The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-06-26
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS,

With the advent Of heat In the cities, clouds OF
dust and the hot glare OF bricks and fags comes the
rush OF visitors to the delightful summer retreats OF
the Alleghanies, the queen Of which Is the White
Sulphur. The season Ia now fairly inaugurated
here, and from the prospect the proprfetors will
reap rich harvest before the sere and yellow
leaves Of autumn Danish the last Of the reluctant
guests to their homes. There is scarcely OF all the
watering places Of the country any attractive
or charming than this lofty mountain retreat where
the denzen Of the cities, from whatever section he
comes, finds cool and delightful temperature dur
ing the heated term. But few weeks since the
peaks Of the towering AlleRhanies covered with
snow, and even now, with Q glass; you can dis
Germ the whlte-tipped cliffs far to the west
of this. The drives the walks, the health
giving fountains, the majestic oaks on the lawns the
white cottages and the beautiful scenery by which
all are surrounded form picture delightful to con-
template. Everywhere yOu turn the eye nature Ia
clad In her most luxuriant robes; balmy breezes
laden with the fragrance Of q thousand Southern
exotics waited across this valley from the noun
tain tops, cool and exhilarating In degree that il
almost intoxicating, and the silvertoned warbIngs
OF a thousand birds make the scene still more en-
chanting II possible.
the White sulphur Springs are situated some six
or eight miles from the highest altitude Of the Ale
gnanies, on the western decivtty, In an extensive
valley, embosomed by hills and mountains, forming
beautiful and natural amphitheatre. Nature has
log spot. the valley opens about haIf
mile IN bre adth, winding in length from
for distance Of several miles. The famous spring
issues from the loot OF o gentle SLOPE terminating
In low interval upon small aud beautiful river,
nom which the ground Rsoends from the spring
eastward rising to considerable emlnence on the leis
and spreading east and south into the wide and beau
hfullawn, IN the centre OF which stands magnificent
hotel Nearly one hundred acres are covered by the
lawn and walks The hotel Is few rods 70 the right
Country Il merely comprises the oces the reception
rooms, the bail rooms. the dining rooms the parors.
and two floors devoted to tbs use OF visitors Here,
at all the other great watering places IN the
try the cottage system Is decidedly the most pupu
lar. On all sides surrounding the hotel
through the green folsse Of the trees each each
with Its neat and TASTY little flower garden In 'front.'
n x"
visitors enjoy the cool and exhllaratlng mountain
air. Some OF these cottages are conducted on the
order Of the hotel, where IN the same building the
visitor is packed away. regardless OF the social
amenities oil life. any friendly acquaintance, and
Georgia, or boot and shoe merchant from Boston.
These are however, almost exclusively devoted to
single gentlemen, otherwise bachelors me cot
tages proper are built singly, with vewit0 the &C.
|. cOmmodaton Of entire families, and these In my
conception are the main and attractive features OF
the springs. SO far the demand Tor cottages Of this
sort Is unprecedented and the orders for them come
chiefly from the North.
The cottages are divided into rows. Directly to
the right OF the sprlng is Spring further east
ward, with continuous piazza, shaded with beau
tfu vines and trees is Virginia row; at right angles
with this and crossing the lawn In the middle. Is
South Carolina row; heading the eastern extremity
OF the lawn Is Bachelors row; on the north side Of
the lawn, beginning nearest the spring. ia Alabama
row; next which Is Louisiana row, and then Para
disc row, this long chain OF cottages winding up
with Baltimore row, perhaps the most charming
of ALL
Hitherto society at the White Sulphur was alto
gether Southern In its characteristics and procliv
ties, combining all the elegance, refinement
and luxury for which the aristOcracy Of the
South were 30 noted previous to the war.
chesapeake and OHIO ' Railroad ,1 was Completed
to this point revolution in society Is threatened.
Nortnern pleasure seekers Tor the past three seasons
have locked here III vast numbers, eclipsing their
poorer Southern cousins by the spiendor Of their
dress, the magnincence OF their equipages aud the
shoddy now holds high carnival over the cotton
planter and former Shareholder. Indeed, lo0fing at
the assembled s COMPANY now small to
the orders for cottages there every reason to be-
eve that the guests lron the Northern side Of Mason
and Dtxon's line will largely predominant at the
White Sulphur this season. But in this there is q
consolation lett 10 the Souherner, that few differ
| ing politically IN opinion with him will present
Northern visitors at these springs are
chiefly sympathetic with its more natural patrons.
But, after ALL 1t can truly.be said that the visitors
| meet here on common ground, and though individ-
uas may hold to different shades OF opinion when at
| home, yet when here everybody endeavors to pro-
mote his own happiness by contributing to the hap
| plness OF others.
In political point of view there is no place more
famous than the White sulphur Here, in ante
0e.tun days. the leaders or the wing and democratic
| parties were wont TO meet In friendly conference
| and here existing differences were healed and new
| policies were agreed upon. This Gus. ON Is now
| likely TO become regular feature OF the season at
the springs In 1865 an important convocatIon OF the
Southern leaders, including such noted men as Gen
eral Robert Il. Lee, Alexander H. Stephens, Governor
Pickens. Governor Letcief, General Echols, Alex
ander II. II. Stuart John 3. Baldwin and others,
1 met ex-Minlster Rosecrans III q spirit Of harmony
and brohery love TO heal The wounds caused by
war; and TO restore the good feeling that should exs
1st between all sections. How far they were success
full the reader Is already aware; but such meetings
as this cannot fail to Go some good. and certainly
no harm. Last year politics were almost entirely
ignored, owing to the presence Of that great and
! good man. George Peabody, who spent the greater
portion Of the season here for his health. This year
however, II rumOr Is to be credited there
4 is to be an important meeting OF both Northern
I and Southern democrats, with q view 10 determine
the policy OF that party in the approaching 1a cleo
tons, and also to cast about in quest of suitable
| candidate for the next Presidency. Among Others
the Chief Justice is expected here, well as his
ii.law, Senator sprague, late in the season, and
learn bat the question OF having adequate repre-.
sentaton of Southerners In the next national cabinet
Will be one of the chief subjects Of discussion AS
an Old politician remarked to me-a few hours since
The policy of parties In great campaigns and even
the policy OF the government of this country, has
been not only discussed, but In part regulated here
| in the past, and see no reason why 1t should
! no. no. be 50 in the future. The Chesapeake and
West in closer bonds than ever as against New
England The last portion Of this little speech was
pronounced With peculiar emphasis, and was little
startling IN Its significance, coming from the source
1t did,
l AS the terminus OF the railroad all the visitors
naturally stop at the White Sulphur, from which there
Is connection by stages with every summer retreat
10 the mountains. 1t IS situated in the midst Of the
celebrated spring region with the Hot Springs and
the Healing from thirty to thrtyhve mites to the
north, the Sweet Springs and the Sweet Chalybeate
Springs sixteen miles TO the east, and the Salt and
Red Sulphur the one twenty-f0ur and the other
fortyo miles to the south. Besides these there
number OF other delightful retreats along the line on
the chesapeake ana Ohio road, chief among which
| are the Rockbridge alum, the Bath alum and the
| Rockbrdge baths. The latitude Of the White Sui
phur is about thriy-seven and half degrees north
| aud IT'S longitude three and half west rom Wash
ington. It's elevation above tide water 1000 1eet
aud the temperature OF Its waters Is sixty-twO
| degrees Fahrenheit, from which they do not vary
during the heat or summer or the cold OF winter.
owing TO the enterprise and energy Of the Messrs.
Peyton, the propriet0rs, the condition OF the
! grounds has been vastly improved since last
summer The walks have, been nicely ,gra-
yelled and well rolled, and the drives have
| been placed in q thorough state OF re-
| par. The gardens are also IN excellent trim,