Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-09-02
Correspondence OF tho Richmond Ehq"i.'
MONTGOMERY WHITE SULPHUR SPR!Sds'{

press department, I am here enjoying this de,igA'ip
mountain scenery, drinking sulphur wafer ~ NV
payne. Before visiting this lnagnitlrrh, = sser,.
IDEAS Of true happiness consisted i'll "ia; NO" n,i;.
20 me to be the ~drudgery Of city life, MADE up ~. po"
tics, iuleps, KNOWN olhingisin. fuss anu hu.J.
How delightful the contrast /! Here, tH,e' u r.
,ernal care OF Mr.. Robi. III. Mosby, the fre'naen, -
the Montgomery White Sulphur Springs o1,"psnSi
aud that prince of caterers, Mr.. Thompson l ca =
AN enjoying every pleasure, every luxury wa" WI"
can 4 ire. Intrinsically, the Montgomery m
Sulphur pnssesses advantages in the way OF no'el ~
communications, in every department, surP,ass'nS gu!
thing of the kind | have ever secn-ahd l n":. ~
nv experience il now pretty extenslve. u 10 49,
here, M ut other watering places where any oe
10 be derived from the waters are in Il grea' e"s
counteracted by the drawbacks in the limited acsI"n'
mudations afforded. The general arrangement wy
iher in reference to the fare, sleeping accom'hoia.
tons, md other attentions, can challenge on.."'
with any place of public reception III Inc c"un'y'
The term "cabin," which | had frequently heaIu
applied to the reception places at Springs, gase ni
rather an unfavorable impression of these pi"ccr, 3D." ~
40 far as ! can learn, it is applicable IN reference ~
some others. The term ''mansion' "ou'u ~ ".r
apply to the series of nnat cottages, numbering =! gu
about twcnty.six, which are ranged IN paTa'''! '"m NV
along this beautiful valley. Had | the WORST III me
series at Richmond, a wife, and five thousand u yeai,
| wouldn't call the President my uncle. Ana l may
truly say, that every thing else throughout 'Io cum
arrangement is in perfect keeping with them. m,
The location of the Springs, which consist o wv
white sulphur and two chaly beate, is IN a hart""
valley, Aanked on either side by Nlgn n.oum
tains and terminated II few hundred yafus Nv"
,he Springs by another mountain, running 'rAm',
versely and connecting with the tw" pallls.
ranges above referred to. This valley runs ilo".
the Virginia and Tennessee Rail Road-lhe It"n"''
extent to which it were possible for me- un"o. 'ne
disad Santages Of a hasty travel, to trace IL 10
terminus at or Immediately beyond the Sprln-s' Wy ="
graceful declivity that is scarcely percept'p!s. iS
length between the two points indicated Is n h'''e auu
a quarter, over which visitors are carried on " ran
road built by the owners of the Springs ~ ''Ilie
train, consisting of two cars aud a baggage a an
this distance from the main line Virginia ana len
nessee road) without any motive power; a 'act m"':n
is owing to the natural depression OF the graz" III
that direction. The only Appliances necessary III lis
progress are the breaks, which betim@s are pu' III re-
uuisltiun, to prevent the too rapid advance oI'he '"'".
The mile and q quarter is run in abont a quarter oI
au hour, when the visitor is landed al the very "oo' W.
the ladics reception room. -.
As you approach the Springs, the liaShinIe"'
ranges OF white cottages breaE upon Inc view, inc
the sun from one Of those denee clouds, when I'M
yer briimes in sullen grandeur on the tops OF lhose
beautiful mountain ranges, and snOn truly do you re-
a!ze, under the stewardship Of MIR. Tyler, that tins
spiendur is but n toretaste OF the suOstaIr'
tial benefits which await you at the supper table
The visitors IRE welcomed by sweet music from n
made up, | understand, OF some members "i
famous Armory Band.
After r brief interval, passed in a!lotting appropr'-
ate apartments, you are shown to a large aud spacious
room, where everything is made up III asty!c creiith-
~ the best regulated ho:i III the country. y
brush aud u wash, aud of you repair, at the sound OF
The gong, to the supper room, the Band first playing
i few tunes from the porch oi the dining room as IL
note OF preparation.
TIE SUPER TABLE.
On entering the supper Z: d!Glas room-they a'c
I'll the same-l discovered, 10 my surpris-, that in.
stead Of the ordinary long tables, Il series Gt round
.Al =, n-,a,, 80 Ay ,-.r,, u,.un J-l thr,t, ri.Iif tI,.
,pacious room, each replete with every diversity vi
,ake., biscuit, preserves and meats of the best quail
y. a waiior or two III proportion 10 the capacity OF
he table. is assigned to auih, AMI you ENJOY yourself
with a select company, II you choose. urdIsiurbed
~ the general confusion which invariably attends
he promiscuous rush around the stables ia general us-.
you think proper to invite n guest, you can enter
ain him rs you please, apart from the crowd. Aud
t u family are here together, they are assigned Il So
)ar.te table, thereby rendering them as happy, aud
them 10 pass the meal times rs socially rs
hou.h they sat eround the domestic board. The IA
are regularly numbered, anI seats are assigned,
~ the accommodating steward. Mr. Tyler, 10 eacn
amily or individual, which they retain dgrlng their
',ay, without the least danger Of being disturbc! o.
displaced. In this form not l,s5 than seven hundred
PERSONS are seated each time 10 meals.
The task OF supervising the general order OF upe
'e.:ons throughout the spacious room, more especial
y during Gra. tim Ii, is q very oilrrous one. Ana
Jet, tIankS to tbs i4ste AMI experiences OF Tile indie
'atigab.e steward. Mr Ty!er, TIE arrangements ARE :"
perfect, H. to render what, in the genera! confusion AMI
hurry attendant upon such OCCASION, would hpp-ar /"
Je impossible. easy and practicable. Tn" whole orc-
is III fact like machinery. Not u iaise step or
mlshap seems In occur.
THE CULINARY DErARrNEsf.
Curiosity 10 ascertain the mcnlIs by which such M
AMOUNT of food rs | had seen each day CONSUMED,
.uulI br cooked. led M Ia taxi Il survey ;hrng.:h The
cooking department.. At the first glance II SEEMED
Entirely diSp.opurt!onei to the vastnc,s ani uX''Iit "i
II! the utlIrf appointments. But upon u closer tx
lmiDatiDI into the ECONOMY ana cuinpaC;nr": III the
liifsrru; combinations, | room rcasiz:! that The AZ
'augeIErnis III tIi. department were more than CON
10 the maguiuio VI nil without. l OBJ
i.rved there a range oi the largest GraeIri0ns OF nay
had ever seen. fOu will say il IIcrGrd ~ b- at
arsc capacity To meet the demands OF from eleven
q fourteen hundred persous. Adjacent 10 il lies u
'otGry uf hug" dimensions, being capable nf roasting
mo hundred and twenty pieces at a time. This will
rive YOU an idea Of the extent vi operations in this
department..
THE STORE BOON.
The bee: idea ] can give OF this IL n reference to n
argc and vol stoctrJ grocery -tore. To be- sure The
order was no, ~ perfect: but in extent Of stock and
substantial value. the comparison Faithfully ap-
plies. How | did smack my lip wien gazci upon
he hundreds of silver topped bottles and, / have to
gay in truth that my longing was fully gratihrd. !
came out n richer man in imagination By twenty de-
srees than when | went in. II you're a good fellow
you cannot be hungry or thirsty here, believe M: n
mere NOi 10 .hr. inOsUJ VIII " euIhHiShb W Pi"St
you fright side up"
Blame me not il in thi. letter | should give way Ia
ceilings of ecstasy, for everything arouuu us Is Caicu
.ated to inspire ideas altogether Incompatible with n
proper description Of mtre practical things. The band
IS now sounding tho note Of preparation Tor supper;
'he mir chosen being 10 otter than The Meeting III
the Waters; ~ and with the iI1urlc-s Of such charm
ing music, aud the grand and imposiTs v!ew before
ne, it IL MOI to be wondered that the Thoughts shnl!G
assume Il mere idcal cast. How happy would J. icel
could | always preserve that blissful mood III which
Eaa myself! And such would be the Gaze could
continue aEiiG such associations a. nov surround
me. Even in the dreary solitude winch is character,
Of Il winter residence iii tbs mOuntaIn region.
should feel happy nor would | cxchaEEe such a HE
for all the alluring splendor that nnparts pleasure ahd
happiness To the rich.
| was led into this episode by the interruption cnus.
ed by the music of the band, and the influences wliIch!
/; inspired. | will now proceed with n description oi
what | see here.
THE BALL ROOM.
am by this time bat familiarizcd with gay
pcenrs, pretty women and superb dresses bu', III
truth, upon entering the ballroom n few nights ago
| Eeaslue 80 bewildered as 10 be rendered almost
Such a combination Of gaic:y, fashion,
form aud beauty. | never witnessed. The Springs he
truly the greet theatres for display and 1t wouid
seem a. If all the yOtagies Of iashiSE had been exer.
ci.ing themselves for months previous I. oGt'iYal
eacil other in the way Of novelty in dress. Inc hoops,
III this inetance, Was the great prominent feature III
the style "i ladies' dresses and l could not help mink
ing at what Il sacrifice of ease this peculiar style l. pre-
served. 1t is not, perhaps, generally known ma Il
lady fully equipped according to this nsw fashion,
cannot sit while in the bali room, else the uniformity
of the dress is destroyed-tlie rotund form is changed
by sitting, into an obl0ng or oblique SHAPE, iher'oy
rendering her figure ridiculous hence the necessary
of their remaining standing or walking during Inc
exercises, or rather while the bail is open. This Is A
serious incouv one which, | should suppose
ia badly couaterbalanced BY a mere iliusive' super
fetal display.
Another serious disadvantage which exists III con,
nectiun with this style Of dress, is in waliL:ng;;. l
made an attempt TO dance to n lady, but hhulng
villa, n hazard it was-for a minute more w"u!i
lave found me ut full length on the fnor-l begged
Of upon some plausible pretext. ! shall not attempt
it again; and l would here suggest that gentlemen
make thS cschewing of that fashion n CONDITION o'
their engaging in this amusement. The ladies' NJ
usual, bear II vast disproportion to the gentlemen
being somewhat in the ratio Of two tn one. Inns
however, is n slight disadvantage, sEd were II not Tor