The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-12-16
Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch
WHITE ScLrHcR STRINGS,
n.c.mhnr II 1879

seat more varied and beautiful sccncry, or
more points of interest, than the great Chesa-
pcake and Ohio railroad from Richmond to
the White Sulphur Springs. The lowhnds
gradually rise into the beautiful hills OF Pied
mont Virginia and the unrivalied landscape
OF the eastern slope Of the Blue Ridge.
pas.in. through the great tunnel, the " Val
lcv of Virginia" bursts upon Us In all or lis
loneliness, but we have scarcely time TO adj
mre it ere the iron horse dashes across, and
is winding among the tall peaks of the
sNorth Mountains" and hurrying on to
pass through the Alieghanies and drink III
The waters that flow into the Gulf OF Mexico.
But here we are sojourning for few days
ut hi, celebrated watering-placc, and ready
To give you our impressions.
This is not exactly the timo for letter
from the Virginia springs. and the deserted
cottages, ballroom, and dining.room OF TINS
queen Of watcring-pllccS afford but little
Of hUing interest, But in quiet soJourn
here now, with the thermometer below the
freezing point and the mountain peaks
capped with snow, one may sit below bla-
zng Old Virginia hearthstone and pump out
OF u!ne host Peyton not few items which
NC would not have time to give, and You
would not have leisure or inclination to re-
ceiye, in the hustle Of "tbe season." Here
goes, then, for q arinter's letter from the
White Sulphur.
Situated upon the western slope OF the Al
legnanies, and hemmed in on all sides by
mountains, having an elevation Of 1900 feet
above Underwater, and being 200 miles west OF
Richmond. the temperature Of "the White I"
is as uucomfortably cold in winter as 1t Is de-
lightful In the summer. Several days ago
Id = were gathering here beautiful ice, four
iEc0es thick, and the cold in mid.wlntcr Is as
Intense as in more northern ATTITUDES.
The county OF Greenbrier was formed i'll
I'LL from Botetourt and Montgomery coun-
ties, three years utter the army OF General
Lewis assembled at Savannah fort-noW
Lewisburg, the county-seatto march to
their great victory over the Indians at Point
Pleasant. on the Ohio. This whole section
was subject TO the incurSionS OF hostile In
dams from its first settlement in 1906. and
this immediate neighborhoot was the scene
OF some horrible massacreS.
The numerous graves and Indian nipple
mcnts of various kinds that are found in
this beautiful valley give color to the tradl-
ton that it was once the favorite hunting"
ground Of the proud ShaWanees; and the
contrast between those rude warriors and
tic devotces of fashion who now tbrons
these beautiful grourdSand handsome build
in.s might afford theme for the poets
verses Or tie painters brush.
Tradition has il tbata marSh contiguous
10 the present spring was oncea tayoritc deer
und buffalo click" that the spring itself was
lC&0rtru 10 by the indians asa famous "niedl.
cine watcr,' and that after their migration
across the Ohio they occasionally visited ii
for the relief cf rheumatic affections. The
.l&t Use Of this water, now so celebrated, by
white people occurred $50 far as cali he aScer-
taincd) ID 11IS, when Il Mrs. Anderson was
brought on litter from her residence. ten or
fifteen mile, OFT, WAS sheltered by tent ueur
tue spring. drank the water, and bathed in O
rude trough hewcd from Il huge tree, the
water being heated by putting hot rocks in
The trough, until she was entirely cured OF Il
scycrc attack of rheumatism.
The tame OF this cure spread abroad, and
from that time there were annually Il few
visitors who dWelt in rude log huis. In 1908
Mr.. Caldwell came into possession Of the
property, md in ISIS begun u system OF in.-
pfovemcnt, which were gradually pushed
until the White Sulphur won national rep
ut.,ton. II is pleasant to hear some OF the
old lirqueltcrs Of the White give their rcmi
ni>u,Hces of those "good old days" when
The jolly stagc-coach and the private carriage
we've lltC tuOutS W COufCSailC NDCH
the wealthy planter Of Old Virginia. the Caro-
l!nas, Georgia, or Louisiana, mingled in
friendly Intercourse with tue merchant
princes Of the northern cities, and when the
grolt statesmen Of the country met here in
council to discuss great questions Of
State or arrange schemes for the success
OF party. Here might be secu Clay,
Webster, and Calhoun, aud other
mon Of national reputation, In conference
with the politicians Of the Old Dominion,
who were then indeed power In the land.
In 1857 the property passed into the bands
OF the White sulphur Springs Company,--a
joint stock company composed chiefly OF
gentlemen residing in Virgiuia-aud under
their auspices many notable improvements
were made. They erected the largest hotel
building III the southern country, being Az
feet III length aud covering over au acre OF
ground, which contains the most convenient
reecivmg.rooms, diulnS-room, ballroom,
piriorS, &c, that could be desired, and lodg-
lng-rooms that comfortably accommodate
over S3o guests. The principal parlor Is one
o. the mot elegant and spacious saloons in
America, being half rs large again as the East
I'20N OF the White House, in Washington.
The dining.room is one Of the largest in
The worlt, being over three hundred feet
1ortabty seating at table one thousand two
hundred guests, while one thousand FIVE
hundred could be crocded into it. In the
basement of this splendid building are most
convenient storeroomS, ETC., and kitchen,
witch IS now 80 thoroughly furnished with
al! OF the most improved cooking apparatus
that the cooking for five thousand guests
Gun be accomplished with as much dispatch
and less trouble than that Of most private
families.
This company also greatly enlarged and
beautided the lawn, which now contains
over fifty acres, and erected large number
OF handsome cottages, so that they can now
accommodate at the White over 1000 guests.
They have also constructed broad serpentine
walks leading in various directions, have
wldeped and improved the always popular
Lovers Stroll" which leads by "Hesi-
fancy" Rejection" Acceptance" " Way
to Paradise" .'Courtsbip Maze" and
Lovers Rest" to "Lover's Leap" fear
full precipice which hangs over deep ravine,
and have so added to the natural beauties of
this charmlng resort as to give point to the
cancelt OF an enthusiastic visitor who one
DAY exclaimed, as bis delighted vision took
IN the splendid panorama and fixed itself
upon tall, overhanglng mountain Z" | have
found the spot at last. ionder is the noun
tAln upon which Satan took our Saviour to
show him all the Kingdoms of the world
and the glory thereof Inss m4st hare been
The pet,y spot"
Other projected improvements were inter-
rupted by the breaking out OF the war. The
premises were alternately occupied by either
army, and the close Of the war found the
buildings and grounds good deal injured,