The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-28
OLD SWEET SPRINGS.
Summer Health Spot in West virginia-Beau-
ties Of the Mountains and Exhilarating
Elects Of the Spring Bathing-Aw-
fully Grand Effects Of q Storm
OLD SWEET SPRINGS.

MONROE COUNTY, W. ", July Y, 1878.
Coming west on the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail-
road by the through express train tyour destina-
ton being this polnr at haf-past seven A. M, you
are slowly and cautiously pulled through the Lewis
tunnel, three quarters of mile in length: then
you are tugged up to the summit OF the road on the
Aeghanies, and after reaching this point the train
rolls half a mile down the western decvty to the
station, bearing the name of the great mountains,
where, by the aid OF alrbrakes it suddenly stops.
Here you take stages for tennile ride. to the
Springs and you are gently ambed over q good
road through one Of the widest and most pictur-
esque valleys 1t has ever been the good fortune Of
the lover OF nature to witness But the eliminating
point OF the beautiful and the picturesque, which
overp0wers and intoxicates the senses with
all Its combined delights, is the approach
to the Sweet Springs after ride Of eight
miles. As you follow the graceful curves
OF the road BY the side Of the HILL with meadow
on the right anked by dense wooded hills the Int.
tie valley continues to grow narrower, until look
ing ahead the road seems TO terminate abruptly
under the outrageous limbs of
THE NoBLEsT WILLOW TREE
to be found In the country, which stands ike some
grand old sentry at tins natural gateway to the as
vet hidden beauties of the mountains When you
are within six or eight yards OF this lordly tree
indeed already under its shade-you perceive that
the road turns sharp round a corner OF the over
hanging mountain to the left, at an angle of fully
iorty-dve degrees; and not until theitourist has
reached this corner has he any conception Of what
awaits him. But when whired round this corner and
when abreast OF the tree this Incompatible panora-
ma bursts upon the eye like the pure scene OF en-
chantment that ii Is. The beautiful emerald verdure
OF meadow and waving corn, intersected by grace
fully meandering brook OF limpid water the banks
OF which seem lined with richest velvet stretches
for a mile or more before you. The road turning
along the hill-sides on the left in such charming
and graceful curves, arched over with beautiful
trees, the knobs and spurs green and yellow with
their rich crops OF clover and grain, studded with
picturesque trees here and there, while the lofty
mountains In the distance seem to environ the
whole place In closest resemblance to ones IDEA OF
that valley OF delight so beautifully described In
Rasselas. One OF the features Of this landscape 10
. hill, in such exact and charming proportions,
rising gradually from its base TO its summit to an
almost conica point, dotted over by trees 20
nearly equal in size, grandeur and Iuxuriance of
foliage, that Nature seems to have specially
moulded 1t and nurtured IL as the most beautiful
specimen Of her handiwork in this section. In this
exquisite
LAP OF BEAUTY
nestles the "0ld Sweet Spring." with its multitude
nous charmA aud When the traveller " safely IN