Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1871-06-02

~
ISOLATED with recollections of a visit to one of
the most delightful localities in the world.
At 40 P. M, special Train, bearing
the Excursionists, with several citizens of
our city and county accompanying, includ-
ing ourselves, for the Greenbrier White
Sulphur Springs, where they arrived about
10 P. NJ, and W, re comfortably located
for the night.
In the morning sightseeing was the Or
der, and squads could be seen rambling
over the grounds, while others were climb
ing the hills around and viewing from an
eminence that favored and beautiful spot
and the magnificent country adjacent. At
II A. NJ, all collected in the chapel, to
listen to an able sermon from the Rev. Mr.
Ward of Buffalo, N. Y. Religious services
| were also held at night. The evening was
passed in social converse interchanging
ideas on all subjects in which both sections
are interested, during which we learned
| that many Of the worng impressions, long
| entertained, of the people of the South were
fast being ebliterated by this actual contact
| and it was generally conceded that we pos
| sessed one of the finest climates in the world
that the soil of the Valley was unequaled in
the North, that our hidden wealth of miner
ais and metals only needed development to
make Virginia one of the frst if not the
first State in the Union, and that our people
were not the least of the attractions of our
section. Especially did they speak in high
terms Of the kind manner in which they had
been received at all points, of the character
of Virginians, Of the high standard of edu-
cation and of the excellence Of our public
institutions. Not one of the party regret
ted the time expended in making the trip,
as they could now speak truly from their
own knowledge Of many things they former
ly wrote about from hear-say, and which
had been presented, therefore, in a false
light to their people.
On Monday morning, Capt. G. B. Luck,
the manager of these Springs. aroused his
guests at an early hour to show them his
Ku-Klux tracks, and to their great amuse-
ment exhibited the footprints of a child in
what is now slate rock, and initiated them
into the mysteries of the Ku-Klux through
straao, which projected from the grass on
the further side of the rock, at the bottom
of which was said to be the blood of the Ku-
Klux, and which'none seemed to be averse
to after taste. Indeed, there were several
who would not have objected to being made
Ku-Klux that way, every now and then
during the day.
The Excursionists held meeting and
adopted the following resolution
ResoIUed, That for rare natural beauty desira-
| bility of climate, excellence of accommodation
and pleasantness of access, the White Sulphur
| Springs are to our knowledge unsurpassed as a
summer resort; and that in the Messrs. Pey-
| tons 4 Co., we have found gentlemen tton hos
pitable thought INTENT to the fullest degree
gentlemen OF the truest courtesy and most liber-
| al of hearts, whose reception and treatment
have but intensified the pleasure of a visit where
! every surrounding conspi1es to enjoyment, and
where they who can tarry long are truly for
| nate.
At 8 A. M. the special train left, bearing
them away, from what they declared to be
one of the loveliest spots on earth and from
hosts unequalled. Messrs. Peytons 4 Co.,
not prepared for such number, without no.
tice, did their best, and successfully. In
every thing did their open heartedness ex-
hibit itself, and with such Lieutenants as c..
B. Luck, Ben. Webb, Bernard and Col. G..
Peyton, Miller and others, they could not
fail in extending magnificent hospitality
The train stopped at several points of in
terest along the read At Lewis Tunnel,
now being rapidly pushed through by
Messrs. Burnham & Gordon, they witnes scd
the operation of the Steam Drill, which, in
day, will bore inch hole rs feet deep
in solid rock. At Jerry's Run they ac-
cepted and partook of the Inequalities SO
cordially extended by Mr.. G. r. Hoge, in
behalf Of himself and Capt G. R. Mason,
the prince of Virginia Railroad Contractors,
and the man who built the bridges for
''Stonewell Jackson" before the engineers
produced the "pictures
The train reached Staunton at 80 P.
NJ, remaining 40 minutes for refreshments,
when it left for Richmond. it being the in
tention of the Excursionists to visit Green's
boro, N. G. and Danville, Va and return
home by way of Richmond and Baltimore.
We were among these gentlemen for sew
eral days, and conversed freely with them
on many subjects Of interest to both North
and South. We found them, no matter Of
what political faith, disposed to give true
account of our people to their friends at
home, and thus correct many errors into
which they had fallen, to explain the ad-
vantages of climate, soil and undeveloped
resources, which awaited the immigrant to
our lovely Valley. whether they come from
the North or the old world, to assure the
man who desired to settle among us of the
kind reception that awaited him, &C., and,
in not few instances, to teach from posi.
tive observation the exact contrary of that
which they had been accustomed to promulge
from vague hear-say.