Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-08-22
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PEN AND INK SKETCHES OF LIFE AT
THE WHITE SULPHUR.-lNO. 81
BY MARY J. wlSDLE.
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS,

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS,
GREESBRIER August II, lS5b.
To-day opened with most homogeneous viaifHnts
he form of sta.nant inists, which advanced until III
cabins were ~ allo%ed up, one by one; the :rees mel
ed away, and even the spring disnppenred. I'll
whole cxpanse without presented the appearance Of
sea Of vapor, which, however. speedily resolved i
sell into merciIess rain. A stupid, uniform, uninre
Iectu4l drizzle, every drop being exactly the siz
weight and cl-arnrss of its fellows. Not q tiny spec
of blue sky 10 awaken hope, nothing but silver-whit
deep piled rain clouds curtaining the heavens troi
pole 10 pole. Even the wind monns, as though it be
walled the confortless aspect OF the objects by whic
il WAS surrounded.
The cosy, home.like parlors arc filed with erour
Of ladies and gentlemen Standing, sitting, or walking
some are smiling encouragingly, and though iu-s
pres.ibly weary of themselves and each other, per
-.st in cungratulating each other on the superior sc
cabliity nf a watering place party OH q rainy day
endeavoring, o. their iabored vivacity, to DISCUS
the growing depression Of their spirits. 4 strAng
little world are those drawing rooms; many a subti
Irritation Is carried on here, unsupported by or con
nlved at by parents and guardians.
Close by the window, Mr.. -, who looks upoI
every unmarried lady MS Il species OF m~atrinonia
"ch|raiicrc d indnstrie," has been guilty of tire
great yuwns, seeming TO think that like 'ics trail
S0In!s Il USAGE lie must yawn TO the right, left hu'
centre, lest any one in the room should he uv-rlooke,
III tie expression Df his ennn.
The lazy standing in the hall SO surrounded b,
gentlemen, IL Miss -. an h"lrcst, who II reported
W po~ecsS nalI II IuL:l pIlhlhllOns Win Il tnDushn'
slaves a piece, besides mines Of every metal ant
sentimental known. Her income is al apocrypl.s
SUN, which no one who has not Worked once Or twlct
through the Assistonet, can e1pOund without rec"ir-r
To the Enumeration table. A fortune like hers, with m
unc!e's inheritance in perspective. creates rs many
sIltors as the Irnms dc .Medicis. The gentlemen fix
the consideration Of her charms in the highest plac,
among the highest stars. One discovers in her face
the blended features of The ~"undying ONE and Mary
Stuart in the best days Of both. Another compares
49,, ,t 80. - ,Ia, --it "a
ry's Drcan;" and all agree that so perfect n model of
female beauty never demanded prrpetuaion from
sculpture. Such n paragon should 90 down 10 po..
terIry in marble or canvass.
One of the gentlemen near her, with the locks curl.
ing upon either side the central parting OF his hair,
like The waves in Il bad picture of the passage Of the
Red Sea, impiorcs her 10 indicate to him a single point
on which he may crafty Il caprice of hers. and she
shall find that, rs was said Ia Louis XIV, Sc r'est pas.
sibir rest lat; 81 tmpnssibP il Sc Itr0? Another de.
votes his fcaliy to the object of his admiration by de.
clarlns that II sh: d'slikes ball. rooms they shall be
converted into tH' champeIs S, and says he is even
willing Ia manufacture artificial sunshine TO render
his project feasible. One Is winning her heart through
the tlies uf II conservatory -crowdIng her room with
floral embellishments that she might any day BE- .mo-
thrred in roses. Another COMMENCES his plan of at.
tack al an infinite distance from the question nearest
his heart, like n spider who, TO en!rep the ty fitting
on The window pane, attaches her first f!anent to the
ceiling.
\ luiy in the position Of this charming hcircss, is in
her way n sovereign and Yet with the world nj her
feet. she will discover in time thar. To have secured the
affection uf n man ut principle and intel
irc:, is u b!cssin, she will tiIi difficult 10 attain.
In IN. few wIu arc stroNing lu,ubriously abou, we
SEQ som. two ar three who deserve more than Il pass
IN notice. We take up our pen deHcately and revr-
r.ntly, dear reader. and beg You TO note that modest,
uuict looking individual with glasses. His person is
slender almost to emacinton, looking rs il he had not
long to live; and yet probably he w!ll live 10 bury nine.
tenths of those who make this remark. His face is
lnele.an;. but keen and speaking. giving an idea Of
decision, proInpiness and great mental refinement, ns
Us iuvitualiiy of character. He strikes one nj
first sight ~ n In.n of thoughtful and reflective hab.
It's. Amid this clamnruus, thronging, undulatIng inu!-
,i,ude. hc seems perfectly calm and ab-tractcd, and
nppcars altogether absorbed in his reflections. Blu;
approach and draw him OFT in conversation. Hear
him plunge with ready tueIcy into political aud nd
lnlnistrative details. His views are original and stri-
king. his style chaste, and bis entire conversation tex.
hiblis unquestiOnablr proofs of n polished and vignr.
ous mind OF the highest order. Literature, history,
public economy, questions al national security AMI
progression all these subjects he is equally at home.
Aud yet hi. m"desty prevents this mental SUPERIORITY
from being disagreeably felt b. any one. This gen.
tleman is known throughout the country rs the nc.
editor OF De BORIS Rcvicp, whioh bears
hs name. Mr.. Nattermere, the distinguished French
scholar, has said that, rs n statistical writer, Mr. De
Bow his no superior in any country.
The gentleman who has Just entered bespaierea with
80 tllhI All AGRICULTURAL UtIiN hhulu Iilcl Ia
rural produce Of tho country from mn obacrvaiion OF
the state o! his boots, ia the remarkable Texan
Major McCulioct. This gentleman seems
quite unconscious that he is at all amusing, aud looks
tho picture of the proioundest melancholy, whlir
.very one within hearing nre holding their sides. lie
has a dry, solemn, historical way of reproducing the
preposferous things h. has heard ar witnessed. which
Is absolutely irresistible. He emhcllishes very little,
but he brings out tho ridiculous points 10 afm,ratinn,
in the most artlrss way IN tie world, more NJ if he
,,,i,;, q, ii,ns,lf YIn, TRYING =, entertain pth1rS. /
lie seem, 10 possess comic talent of q high ordcr.-
How many smiles this gentleman has had wasted on
m-enoush to stir the very stones TO feeling aud
yet he conlrivrs 10 dodge the whole artillery and
on. Is his heart 80 hility that the arrows re-
bound
Ths individual nj the window -pointing to a clear
in the clcuda, through which the sun has just Is
Mr. Venable, ex-meu.ber oi Congress from
Curolina-the warmest OF friends, tine most At
'rarrive Of companions. This gentleman exercises in
ls own State all the influence arising from eminent
ability aud hIgn integrity. While in Congress ne
served thu South hest by making Southern talents
Useful, and Southern worth conspicuous IN his own
In conversation he dashes out his opinions
ike fire. brands, little caring where they alight.--
md yet this turbulent temperament has no lnsensl-
1iltv, for n kinder heart never beat.
The athletic. muscular figure, with An arm that
night have welded the genuine old Scottish clay
more by the side of Robert Bruce, is Judge B, OF
Virginia. This g~eniieman's good huinor
$ in-xhaustihle; his mouth holds II merry thought in
'ach c'fher' SUI ,S 'a'eo prt''h ""' !"
'o"utt wh,ch aaa' not a n.t,e ~ % naH" VI
,s face. He shakes !innGs with q vIg0r That ~ some
lines distressing but !rIenciy, warn: 'Leart.' people
'eadi!y pardon the in"inehiary pain 10 lh'ir lhS.Ir,
or the sake OF the cordiail'y thal accompanies oe
queeZe.
The very benevolent fnco upon the sofa is that of
Ion: Mr.. Newton eA'inefhosr rom Nr1'Iuo'canu
i'strlct' IN ms St"'e-n name wnich seems 10 e"lh'
nand universal respect mere, tms sent Sn we
rrpLetg h III H." .J,, " .ts ra "a. T s.
Irsn, nation
r.. 49,, un. ,,o,s;r, irt.u.c,uoI Iookin, ne-s,n
, hna' rnsy ,,on " ;nI,c,i haLitnaI interrnrrs,
. mI' ,Li ",o' oni,,r o,eJ cir.I.s ia Mr. Usrr;nonr ~
Srn ,n Il" car 49, snJ lara mlnst.r r. Snain' Tb;s
ran,;nnam ,yho received his aopointnent from Cen,
Ia,lor wo. ;nd.fa ,able in his .xrrtjous for IN. re-.
"yIo' % 60" $500, holona;n, - H.. m c.,.d
:, " ~ ey,ciiiion HI. successful eTnr,s in the:r
U -. ~ r,n,I o. ~ IN, corn,ry .nd h; ,hIy bnnnr.