of a mile around, even in
calm weather, and the unmistakeable odonr has
been perceived at u much more remote distance.
very much doubt whether owing TO the indis-
erection of visitors, this water may not have often
done as much harm to some, as good to Others
1t is not panacea. 1t IS powerful medicinal a.
qent and must be used advisedly. 1t is quite en-
|
it. Some sip and taste as if half afraid to swat
low. others guph down a tumbler, as they would
Chamber Salts, others drink out task, keeping a
tally of their consumption to be sure they drink
the self.prescribed dose: while not few evident
" relish the odorous compound, as something c.
t:ual to the best Soda Water. Many seem TO think
nv are to be benefited in the ratio of the quar-
t;tv construed and consider themselves in fail
nav 70 health. when they shall have reached fif
teen or twenty gill glasses full, day. Large
nrmbers who reso,t to the mountains for health
derive no ultimate benefit from the excursion
The health procured at one watering place, is dis
sipated at another. The strength derived from a
season at one Spring, is expended lii gayey at an
others and the sound appetite resulting ,rom
malicious use of mineral water or baths, and ina
linp the bracing mountain air, becomes, when too
much INDUCED, the fruitful cause of dyspepsia
Speaking of appette-the White Sulphur Of
fers but little temptation to indulgence at table
There is all abundance of "material aid'' for emp
tv stomachs. in the substantals of life, meat and
bread were these only put up in some mroe edible
STYLE Vegetables are scarce even now, after
plentiful rains and with company decimated to
little over one hundred. In the height of the sea-
son, when 600 people were daily fed in and about
the dining room, vegetables were unknown, eX-
cent to the few who secured them on their own
account. There is a large garden of a most pro-
ductive soil, but grown up with weeds. The
grass on the lawn might support half a dozen
cows, if cut and fed to them, and good milk and
fresh butter would do much to compensate for the
want of vegetables. The great scarcity of suita-
HE table fare has led to most disagreeable Gus
tom, peculiar to this place of having pricae dishes
STRANGER hardly dares ask for anything which
he sees set out, lest he should intrude on some
person's RIGHTS or seem to be acting the beggar.-
The visitors thus become competitors with the
proprietors and you may see the people from the
country passing around before the cabins, with
butter and eggs, chickens, ducks, pheasants, to-
matoes and the like Offering them for sale. The
rich pay of their abundance, and even the poor
half famished for healthy well cooked food, must
enter the lists and purchase, or bribe servants tc
do il. whose commissions are little over five pei
cent. On entering friends cabin discovered
his mantle ornaments to consist mainly OF doZ
en- eqps anil loaf Orwell baked bread. With
all the drawbacks however this place continues tc
take the lead of all our Springs and even the wide
and merited celebrity of the Rockbridge Alum
has not vet enabled it to be successful compet
tor for public favor.
Other than the Spring and the company there
is but little here to excite remark. Some pleasant
walks invite the l0vet of nature to strull and the
fields and meadows and woods are fast putting or
their loveliest attire-the autumn dress. On thu
hill north of the lawn, public spirited gentleman
of South Carolina has had constructed very nice
ly graded walk, which in serpentine course, gives
some varied and pleasant views. Some one has
said his idea Of paradise was, that it was laid of
in walks tor two persons-three being an odd anc
unknown company. This has been constructed
on the same plan. The old hoster is still here
-. o1,looy avorv dav continues his OnC