Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-08-29
VIRGINIAN.
PEN AND INK SKETCHES OF LIFE A
THE WHITE SULPHUR.-lNO. g..
To hc Editors Of the Enquirer:
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS,


| WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, I
! GREESBRIEK, VA, August 2Jth lSoo
Nobody who has not it can conceive ttf
strange aspect Of things here at meal times. lhe
confusion of tongues like the sound of many waters:
the enormous consumption of food; the mingled de-
,nsuds for more; the cloud OF black walters passing
down the sides of the immense tables the hungry,
eager faces seated at them form altogether most
| amusing subject for contemplation, aud should any
philanhropic person, anxious for the advancement oi
the noble science of plysiogomy wish to survey nf
motley countenances OF these personages, he VIII nd
ample matter for his instruction IN almost every other
devouring countenance.
Breakfast is one Of the most interesting aspects OF
"Whte Sulphur life. There is nothing dysPePiic
about il like dinner nothing trfngly trivial ike
tea; nothing suggestive OF night incubus ike that
| reckless repast, supper 1t may be the prelude TO
day OF delight or a day OF ve1stIon; ouf "hie IL
renders US capable OF approaching Inc lother'
il will also enable us more successfully 10 struggle
through the latter The events Of The preceding day,
with conectures on the probable occurrences OF 'Na'
to come, naturally form the topic OF conversation
The flashes of wit may not be so sparkling nor inc
mrth so e1uberant at the past meridian eh'ertain-
ment, but quleter tone OF goou hunof sehei"'S
prevails.
Every item too, that tends to make up watering
place breakfast snlacks Of the country and lis ires'
ening associations. There is the Indian bread recall
ing vivid remembrance Of q corn field, WIN ns Dur
uished spears of grain moving TO and fro III the
breeze beneath the golden light of an auumnaI sun
set; and the butter recalling pleasant recolecohs
with the milk Of dappled COWS loinE III green pas
lures by the side of crystal brooks. Not 10 nentoh
the associations Of coffee, which may set Us thinking
of the ARABIAN Nights" and caphs and beautiful
princesscs, all living in world OF enchaninisnt'
which only requires the proper spell 10 uti?l ''s
treasures to Aud the tea, too, when resusci'atS
such quaint pietures of short Chinese, with mpass'
be feet thrust into impraccabe shoes, and hats ike
70 many miniature models of ST. Clement Chrrcn,
all wandering busily about in an ideal world, when
junbIes the bronze horse and Aladdin strangely to-
gether in the back ground.
Dinner at the white Sulphur" is grand military
movement of black walters, and the ladies and gem
lemen are merely by-hgures upon when the htr-
can army exercise their skill 1t is quiet enjoyment
10 us to see the trained machinery OF hands anu arms
eut.stretched and active-placng ana repIaclngIthe
unheard foot steps and inoveless countenances lead
ing to the belief that you arc waited upon by nu
tonatons only that you have q certain conviction
that such silent, living creatures must ot necessity
be- very observant and We are even led to speculate
upon what they will say when freed from restraint.
and at perfect liberty in those unexplored regions,
where they congregate.
Dinner is on the whole rather stupid; though we
have no reason to complain; for We always find pen.
~ to amuse and interest Opposite TO Us is seaed
Mr.. -, iexcuse the name,) whose jests, aud bril-
liant repartes are usually devoted TO the ladies' In
deed, he is invaluable at watering place ne
quotes Tupper with whom he says he has d'nedl
over "tomato," lisps Latin phrase amid the s9n
confusion OF changing plates, and lectures upon .,'
impropriety of waltziug, while coquettnS win the
"d,scri" occasionally too teasing his nelshbor, IA
very lovely gr) till eddy from her hear' SehuS up
its rosy scarlet over her whole face. "nen we GloM
weary waiting Cor our pla'e-whch shining tAiI'c''n
sometimes elopes witll-we lean quietly oacH III our
chair and beyin counting how many wear caps, aud
peer Internationally at heads, ana ca'ch ',e stray
sentences and odds and ends OF opinion which are
flung Kaleidoscope fashion across and around the Ia"
BILE; then some one WORD sehus Us ""hdesihs ial
AWAY from the we-bred scene.
| trHe eYner,est reporter of New York journal
would probably fail to give correct "skech OF the
varied hearty faces seated at this long table And
vet we cannot help thinking that hEer subjects Tor
mem uanting would not be easy 10 find between the
fronics than some few seated these tables.
That gentleman with a tinge of grey perceptIbic
amid his hair, and who looks as if his ffunc vas
quite equal to the hardships OF Robinson CrusIe
fe,-cOnes first on our list. thus individual VINO Is
az npenetrable to those he disIkes. He he is afabl
70 his ayoriteS-ls Gcu Green 50 widely and iav0ra
by known in connection with the Texas struggle for
independence. He has au honest face, rs strongly
marked as though he had been conversGnt with the
clements in oil their vcissitudes and aspects The
good natured, but slightly sarical smile on his lip
may have its origin, partly i'll robust health partly
in the tranquility of mind produced by the possession
Of ample means.
Itis question often asked, what it ia that makes
the lives of people full ut incident, mat try
seem never to make 50 much as the tour oi the'r
chamber without meeting with some entertaining UT
remark able adventure while those OF others ARE 5"
dull and monotouous that, place them I'D ih'rs ini
;rseIf in tbe nds, uf pispts dragons and eucranr-
ers nothing would ever occur to them out Of the o.
dnary routine of The vulgarest anlmn 'lle.
The answer is, radical difference OF character; and
ths particular traits Of character which psrnaps more
than any other often make one man career aiuo'
i Iii tho want of them renders that OF his neigh
hor ar unromantic as treatise onlogarthms The life
~ Con-. q. has been emnently an eventtul one
Looking back his career Que wonders at the hero
80 which supported him in the fearful battle OF Miers
bauIe which, in all lis moral and political cunse
ouences, was, to Texas, glorious triumph. His iui-
11r;sonment in the dungeons Of Peroie-his wondsr-
ful escape from that gloomy stronghold of Mexican
depotism-the surprising seadlness OF purp9re which
dsn wds when lost, staggering, bis less heroic com
psniors gave up to die; while, amid unheard Of suf-
i.rirc lie tosd on before his shudLering followers