Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-06-28
w. ID. WALLACH.
WATERING PLACE CORRESPONDENCE
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS,
Greenbrier Co. Va June % 1870 (


Greenbrier Co, Va, June %, 1850
Dear Star The conclusion of No. l left
me high on the top wave of an inspiration
about mountain scenery, and among the gIo-
riOus peaks Of the Blue Ridge.
Indulge me now in DEPRESSION to remark
here In the centre Of this great State-this
venerable and hOnored mother of Presidents
and statesmen; of Washington, of Jefferson,
Madison, Henry. and Lse-that unlike most
Northern writer's who journey into this splen-
did but slandered portion Of our Union. T do
not deem 1t incumbent on me to relieve nv
mind OF any special elaborate opinions and
dlS4ulsltlOns upon the question of slavery
Though born and reared in New ENGLAND
state, L have never, since began to read his
tory or politics, been particularly exercised.
nor made myself unhappy in this regard But
nave endeavOred to look at the subject from
a philosophical, rational stand point; and /
have discovered, what all who are not struck
with judicial blindness may see that some
manifest, unmistakable system of slavery,
bondage, vsssalsge, or peOnage, pervades ali
ancient Biblical history. And sweeping the
eve down over the buried centuries, have dis
cerned similar systems and institutions in all
ages, from the gray dawn of the Creation TO
the present era. And my mind has long since
anchored upon the irresistible, immovable
conclusion that positive. palpable systems of
slaTery-Of subseTI fence Of one portion Of the
human race to anOther-fOrm a part of the
great woof Of Gods economy. And that when
ever this great system shall be changed or
pass away, it will be by His agency and decree,
and not at the dictum, a result Of the efforts
Ct Wendell Phillips and Lloyd Garrison nor of
sUch political recuSsnts and lofty .tumb's as
the Republican Vice Presidential nominee.
The transit of the Blue Ridge is by three
successive tunnels, the last a StupendouS work
seven-eIShths Of mile through solid rock
and emerging gladly from the drear passage.
we descend the western slopes, and obtain
views Of the great Allegany tier of mountains,
between which and the noble range from whose
adamsntine embrace we have just escaped,
me- Spread out before our admiring gaze the
Valley Of Virginia.
The course Is now through thousands. tens.
hundreds Of thousands acres of excellent land.
inteTSperSed, though less frequently than the
eastern sides, with farm houses and villages
The route from the fine town of Staunton.
sky miles onward TO Jackson river, laws
among spurs OF the Alleganies, whose heavily
umbered sides have yet to find profitable de-
velOpment IN the use Of the immense masses
"i wood TOT future locomotives, and in new
markets for lumber when the iron track finds
ats iarthest terminus at the Ohio river.
From jackson Iver forward the road is
partly graded, but State enterprise is pro-
verbally slow, and il is predicted that twelve
months may elapse ere the cry of the brozen
steed shall reSOUnd through these secluded
VHllles, and awaken his shrilI echoes AMONG
these beautiful mountains
The route is now along the wild and rough
banks Of the James river, whose rocky bed Is
boiling and toaming with the mad rush of its
tHrold mountain waters. For the majestic
storm clouds which shadowed our halfway
aeross the Blue Ridge, now scattering their
treasures OF rain and hail far away over the
great plains hundreds Of feet below, and anon
wheeilng IN their course, sweeping up the
mountain sides, and dsshing their cryStalled
4 raUa n.
mist, IN pattering showers upon our moving
roofs and windows-did not pass over the pres
ent line OF travel without disbursing literally
from their surcharged reservoirs.
Hating at the DRY Creek House''-we
oPIne that the name is suggestive Of the alb
sence, during the summer solstice of those
tumuituOus mountain torrents in the channel
oi the adjacent stream-certainly not of any
lack Of thirst aSsusging liquids Judging from
the array of licensed bottles upon the counter,
and the activity of the young Creole behind it.
But please TO consider your correspondent
srrIvee at the White Sulphur. The visitor to
these celebrated springs is impressed with the
grandeur Of the pTimevsl forests The noun
tam, short mile to the east, and so finely
shaped, Is densely covered with the kingIv
onarch-osk-reigning in regal splendOr,
and with almost undisputed sway and gor-
geogS IN his summer robes Of brightest green
And mere We note feature in forest scenery
we have never witnessed elsewhere; nor do +
remember ever 10 have seen it in print.
stripes OF veins Of black, some running hori-
Zontaliy, and others in an oblique direction.
from base to apex, woven into the beautiful
web OF nature by an Almighty hand-are con-
spieuOus along the entire length of this d, ,ck-
ed and strayed member of the great range.
This remarkable, but lovely appearance,
dark lines or channels of an otherwise an
varying foliage Of green oaks, is caused by
ridges or swells upon the face of the mountain
on which the growth is the ''cloud- seeking
pine though here the tree is less towering
IN Its ambition; and the picture is indescrib.
ably beautiful. But it is such a weird group
ing OF forest drspery of opposite colors that
You need the touches of a master hand to en-
able your mind to form an adequate concep
ton Of this strange, but charming view
TELLIAMED.