The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-08-11
Communicated
MOUNTAIN Tor, VA. August 10, 1SS


To the Editors Of the Dispatch:
The capabilities OF this place are so grelt,
and its attractions so many and diversified,
that | wonder at the remarkably cheap
price at which it was recently acquired by
The present proprietors. 1t was purchased,
as am Informed, by Judge John l.. Coch-
ran and Mr.. Henry l.. Massie, OF Abe
marie county. in May last, for only $4,000.
4 tract Of 800 acres was included III the
purchase, OF excellent soil, well watered
and wooded, and highly adapted to grazing
purposes. The hotel, with It's admirable
site at the head OF a gorge, or natural fun
mel. through which the breeze ever blows,
and with the chalybeate and other springs
By its side, uncovered in q SHADY grove OF
aspens and locustS, commanding an eXqui-
site vista OF mountain and plain, aud aces
sible to the railroad, was alone worth three
times the price paid, to say nothing OF the
farm. Since their fortunate purchase the
proprielors have expended, learn, over
$4,000 IN improvements.
| have never been more pleased with a
summer resort; and such is the enthusas-
tic and unanimous verdict, believe, Of all
the guests. We have one Of the most re-
fined, elegant, and agreeable companies that
Il
Of many families from your city, Norfolk,
Washington city, and the South. Every
one yies to do bis best to promote the plea
sure OF his fellOw-vsItors. We soon become
acquainted, every one with his neighbOr,
and the company compose, may say, Il
large family household. The hotel is we'll
kept the fare is excellent and neatly served !;
the bedding is good; the rooms are clean
and well furnished. Mr.. Massie, the pro.
prietor, and Mr.. Leftwich. the manager, do
all they can to oblige and please the visitors.
| have called the place a summer resort;
but, in truth, we hardly know or feel here
that it is summer at all. The cool, pure,
refreshing, bracing breeze but rarely dies
away even for a moment during the day
or night, and banshes far of from this
spot the heat and sultriness and dis
comforts OF summer. There are no
such things a. "dog days" here. A
more delicious temperature | have never
felt than at this instant, seated on rustic
bench beneath the wide-spreading shade OF
three aspens in front OF the hotel, famed
by a strong current OF pure air, and gazing
on the beauties and charms OF the Valley
OF Virginia in the distance. | envy not
even the dolce far aiente OF the air and
sky OF Naples itself, though | must confess
that the charm OF water is wanting TO make
the picture and the delight complete.
1t is not only, however, the "sweet lux
ury OF doing nothing" which this place AZ
fords in such perfection. That attraction
were enough to the weary and the heavy
laden, signing for repose and respite from
care, and toll, and routine, and exhaustion !;
for release and escape from beat, and dust,
and Sickness, and disease; and longing for
recreation, and change Of air, and scene,
and diet. But besides all these delights and
the refreshing sleep we enjoy under blank
cts every night, the day seems too short for
the enjoyments around us. To me, TO whom
"There is pleasur in the painless woods,''
the chief delight is TO wander over the
mountains, through forest and field, and to
gaze with unwearied rapture from some
commanding eminence upon tue unsur-
passed scenery, the far-o1, everlasting
hills, aud the beauteous, smiling land
scapes to euioy that "society where none
intrudes," and to join IN natures hymn OF
praise to her great Creator.
Every one here enjoys the morning and
the evening stroll. Ladies aud gentlemen
20 forth daily on long walks, armed with
mountain sticks. or alpenstOcks. aud return
with fine appetiles and enthusiastic praises
m the scenery The weather Is so eX-
9risiie, the strot$s so beautiful, and the air
so bracing, that even long walks ere not
fatixuing.
We were treated few evenings since to
the aiost gorgeous sunset l ever beheld.
The sunsets from the mountain heights are
generally very fine, but this was excep-
fionsiIy gorgeous. The "psrting day"
Z" fingered and played" on the summits
around rs in understandable glory. The
firMamenrs wondrous dome" was fres-
coed with sichest tracery in ten thousand
forms, ablaze with varied and brilliant
"Wbo made all thatS" An
~ Old Master,s truly-a greater architect
than Angelo, greater painter than
Raphael!
This resort offers especial inducements to
ladies' and children. IL is haven OF rest,
and alike mothers AMI children derive
marked improvement in short so1ourn.
Persons returning from the springs, wbere
hey have experienced the fas'gues OF fash..
enable dissipation, would be alarmed ana
benefited by stopping here Tor = week Oh
est. M'o
Thn lmmwass-