Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-08-20
Tnc1,,, vI,rr,,no PLACES.

Correspondence o. the Richmond Enquirer
OIn Swrr1 spRIN6s, Aug. ~, 1913
The picturesque and beautiful country .nro'In
which the traveller passes before reacnpg ooi''nA" o.
after leaving the western terminus oil 'he oen"a
Railroad, il far more remarkable Tor It's ooid ana
striking scenery than for s fertility. Lofty mountain
ranges, covered with thin CROWN OF suneu re-
narrow VALUES where poor crops out oau'y 10" ~" w.
farmers toll, greet the eye on every s'ue IT, To-
physical pecuiaritas continue un'i' .nn s,u"t
roughlare to the White Sulphur ls lett al Caihan
and the route to the Sweet Springs Is iahen' ru'
fifteen miles the road winds along vs'tey' .ni1usn
which runs Dunop's Creek, once famed LOT liz aouti
dant yield of the mountain trout. ihs sueaui 10
crossed not less than fifty times 10 Obstacles o. de
miles. The country along its margin Is r Iar u
-nt from that between Jscksou's river anu Oanan ..
The mountains are covered to their very sumg mus
by a very heavy growth OF Lofty ioresl .ee', o
maple, the chesuut, the oak. the buckeye 'no l'.h
ry the products of rich aud generous soii cousli
lutte this forest The valley changes III appealance'
snd rich aluval takes the place OF inc lnh serIe
soil below Callihans Evidences ot thrt ana eucces
agriculture increase as the traveller app,I1"oer, ne
celebrated valley Of the Swee: Springs. CPoh i'uu
ops Creek is the ancient and well known Tavern
where Col. Crew has served up DELICIOUS 'e",soh
steaks and also marvellous stories oil sncceesu aeer
bunting from time immsmoria His house Is sun tne
resort of deer stalkers aud other hunters. Co Cro"
porily figure always greets the eye OF each passing
traveller and the mmemOriall half hogSheau Oh ICE
wafer stands where IL has done Tor thlry years IL
,hs traveller is bic he will not ia'i 10 I'm
bibe one of the Cnloners jueps. and thKe peep a'
IN. old riffs with which the owner, years before the
Minnie" was thought Of rolled ovsr de-r on Inc
mountain side in front of his house, at the distance I'll
three hundred yards. Near this famous punlc house
the yisitrr To the Sweet Springs takes leave vi Tue
stream which hs has crossed often and traverseH Tor
Two miles one OF the most elevated oil HI the noun
tain ranges of the Alegbanies. There are points
along this route, whenco the water OF little springs
which trickle forth from different sides n Inc rosa
ind their ways, respectively To the Ms'isspp ana 10
James river.
From this elevated range, the traveller, by grad
ual descent reaches the most beautiful Valley of Vr-
ginia. II bursts upon him suddenly, with lis rich'
alluvial soil teemng with vegetation as 'u@ufiAnt ~
that OF the tropics. So many tributes, i'll prose and
verse have been paid 10 this magnificent valley, mat
full description of it is unnecessary. Some have
classicay ikened Ii to the Vale of Tempe Others ne
il imprisoned by lofty mountains, have traced It's To
.enblance TO the happy Valley of Rssseas, whilst ali
unite IN representing The most beautiful spot ever
yised by ths pilgrim in search OF health and pleas
ure. The hills which intervene between me valley
aud the towering mountains ara covered WIN ricn
verdure forest trees and luxuant corn. The valley
10 fragrant with the perfume of new moWn hay, ana
vocal with the music of the black.blrd and the lark
This valley Is nearly four miles long, aud WAS, Tor
many years. the property OF Tho Lswls family one OF
he Oldest and most arIstoerac OF all tho families OF
West Virginia large portion OF 1t IL still IN the
revolutionary general, 10 whose memory grateful
State is soon to erect statue AS companion 10 that
nf his most intimate frlend-ths great Washington
His son, Col Lewis, is worthy descendant oil 10
eminent sire, and il one OF the most eloquent ana
accomplished gentlemen OF the State. HIS handsome
residence IL situated lew nunureu yarus dooVe Tue
Old Sweet Springs.
Tn. Old Sweet Springs, the most delightful and al
tractve Of watering places, is the oldest OF all our
summer resorts IL has been place ct great resort
frat nulty Id q Kah-
op Madison one of the early Presidents of William
and Mary College The old District Courts We're
held at the Sweet Springs. and Chancellor Wyihe
Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, Edmund Ran
doph and other of early celebrities attended the
sessions of the Court at the Sweet Springs. a. our
lawyers now attend the SESSIONS Oh he CJurl vi AP
peals al Lewisburg.
The old clerks Office, and other old and primitive
buildings are st pointed out as having been Used
for the purposes of justice half century ago. Around
these relics of days when There were giants, there
still flourish, vigorous, stately aud ,umbrageous,
number of gigantic oaks, which furnish the most re-
reshing and grateful shade to thousands OF visitors
during the season at this watering place. There are
fsw hardy old mOnntAneers, almost rs eturdy ~ Inc
oaks Themselves, who remember to have sesn Henry,
Wyhs and Writ, and host OF the mighty dead ut
Virginia, lying tho green grass beneath those old
oak trees after the labors OF the Court were over
The Sweet Springs ara now owned by thres Mon
roe gentlemen of large wealth. high soc'A position
it, the Sweet Springs have during the last three years
been placed in the front rank OF American watering
places.
The buildings present soidity, beauty and regard
to architectural effect, which Is exceedingly rare al
places OF summer resort. One hundred and eighty
thousand dollars said TO have been spent In I'M
proving this place, aud Introducing all the mod-rn
improvements. The principal building Ia nearly 2oo
feet long, and, besides the ball ROOM drawing roon
aud dining hail. contains large number Of chambers
Tn
OF this building.
The next building in size and the first in beauty.
is the "Nec Hotti' which stands where ''ei6on roc
ian unsgh,y row of old wooden coitagrsl formerly
stood Tuis, rs all The principal hotels and villas
al this place. s OF brick and s one OF The most ad-
mraby constructed buildings We have ever seer. Ii
three stories high, about l9D feet long, and contains
q very large number Of rooms finished in style
equal 10 those of first class modern hotel The
rooms are all lofty and airy, with large wDdows, mo
dern venetian blinds, and perfectly ventilated.
They are Furnished with handsome French bed.
steads bureaus, u1urian hair mattresses, fine linen
sheetings. complete sets OF chamber china and All
things else essential the comfort of the visitor. The
passages and stairways OF this large building are
completed and beautifully painted ln this building
there are parlors uxlranty furnished with rose
wood furniture large plate glass mirrors. Iianos And
fine eugravings There two long plazZas, upon
which the chambers of the first and second floors
open Arrangements have been made for lighting
this as we'll as all the other buildings with gas. The
chandeliers and burners are now up, and me wnole
of this great establishment will soon oe brilliantly
lighted with gas. Besides the two immense buildings
which We have described, there in the same line
vs. largs and handsome brick villas, built alter the
ianented Downbg'S plans, which are equal IN size
and beauty he usual class OF city residences. BE
aides these buildings there are scattered about the
shady and beautiful grounds OF the Sweet Springs,
large number of pretty cottages and cabins OF wood.
which are appropriated 10 the young and unmarried
gentlemen visitOrs.
By far the mort beautiful building at The Old Sweet
Sprinps is the - Bath House," This is larg. and
magnificent brick structure, which, with it'd lofty
rurrets looks more like Castle than bath house.
Besides the baths for the ladies' and gentlemen II
contains Two handsome psrurs or reading rooms,
where both sexes read and conversesbeforo and
after bathing. Attached TO the baths are large
number of private for The bathsrs, where they
are rubbed and dressed by number OF attendants.
There sls0 dressing and the rooms appro-
prated to the OF thu hair dressers and BARRIERS
adjon the bahs. Ofthe waters OF the Sweet Springs
Bath il il unnecessary to speak, as their ams IS HI
extended those Of any watering place IN the world
There are nov at the Sweet Springs about ak hun
dred guests, and that number will not PROBABLY be
diminished before the last OF September ny the
middle If August there will BIZ eight hundred visitors
here. The socistyis of most refined and delightful
character and all of the Southern States are we'll rep
resented as to talents, wealth and beauty
--~&~---
PROPAGATION OF THE ENGLISH PARLIA-
MENT
On Monday, August I'd, the House of Lords met at
quarter before two o'clock to conclude the business
of the session. At that hour not more than dozen
peera were present. The Lord Chancellor occupied
his usual seat on the woossck, and on the Ministerial
benches we're the Earl Of Derby, Lord Colchester
the Earl of Carnsrvon, The Earl OF Donoughmore
Lord Lyndburst and Lord St. Leonards. The Oppo-
-tion was represented by three peers, OF whom Earl
Granville was one: but the benches on that side of
the house were graced by the presence Of consldsra
BILE number of noble ladies.
The Lord Chancellor then proceeded TO read
HER MAJssrY's message.
Mi LORDS AND GESTLEahE We are command
ed by Her Majesty express her satisfaction at be-
ing enabled release you from the duties OF session
which, though interrupted, has, by your unremng