The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-08-03
Old Times at White sulphur Springs
John Estcn Cooke. in narper's Magazine for
An.vn

The owners of thousands of acres oil
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 "nabobs of James
River and the shores of the Chesapeake,
the elegant pleasure-loving country gem
tlemen of Maryland, and CITIZENS of
Baltimore all came to the "White To
spend the summer months and indulge
in social intercourse. For at that time,
as at present, very considerable pro-
portion (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 charm
ing mountain resort where the most
agreeable people from one whole section
of the country assembled yearly for en-
| joyment. The days of railroads were
still in the future. Even the era of
stage coaches had not begun. The
planters from the skirts of the Gulf,
from the rice fields of South Carolina
or the low grounds of James River,
lhauO eno iohS Jouihcy oNOi eho aihhoce
impossible mountain roads in their
private carriages. These ancient vehi-
cles numbered along, drawn by six
horses, and driven by their portly black
Jehus, as important in their bearing as
their masters, while the trunks contain
ing the wardrobes of the ladies-heavy
and capacious, if not so monstrous as the
Saratoga trunk" OF our own times
followed in wagons. Led horses for re-
lays or the pleasure of riding at the
watering-place came on under charge of
servants, of whom many accompanied
the march; for the planters were per-
sons of large means, and stinted them
selves in nothing. And SO the little
cavalcade struggled along, wound over
the mountain, pierced the forest, and
came to the desired haven after jour.
ney like that of emigrants across the
Western plains. What the old planters
toiled thus to reach seemed quite I'M
worthy Of so much time and trouble
1t was little valley lost like birds
nest in the foliage of the western slope
of the Alleghanies, with spring bub-
bling up under some oaks and NAPLES,
blue mountains around, a fresh stream
near, and cluster of log cabins, suita-
BILE, one might have said, for the I'M
kempt rustics and huntsmen of the
region, but quite absurd if 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 contented with the "split bot
toned" chairs, the plain beds, the pine
tables, and the rustic routine of the spot.
1t offered them, indeed much more
than their fine home mansions could
Aupply-health, high spirits, and an
atmosphere 50 delightfully."- cool and
bracing even in the dog-days" that it
made life luxury. The tradition 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. The weeks
passed in round of enjoyment, and SO
strong a hold did this annual visit to
the White Sulphur take on the old
planter class, that to have been COM
PEELED to forego it for single season
would have been regarded by them as
real misfortune.