New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-09-03
Inv AT WHITE SULPHUR.


$50, , spgCIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIHrNE.i
u,urrr SULPHUR SPRINGS. ". Va. August o.
The saratoga Of the SOUTH the name by which
- lace is sometimes known. Is not altogether in
-nr,pr,,te 10 It. II is 10 Virginia and the South
"r saratoga Is to New-York aud the whole coun
Th4v are few Northern people here. hui they
~ s.l,. nersons with Southern connections. Al
~a.,,ons of the South, however are represented by
he lcaaers IN society politics. law. medicine, etc
Tbose who have attained political prominence, and
Tho were in the service of the Confederacy the
,,s, numerous the Generals. Colonels Majors, Cap
cans etc being as thick rs hnckberries almost
The wealth beauty and chvalry of the South are all
,enrcseatcd though. and It Is not too much 70 say
,bat one Will seldom together many persons %
oeg,nf and refined manners and distinguished ap-
peaTauce
pe,nc a Southern watering place 1t is naturally
tr,nc- Democratic In tone. but politics 90 not
terirto ne management Of the hotel, which IS owned
nv snch eminent member, of the Democratic party
Governor Matthews and Judge Camden. Of West
Virginia and others. Republican politicians are not
unknown here. however. as Senator Blaine. Senator
Cameron and Judge Key have each paid visit to
tbe Springs this season. An inquiry made of
Northern Republican who spent two weeks here. as
10 how be was received in Southern society was met
by the reply that he had no complaint TO make,
though b. noticed that for the part the Repub
hcans spent the time by themselves, an invisible
line seeming t. have been drawn.
As politics form conspicuous part OF life al the
"Vhtc.7 The familiar name by which this place is
known ID the South, it is impossible 80 sever them
in writing from here. Al every turn one meets
knots of men discussing the situation and fruriDG
up the Democratic majoTities. The great argument
used Is the necessity for change" and yet to draw
an Illustration from the hotel itself would think
that change would be about the one thing that is
not wanted. For years following the war. in which
the south had spent al its money and energies,
business was at a standstill here. The principal
stockholders in the White sulphur Spring Company
formed in 1877 were Singleton, Hampton. Lee and
other southern leaders. This company went into
bankruptcy several years ago. and the hotel property
was put at auction. but the wasted resources Of
the South had left Its people poor, and the
luxury Of a visit to the white was open TO
para1iyely few that the hotel could not BE- made 10
pay, and the bids offered ridiculously small
that IL remained In the hands II receiver for long
time Finally under the benefcent influence of
Republican Administration business revived in the
South a, well rs IN the North. and as the Southern
people began to recuperate their fortunes the
hotel felt the reviyIng influence 1t again put
I'D at auct.ouand sold vearago for about $3.50 600
which was It is SAID. over 81 10000 IN advance of
the previous offer. The company made some
improvements ths season i'm the way Of sewerage and
work bad % be stopped
There are about 1000 persons here now, but there
have ben as many as 900 this season at tIme
and others would have come could they have secured
accommodations. In fact. business Is booming"
night along and yet in the face Of these facts patent
to every one here and which but illustration
ofwhat is going on al over the country. southern
Democrats viii stand around and argue "the neces-
sity for a change"
CONTEMPLATED IMPROVEMENTS.
The new company finds that there Is a great and
rapidy increasing demand for additional accom-
modatlons and It is making preparations 10 meet it.
The hotel proper Is 400 feet in length by cor
responding width. and covers more than acre of
ground. IL is situated the centre of little plain
and on the surrounding slopes built seventy
five cottages for families. and buildings with sleep
ing accommodations. The hotel has beeen partly
retied and repaired this year, and also some few of
the cottages but the latter for the most part need TO
be torn down and rebuilt, and this the propretors 1t
is SAID. intend to do. A room lighted by a candle,
with cracked ais covered by hundred coats, more
or less of white wash, and with hard bed, wooden
chair "a washstand a small ooking-glass, and a
little piece of wOrn-Out mating on the floor, Is
hardly mn 10 the requirements of a modern hotel
and vet his is the KIND OF room furnished 10 many
OF the visitors and for which nrs-class prices are
charged; and even then II Is oitentlmes situated
from one to Two hundred yards from the hotel
proper ere the meals are served. 1t only shows
what a "bonanZa' the prOprletOIs have when even
such Accommodations are eagerly taken. About
halt the people who here seek recuperaUion
from the medicinal properties of the spring wafer.
which L. especially valuable Tor malaTia COMPLAINTS
the other half doubtless for gayety and rest.
The Dr. DrletOrs are debating the question of
building a hotel or of adding 10 the present
build ng The additions If made will extend the
hotel toward the east IN the form OF an E. thus en-
largng the ball room, adding new parlOr AID adj
diuona sleeping rooms. Some mention Is also
made Of adding a mansard roof, but a French roof
on building IN the Italian style adorned with
porticos and rows of Ionic pillars would not be an
architectural beauty landscape gardener IS also to
be brought here to lay out the grounds and walks OIL
the mountain and beautify the place generally.
The natural location of the Springs, upon the
western slope OF the great Appalachian cham OF
mountains and 2 900 feet above the level of the
sea- gives II great advantages. The situation is not
only elevated but strkngiy picturesque, me hote
being surrounded by high peaks. Bat elevated az
It Is The weather during the day is uncomiortably
hot. During this week there nave been days when
the thermometer ranged well up In the eighties.
which contrasted with the cool nights was all the
more perceptible and visitors sought the shade Of
trees and carried sun umbrellas. The gong down
OF the marks quick change IN tue atmosphere,
and blankets are necessary Tor comfort at night
SOCIETY AND ADJUSTMENTS.
The course of life here first breakfast in the
great dining room which conveniently seats l,2OO
persons and presided by 800 coOred walters
then there Is gathering at the spring 70 drink the
sulphur water. and The remainder OF the day II warm
spent in indoor amusements or under the shade OF
pleasant shady walks. to be used on cooler days.
There music IN the evening. balls once or twice
week, private dinners and OCCASIONALLY other en-
teTtanmeuis with bowling alley. Billiards, etc.
The par. Tor of the most elegant and spacious
saloons n America. and the scene II presen Is
on sunday evenings is TO be remem oered.
Then gathered there nearly al the
visitors arrayed IN their best toilets and
grand circle of DromeDades is formed.
while others ga her about IN hVely
conversational groups. In the moving throng last
Sunday were men distinguished IN all the walks OF
He-law. politics. medicine, upon the Dattle-
field and on the plantation gray haired
and the chivarOus youth, grand-n2tT ons
with their silvered HAIR and he descendants OF the
proud Old families Of the South. presenting piano.