The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1868-09-09
No. Al.
Our Special Gu the wing-Letter from the
White SulDhur, 81 49,

Our Special en- the wing-Letter from the
White Sulphur.
DEAR VIRaIN1AN in leaving your pict-
uresque little CITY, I, (vain mortaD began to
imagine that could write, even for the pub
lie; and giving full vent to my fancifuA wan
behring's in this regard, I resolved to forward
you series Of letters, descriptive ofthe coun-
try through which pass, the people I meet,
and the adventures generally of your humble
corrcs'p. To begin properly, it is but fair
that l should pay my parting dcvoirs to
STAUNToN, ats.e Il
the heart Of. the Valley Of Virginia. spent
but short time in Staunton, but long enough
to learn that all my previous ideas in respect
it were built on a rsandy" foundation. To
true love Of the picturesque it must be an FL
Dorado; but to me the Main street has an as
pectwhich speaks loudly in favor Of a "big fire.
or the speedy immigration ofthe present prop
erty holders SO that the opening of the Cheas-
apeake road will ensure the advent of class
Of men who will make city, even ifthey un=
make themselves. You will agree with me, /
think, thata dozen good four-story brick blocks
would give to Stanton much more dignified
and business-like appearance than it can boast
of to day. dub your city the -Hheart, be-
cause from it, in a great measure, proceeds the
life of the Valley; and with its local, n,anufact-
uring and commercial facilities, can but exs
press my surprise that so little energy has been
manifested in its improvement. Passing rap.
ant conversation with Capt Fits, ''the best
man in Charlottesville )" nothing TRANSFERRED
worthy Of special record until our arrival at
VARIETY SPRINGS, resi
with its very romantic looking hotel and long
row of cottages. Here, as all along the route,
corn and fruit were abundant. Ifwhat have
seen to-day is a fair sample of the corn crop in
Virginia, we can, think, feel assured that
our supply of hoe cake for the coming winter
will be unlimited. jogging along, throusha
country where the flood Of Noah's time must
have made its expiring ebb and flow, the iron
horse snorted once more through his brazen
nose for
GOSHEN DEPOT,
where everything looked "dry as bone,' and
everybody thirsty as that far-famed Klu Klux
who emptied the nigger's bucket thrice. A
group Of handsome ladies on the hotel porch
relieved the excessively dry-looking picture;
and in paying too much attention to their eyes
and hair, vague visions of golden eyes and blue
curls, or golden curls and blue eyes, | forget
which, foated before my vision until we halt.
ed at
7sa' M1LLBono'; sa .iasas.,l
which seemed to me like Goshen Depot dis.
titled. Even our train, although an ''excur-
sion" failed to create the shadow of a scnsa,
ton, among "the natives" At this point,
however, the grade of the road (over 300 feet
to the mile) attracted more of my attention
than did the fair ladies Of Goshen Depot. 1t
is certainly remarkable triumph of human
skill and energy over the widest works Of
nature; and shoult; place the enterprising di,
rectors Of the Central high in the estimation
of Virginians, as true friends of the State and
its people There being no signal shown at
JAcKsoN's RIVER,
We did not stop there. As | got but hastily
glance Of the handsome Watering place recent
ly fitted up by MIR. Cosbill, crowd of strang-
ers on the porch showed that his efforts had
been appreciated. But short time afterward,
the ,'long whistle" announced our approach
to the present terminus of the road, aud our
ears were soon saluted with the conductors
cry Of .lz,s6 lad ,.a,. .T 81 se,.a 3
"CovINGToN !"
You will think, undoubtedly that have a
sore head otherwise should not have growi-
ed 50 much in the earlier part Of my letter;
but mustsay, Major, Covington is Iiouc-
horse" Take away from it ''Uucle" Jimmie
Trotter aud McCurdy and Cogbill, and it is
A., ~ s,H 1vHf,.
rapid decline" In this connection, Ishould
only be doing justice in commanding the
Messrs. Trotters and hei: admirable line Of
ofStaees on this (the Westerly route. The
coaches are fitted up in the most elegant ind
luxurious style, and every arrangement for The
comfort of the traveller is thought of and en-
trusted to steady and intelligent employees.
The travel on this line alone (from Cvvington
to Charleston) keeps in constant use over
eighty horses and more than a score Of coaches.
The trip from Charleston to White Sulphur,
Or any of the Springs, can now be made with
every ease. In company with half a-dozen
festive pleasure seekers from Charlottesville,
I made happy trip from" Covington to The
White and by che way, / would SAY here,
that if these same gentleman were specimens
bricks of the population of your neiyhbor OF
Albemarle, it must be delightful place t"
live, for a more gentlcnlanly, jovial, generous,
nlrlh loving company it has never been my
fortune to travel with. Under the influence
of good company, cigar smoke, and little
..old peach, we were soon foundering in the
crowd aud hustle at the
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, @
.whereat cannot growl--not any! | am not
adequate to the task of describing this bcauti-
full placc-so much docs it distance all my
impressions, both as to magnitude and .ele-
gance. Nearly twelve hundred persons wero
present-all eager for tho Sensation" of the
evening the Grand Masque Ball. After
imbibing largely in White Sulphur water and
slightly in other mixtures, l took s'frontscat"
among the spectators, and patiently awaited
developments" 1t will be unnecessary to
give the "prciminaries," for most Of your
readers are familiar with them. :, The most
pleasing feature Of the opening of the ball, was
the presence Of General Lee, who, after quiet
ly promenading a short time left the hail.
The male costumes were good and we'll chosen.
Two Of the most conspicuous for good effect