The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-07-14

President Taylor and, TO our own knowledge, a
dozen times obliged President Pierce to call in
physician; while to the pertnacity of this same
grim visaged monster do we attribute nearly all the
ndispositon affecting President Buchanan since his
accession to office. The reform in the methods and
modes of transacting the executive business most
needed, is some change by which Presidents OF the
United States may be able to repel all who would
improperly exact portion of their time absolutely
required for the intelligent discharge of the
tariy increasing demands of legitimate LBlblic bust
neS' "pon 'n'n set
VIRGINIA
[Coi respopdepoe Of she Ricbmond Edlurerl
OLD SwEsT SPRINGS, July 5, 1858.
MODEL SUMNER RESORT
If the reports which reach are to be credited
we are on the eve of a complete revolution In the
character and accommodations OF the mineral springs
OF Virginia. Proprieors have determined no longer
to rely exclusively upon the medical properties OF
the famous springs or Virginia for the popularity
and success of their respective establishments, but
have determined to make their guests more COM
Portable than they have heretofore been. Spartan
Diet although advantageous to nvalids, did not add
to the popularity OF the Virginia springs. The pure
air OF the Alleghanies and the miraculous virtues OF
our mineral waters, have long invited the fugitive
from heated cities and mlasmatic rice fields; but in
digestble meals and densey packed hot dormitories
frightened him TO other localities, where art aided
nature somewhat more literally in making people
(who paid fourteen dollars per weekly comfortable,
than was the case in the mountains of Virginia.
The splendid provisions of nature for the restora-
ton of the invalid to health, were not unfrequently
marred by tainted meats, dark, repulsive dining
rooms sovenly, uncouth walters, villanous bread,
dirty bedrooms hurdygurdy music, insoent superin-
tendents and merciless stage proprietors. Exag-
gerated accounts of these things spreading through
the length and breadth of the Union, frightened bi.
lious gentlemen to Newport and Saratoga, when
their vers required the waters or the White Sweet,
and Salt Sulphur to put them in order. Rancid but
ter, black hearted potatoes, tough mutton and sa-
wage sagedvers made our watering places the resort
a have
Of visitors annually in mountains. These things,
and the want of railroads and navigable streams
placed Newport, Saratoga and Sharon in public esti-
nation far before Virginia watering places-every
way their superior in curative properties as well
of advantages OF s,erery and atmosphere
Capital and individual energy have at last come
to the aid of many of the principal watering places
in Virginia. We hear everywhere of improvements
which promise comfort to those who propose to seek
rest and health at Virginia springs this summer
We hope all that we hear is true, for our mineral
springs should be of wealth not only to the
ppprietors, but TO the State.
Prominent among the well known Virginia springs,
where recent improvements have been most credita
BILE and complete are the famous old Sweet springs.
Which OF your readers has not at some period Of his
life, spent delightful week, perhaps month, at
this noble old spring. which, long before any otheI
mineral springs in Virginia attracted attention,
rescrted to by many visiters and ts waters analysed
by one of the earliest Presidents OF William and Ma
No one who has ever visited this famous spring.
which our ancestors resored TO az early "a 1894
have forgotten the beautiful valley in winch IL is
situated valley lovely tnl that OF Rasseas,
or the fine groves of old oaks under whose spread
ing branches SO many thousands have sought repose.
Three short years have passed since was last at
this watering place; and in that time the capital,
taste and energy Of the present proprieors have
dered the Sweet Springs the most attractive spot in
tie mountains of Virginia. Then, with its three or
four hundred guests, il was the gayest of all our
Watering places. Even then its invgorating waters
q.
euickness 10 the intellect and, despite its limited
accommodations, IN ade it the fayorite resort of all.
Despite its old fashioned cabins the large ball
and spacious drawing rooms Of the famous old brick
hotel, with its pazzas two hundred aud fifty feet
long, made il even then not unattractve, In an
architectural point Of view. Much had heard Of
the great improvements at this place, was totally
unprepared for their extent aud beauty. The sub
stantial brick hotel alone remains to remind the
vister of the buildings which were here four or five
years ago.
Beautiful buildings OF the latest designs from
Downing and Vanx, have taken the place Of the old
cottages elbow Row, long and ugly row of log
huts, has disappeared, aud large and admirably
constructed building occupies much Of the ground
from whence the old cabins have been removed.
These new buildings have increased the capacity Of
the Old Sweet Springs for the accommodation Of
visfers, from three four hundred, to something
like one thousand guests. The arrangements are
now OF the most perfect character for the accommo
dalton Of families, with either single rooms suits
of apartments opening into each o'her. There are
now ample arrangements for private parors and re-
ception rooms.
The new bath houses erected since 1866, are the
most complete and admirable establishments Of their
kind in the United States The baths for the ladies'
and gentlemen are Of such unusual size that they
furnish nearly much room for exercise as ac-
tive swimmer could desire,
The Arrangements for the comfort Of the guests
areof unusual character, and would, either at Sa
raoga or Newport attract atten.ion and give entire
satisfaction TO the most fastilious. All tue apart
ment are provided with modern aud servceable fur
niture. The usual complaints OF fashionable visiters
Of the want OF bureaus, wardrobe-, &c, cannot be
made at Sweet SPRING.
The furniture linen sheeting, bedding &c. &C., OF
the sleeping apartments are equal TO those OF our
first class hotels. Indeed, this place IA now what
every first class watering place at the South should
be 10 all Of its arrangements. IL challenges compa-
rson with the boosted watering places o the North.
Ii affords the thousand visiters whom IL accom-
modate with every luxury which the mountains of
virgina can afford lts present condition illustrates
what capital and energy do In Western Virginia,
in providing summer resort, equal IN accommoda-
tons and far superior in other respects 10 Newport
and Saratoga. Within less than two days travel
from New York, and within only a few niles Of
staging, the Old Sweet Springs may now be regard
ed az in the very first rank Of American watering
places.
Petersburger, writing from the Hygeia at old
Point Comfort, to the Inteuigencer, says:-The
bathing here IL peculiar. A stockade il built out IN
tnc wafer, lntO Wnt'u VOu cnhtI tlu tiI'y 1bhrcu
well az you can considering the warmth and shall
lowness OF the water. Hard by another stocksde IL
erected for the ladies'. This is the misery OF the
thing few PAGES onyou hear the most delightful
shrieks and screams and the most musical laughter.
You know that fun Is going on. But where you are
there Is naught save melancholy sloshlng
around" OF bilious and hdeols males. The contrast
between the two stockades--the fun, the froc, and
the females in the one and the dull masculine splash
ing IN the other-is horrid horr d.
THE WHITE MOUNTAINS.
visners are gathering at the White Mountains in
large numbers though IL the object be TO escape hot
weather, il will be failure We have a letter from
the Larry House at Gorham saying that from June
rs TO July the mercury had varied from 66 to
SO degrees, which Is certainly hot enough for all