The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-08-16
AT THE SPRINGS.
SEASON OF UNUSUAL BRILLIANCY,
SOCIALLY AND POLITICALLY,
AT GREENBRIER WHIT
SULPHUR.


AT GREENBRIER WHIT
SULPHUR.
The state Pride Of VirSinians-The Pride
that HeHisiaHfaas 0ugtal ta Ereli
Their Native state.
Editorial Correspondence
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS West Va,
August II, 1877.
The natural attractions Of this locality have
been often sung; but not more than the truth
has been told Indeed / doubt If pencil, pen
Or tongue could give one fair conception OF
the exquisite effect upon the imagination of
those who for the first time behold the
mingled beauty and grandeur of valley and
mountain lawn and dell, stream and wood,
which nature in her happiest manner
has here combined Titans might dwell
in these mighty hills, nor would one
be much astonished If, when climbing their
rocky sides, the clangor of Cyclopean
hammers rang out from the deeps below.
Over yonder hill and through yonder dell
Dian pursued the chase, and in that rushing
stream, perhaps, the prudish goddess was
bathing when Acteon's unruly eyes gazed
with such fatal results upon all her ravish-
ing charms. Under yonder clump of ancient
oaks Venus might have laid in wait for
shy Adons-and bark! you hear the catter
Of the hoofs of the absurd boys horse com
ing, like the wind over the distant hill. AT
evening when music lends it's enchantment to
the hour, the setting sun filings its purple
light over the lawn, and youth and beauty
devote all the happy moments to innocent
dalliance and there Cupid hides in every
bush and shoots the arrows which give such
sweet palms. from the foliage of every tree.
THE SEASON.
| In sober earnest, the scenery here is ex-
auiste and the climate delightful. 1t is al
most impossible to realize that we are in the
month Of August. The days are cool and
bracing, while frequently the nights and
mornings are so cold that bright fires and con-
siderable covering are essential to perfect
comfort. This has been a season Of unusual
brilliancy at the old White Sulphur. The
President and other political notables have
not assembled here, according to the pro-
gramme of the early summer, and they may
not, but doubt if a more delightful assem-
blage of people could be got together than are
now enjoying this charm ng retreat. 1t is, as
a general thing mere machine writing to say
|
plished, but it is simple truth to say that
among the ladies now here, there are num-
Der Of very beautiful women.
Most of the guests are Southern people; in,
deed believe there are very few Northerners
among the nine hundred seekers after pleas
ure rest and health. No better place could
be found in which to observe Southern chiv-
airy in it's highest development. The place
has always been resort Of wealthy and cul
tiyated Southerners and believe that nine
teen-twentienths of the present gathering
are representatives of the best and most cul-
tivated of the Southern people.
THREATENED INVASION BY sHoDDY.
There is a scheme discussed for selling ou
the property Of the Springs in lots 50 thai
rival hotels may be built, the place
otherwise changed and improved and
converted into a Southern Saratoga.
There is, however, great opposition to this
plan There are many habitues of the place
who feel almost that it would be sacrlege tc
open the White Sulphur to all kinds and
classes of people, The shoddyites, they say
would come in crowds, change the habits anc
; destroy the prestige of the place. Now, they
say nobody comes to the White Sulphur but
people of refinement and culture, and all tn
guests meet upon an equality as il they con
, stituted one great family. The new schem
would change all this; break up the 'olt
White" do away, indeed, with another dea
and cherished institution Of the glorious day
OF the cold South"
Certainly there is much of truth in all this
and it is quite sad to see the new ideas in
i, vading every nook and corner of the South
! pushing the mselves even way over into thes
mountains, threatening with an invasion c
: vulgar, upstart shoddyism, the last strong
hold, the social institutions, or if you will
social preiudices, of the South are attempt
g ing to hold. But as the property rests unde
t debt of over million dollars, and as
promises to pay very handsomely if divided
, into several rival properties, there is littl
doubt that it will be ultimately so disposed OF
The cherished but non-paying traditions o.
the past will surely give way to the CONNER
cial spirit of the unsentimental times ir
which we live.
| THE vIRGINIANS..
' The larger number of the visitors to tn
springs are Virginians. War, reconstruction
and all the destroying influences of the pas
sixteen or seventeen years do not seem t
have in the least changed the character Of tn
Virginians. The Virginia gentleman of tn
period seems to be just as his father was,
cultivated, social and high-toned man, assum
ing no special Individual superiority owe
other gentlemen, but still entertaining fir
and unalterable conviction that it is a specia
privilege to be born under Virginia's skies
Like those rare patches of land which ar
; said to produce grapes of peculiarly ric
and delicate flavor, the Virginian believes tina
the air and soil of Virginia produce tn
, noblest men, the loveliest women, an
the most correct ideas upon all ques
tions, social or political. Everything
Virginian is better than anythin:
elsewhere. Virginia to him, indeed, il
principle and sentiment a political faitt
and a sort Of religion, scarcely second to tha