Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-06-18
The Press Excursion.

Correspondence Of the Alexandra Gazette.
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, June Il, ISL.
There are two things in this world which in.
Spire in ones breast the knowledge Ct the
grand and sublime in nature. First comes the
ocean, next the mountains. place the ocean
first because it is ever varying and changing
to-day as calm and placid rs an inland lake; to-
morrow, lasIcl iuto fury by the winds, it is
awful in its resisllesS power, and fearful in It's
weird grandeur. The mountains arc grand at
all times, and they represent the Immaculate
majesty Of Nature; for them the summer clouds
may float safely in the azure SKY, or the fierce
storm may shrek and rage, all in Ilnpotent
effort, The lofty peak still rears high its head,
tho Storm bolt that flashes by and bursts harm
lessly over it's ragged, rugged, rocky cralss, It's
graceful, rinnaccl spires and knohhy spurs.
There are but few guests Or tourists that
visit these springs who arc willing to take the
trouble TO rough it for the sake Of the marnI.
cent scenery. 1t certainly requires great pa
tipncc, much labor and vast amount oil
fatigue, but the play always pays Tor the can
die | think that the scenery at the W hue Sui.
phur and around it is the finest in this country.
The mountains rise abruptly on three sides OF
the level plateau where tie springs are, Witch
seem scoopcd ont Of the grauite hills by The
hand II Titan in playful sport, much as child
holoWs out level in 4 muI heap. The Dry
creek ripplcs along n the base Of The noun
tain. IL is q clear, COAL wild dancing stream,
strongly suggestive oil trout Il loot aud :! half
long, and as untanled rs Nla2cppa'i horse.
The sides Of tic mountain rise Hip sheer ami
nearly perpendicular from the gIisi"ulng '9atcr.
The spurs arc colorcd with all LlC blended hucs
OF green, from the pale tea color OF tie mountain
ash to The dark, grand gloom green, the almost
Invisible green Of the clustered fir trees and
waving hcmIocks, mingled with darker fist,
IN opal iingc rs it were Of The noble pine cI The
hlieg hanics
Standing on the top Ct the SPUR lying west o
the springs there is nothing 10 hound Tie
vision, except Gods o,7n horizon. Tie Whole
world lies, az il seems, al your feet; lar bco~
yon lie the springs, their white cottages cleaning
through toc varied foliage Of the tees, and
the grand hotel, looking all the world like
child Il Toy house. Standing al 4 thousand ccI
altitude the glory OF the scene enters the breast
and fires the Imagination; and The scene IN tEc
WanlDg evening sun Is as DREAMY as al ocean
unmovod, and az silent as the sea lLSGI!. DC
your left is bold and rugged m0unIaiu, whose
cracgy top is indcntcd like the haitCu!"n'5 Of a
castle, and whose sides sweep down, dark W!rlI
frs aud hcmlocks and every variety q plncs, to
the edge OF the deep valley. On your lett lie
mountains arc broken and irregular, a. il they
lad been taken up and hurled through space
in some mighty battle OF the hcathcn gods,
and thus fallen as they were '.urIcd in coolu-
sion. Giant masses, some az elegant and ma
jcsic as The "Siar'y potltc( UHum1;' s9Euc
elegant and stately as the proud bu!wark Of The
steep; others, huge misshapcn bulks, the CaIibau
Of the wild, and others again 50 sroles1uc IL
form that they seem 10 be moulded ~ the
very genius Of whiul-thc merry Andrews Ct
The Allegauics-and all yet beautiful and soft
10 the eye with the softenog HUGS Of summer
these summer l,ucs producing the same effect
here that time has wrought upon the rugged
feudal castle 50 beautifully described in the
verse Of Mason