The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-05-17
A vaIctudirarian Changes his Base.

A vaIctudirarian Changes his Base.
| correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.]
! WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS,
May Is, 1876.
Leaving the green meadows, bold views,
and incompatible luxurious and inspiring
bath Of the Warm Springs on stormy day,
as I ascended the mountain l had the OPP
Dortunitv OF looking upon the Valley
amidst the storm for the first time. Quite
outrageous seemed the display Of fury in
vale so serene. The violent winds bent the
| trees about the venerable hotel and bath-lot
rs though they were to be torn up; but, by
| bending. these guardians Of the summer
| shade conquered the blasts and stood up in
! the pride of their leafing honors after the
war had ceased. The winds made free with
the spirits, which / fancy still promenade
along the spacious porch Of the hotel-that
which think was planned by DR.. Brocken-
| brough, whose remains rcpoSe by the side
OF those OF his lamented wife in the ceme-
! terry OF the Warm Springs. The Doctor was
dcvotce OF Grecian and Roman classics.
He was indeed philhelleniSt, and"his par
tiality for the oral teaching in the portico
and The grove, to which the Grecian philoso-
pliers were so accustomed, induced him to
plan this ample and noble porch, in which
the assembled guests OF the Warm Springs
now find such delightful intercourse.
Taking last look at the Warm Spring val
ley-onc of the most charming places in
Virginia, and the dearest Of all to me-from
the mountain-top, descended on the other
side. sad and serious. I left with regret Il
scene where had recovered so much Of
that strength which disease had deprived
me Of.
An afternoon OF rather rough travel over
a road roughened by the rainy weather
brought me to the
MARLBOROUGH HOTEL,
now owned and kept by Mr.. Warren, for
merly we'll and most favorably known at
the Hot Springs. There found those COM
forts and that warm welcome. that soon re-
stored me from the fatigue Of travel, and
more, enabled me to know that advantage
which the stage-travel OF the mountain
roads never fails to impart to the v,aletudi-
marian. repeat what l said before that in
taking to the railroad and giving up stage
travel people who go to the springs lost a
great agent in promoting their restoration
to health. .-...a. 1.
l most sincerely commend the Millbo-
rough Hotel for being a place where the
traveller may rest with great satisfaction
| There is chalybeate spring near the hotel,
which is one Of the finest I know. The
house is well kept, the attention excellent,
and one thing found that was especially
grateful, was not only mineral waters Of
several kinds, but cxcellently-cool soda
watcr-uuite 4 treat in the mountains.
Much recruited, left the following morn
ing the hospitablc roof OF MIR. Warren, and
partakng OF grateful breakfast at the Nc
Curdic House, Covington, en- route, found
myself on lovely morning about O'Clock
| 81, - l, r.
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS.
hailed the locality with delight. 1t is
peculiar i'll its surroundings and its area. 1t
is unequallcd. No eye that beholds it can
fail to be delighted, and no one that sees it
can ever forget it. Its views are so abun-
dant and varied that one never ceases to
find new objects Of admiration-ail behold
crs find enjoyment-no man stands in any
body else's Highland Providence in its
bountiiul Iovelness furnishes here that
abundance OF the pleasures OF contempla-
ton which fills the hearts OF thousands.
Mr.. George J.. Peyton, the very enterpri-
sing lessee OF the White Sulphur, handles
it under every disadvantage. The uncer-
tain nature of its proprietary interests do
not Justify the improvements which he
would make had he more permanent hoid
upon the property. But am glad TO say
to visitors and the public that he is making
very extensive improvements. He more than
replaces the houses that have been burned
with new and well-built cottages, and
has caused all the old buildings to be over
hauled and made secure and very comfort
able. The great hotel, too, is thoroughly
repaired and rcpainted. / can afford many
former visitors much pleasure by saying
that Mr.. peytOn has made q number OF
openings in its dark passages, giving great
increase OF both light and ventilation, for
the want of which many guests have suffer-
, ed. This, besides clcaring-up and making
! the grounds decorous, is the big work done
inside the grounds. But he has done the
greatest work OF his life i'll putting up the
finest
HOTEL BUILDING
that is to be found in either of the Virginias.
And mean what say, most emphatically.
This hotel has been spoken OF py rumor,
and sometimes unfavorably; but l say that
this hotel is one OF the most admirable
buildings OF its kind know, not only for
style and convenience, but for the excel
lence OF the workmanship upon it, and OF
the material that is used in it. tits called the
Peyton House. 4 railway track is to be
laid right by the door-passengers walking
out the cars into the great receiving nall,
= room "A by ~ feet, with colonade OF
corinthian columns Of iron, with all the ad-
iuncts of retiring-rooms, &e., while on OPP
posite sides OF this elegant and abundantly,
spacious room are the offices OF the railroad
and telegraph. This is the introduction to
this very admirable hotel. And now Tor a
further account OF it: :,
The building is so by 104 feet, with an
extension 81 by 81 feet, two stories high.
The main building is five stories high, IN
Guiding the mansard roof. The ceilings are
high, and every. floor is supplied with water,
gas, and fire. The first floor is taken up
with reception-room, as above described !;
with the office Of the railway, telegraph and
express company; baggage-room, retiring
rooms, way for dumb-waiter, &c. All the
openings are fine, and the style OF work adj
mirable. Indeed, comfort and convenience
are thoroughly provided for. What a change
for the better in the reception OF guests at
the White!
The second floor is taken up with parlor ~
4 by 90, with large and elegant bay-wlndows;
! tining-room over the great reception hall A
| by ~ feet, with openings down to the floor
| leading on the north side to a porch twenty
feet wide; gentlemen's reading-room, pun
! try. linen-rSom, and kitchen in the second
| story OF the extension. The kitchen is in
| the west, the parlor in the east end. The
/ Litchen il constructed upon an admirable