The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-07-23
THE SWEET CFIALYBEATE. .
Correspondence OF the Richmond Dispa,ch.]
SWEET CH4LYBEATF SPRINGS, }
ALLEGHANY COUNTY, VA,

July 10. 1873.
Seated on the upper piazza Of the hotel at
this delightful place. with the trees drip
ping with the cooling rain, SO near that ]
could put out my hand and touch them,
have pleasant vision Of a new sort Of May
morning. In which I see every man shout
dering his tent and decamplng for the coun-
try with bis family, men.servants and maid
servants, flock and herds. / see the poor
man pitching his tent under shady trees,
near which a brook runs, in which his bare
foot boys and girls may wade instead OF
suffocating in close rooms or running in
dusty streets. see the hard-worked shop
gil. and factory operatives taking new
lease OF life, and the poor, nervous "school.
marin" getting her nerves braced up and
her headaches cured. But, alas it cannot
be. Until new shaking-up Of the mum
dane sphere, things must, l suppose, re.
main as they are-the poor must suffer. and
the rich must enjoy. But I want to pitch
nv tent under those fne trees on this mag
niticent lawn, where here among the noun
tains the nights are cool and pleasant, and
even troubled ccnsciences might be lulled
to sleep by the wind among the leaves.
We have here a goodly company from
New Orleans, Richmond, Baltimore, and
other cities. They are sensible people, who
realize the fact that it is not pleasant to
come to 4 watering-place to he stared ut or
to have ones "style" criticised. They,
one and all, seem to unite in having jolly
time, and make it q point to get acquainted
with all newcomers, and insist on their
Joining in the fun. At night the lively
music sets every one going, and the people
do not despise old-fashioned "steps" and
"pigeon-wings," but tear around and up
and down the middle in good old Virginia
reel that is better for dyspepsia than all the
nostrums and boluses ever prescribed.
The trout-fshing in this immediate neigh
borLood is considered the finest in the
mountains. A few days since number OF
gentlemen from the hotel captured some
splendid specimens. The springs-three i'll
number-are side by side, their waters in
termingling as they flow out from the rocks,
and yet their properties are quite distinct
one containing alum, another iron, and the
third magnesia. The water is a fne tome.
The baths for both ladies and gentlemen are
delightfully."- invigoratlng. The fare is OF the
best-miik, fresh eggs, and other mountain
luxuries plentifnl-and the servants in the
dining-room well trained and attentive.
Mr.. John b. Tinsley is the prince OF hosts,
not only looking after the comfort of his
guests, but providing means for their en-
ioyment, in which he is ably seconded by
his charming lady.
The following guests from Richmond
have been here sometime, and are nearly all
booked for the season: j. Fl. Ellerson and
family, Mr.. and Mrs. j. W. Randolph, A.
3. Gwathmey and family (now residents OF
New York;, Mrs. c. B. Gwathmey, Miss A.
l.. Holiday, Miss Lizzie E. Purcell, W. H.
Blackadar, Charles g. Shafer and wife, Mrs.
Snead, Mrs. Alfred T. Harris, d. d. Talley
and family, Miss Leila Watkins, b. +. Laid
and wife, Benjamin Fl. Nash and wife, and
Miss Nash. Last night there were fifteen
new arrivals from Richmond, the party en-
bracing the family (ten in numberl Of Mr..
John A. Lancaster, r. A. Lancaster, Esq,
and Rev. DR.. Charles III. Read and wife.
Several citzehs OF prominence, including
Hon. j. Randolph Tucker, are daily en-
pected.
: Before closing there is one other subject
I would like to refer to, and it is this !:
Most OF the Virginia watering-places have
reduced their rates this season to suit the
times; particularly SO is this the case in
making contracts for families and long
stays. But the railroads leading to these
mountains from all points keep the.fares up
to such figures that persons living at dis
lance prefer going to the most accessible
financially speaking) resorts. Why do not
the railroads come to the rescue, and benefit
both their own stockholders and the
springs, by having lower rates, as is done
on all roads north, and thereby increasing
travel in this direction?