The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1878-08-22
Old Times at White Sulphur Springs.

The owners of thousands of acres of
rice and cotton land and hundreds of
dusky Africans, from South Carolina,
Louisiana, and the whole range of States
touched by the heat of the tropics-the
wealthy old g nabobs - of James River
and the shores of the Chesapeake, the
elegant pleasure-loving country gentle
men of Maryland, and citizens of Balti-
more all came to the 6 White y to spend
the summer months and indulge in
social intercourse. For at that time, as
at present, a very considerable proper
ton (perhaps large majority of the
visitors to the springs consisted of
pleasure seekers-gentlemen of ample
means and active employment for the
greater part of the year, who gave them
selves this summer holiday in the
charming mountain resort where the
most agreeable people from one whole
section of the country assembled yearly
for social enjoyment. The days of rail-
ways were still in the future. Even the
era of stage-coaches had not begun
The planters from the skirts Of the Cult,
from the rice fields of South Carolina, or
the low grounds of James River, made
the long journey over the almost i'm
passable mountain roads in their private
carriages. These ancient vehicles
numbered along, drawn by six horses.
and driven by their portly black Jehus,
as important in their bearing as their
masters, while the trunks containing the
wardrobes Of the ladies-heavy and
capacious, if not SO monstrous as the
10 ton Il - Is
followed in wagons. Led horses for
relays or the pleasure of riding at the
watering-place came on under charge
OF servants, of whom many accompa-
MED the march; for the planters were
persons of large means, and stinted
themselves in nothing. And so the
little cavalcade struggled along, wound
over the mountain, pierced the forest,
and came to the desired haven
after a journey like that of
emigrants across the Western
plains. What the old planters toiled
thus to reach seemed quite unworthy of
SO much time and trouble. It was
little valley lost like birds nest in the
foliage of the western slope of the Ale
ghanies, with spring bubbling up un-
der some oaks and naples, blue noun
tains around, fresh stream near, and a
cluster log-cabins, suitable, one might
have said, for the unkempt rustics and
huntsmen Of the region, but quite alb
surd it regarded as the dwelling place
for months of some of the most refined
and luxurious society of the South. And
yet these men and women accustomed
to every comfort, and living lives Tapped
in down, were quite content with the
"spli.- bottomed'' chairs, the plain beds,
the pine tables, and the rustic routine
of the spot. 1t offered them, indeed
much more than their fine home man
sions could supply-health, high spirits,
and an atmosphere so delightfully."- cool
and bracing even in the 6 dog-days y
that it made life a luxury. The tradi-
ton of these honest old times is well
preserved. The visitors were single
family. every body knowing every body
else. The days were spent in hunting,
riding, whist, reading, and gay talk; the
nights in sweet sleep. There was no
stiffness or ceremony whatever. TIL.
weeks passed in round of enjoy
ment, and 80 strong hold did this an
nual visit to the White Sulphur take on
the old planter class, that to have been
compelled to forego it for single seas
on would have been regarded by them
as real misfortune. Estea Cooke,
IA Harper's for august.