Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-07-24
AT %THE WHITE" /"
Fashionable Follies at West Vir-
ginia's Famous Spa.
Unfolding of ihe season-The Beautifus
Scene at Nght--Frday's Full Dress
Ball and the Toilet Beau =
ties II Disclosed.
GENERAL WATERING PLACE PANORAMA
Seg Correspondence Of Tie egtsSer.

1SaG Correspondence Of the eotSteT,
WHITE SULPHUR SPRNes, July o.
Going to the White from any other re-
sort in this State or neighborhood is like
reaching New York after visit to some
provincial town, and if all the pleasures Of
all resorts, speaking locally, were summed
up together and weighed in the balance
against the attractions of the White, they
would be found wanting. This may seem
strong language, but II is warranted by the
circumstances. Since my last letter the
season is materially advanced, and some
thing like one thousand two hundred guests
are now auartered here. They are coming
in at the rate of from fifty TO seyenty-ive
day, and the cottages from Lester row to
Carolina are rapidly filling up. 1t is sup
posed the season reaches its height about
August /, and maintains its brilliancy
month, drawing to a final conclusion about
Septenber %, but this year it will be q lit
lie later all around, and not until the 10th
of August viii the Springs have reached
The Zenith or Their Glory.
By that time Congress win have ad
iourned, and many statesmen viii seek
rest and recreation here. By that time,
also, many persons who usually spend
July by the sea will turn to the mountains
for a change. 1t is the popular belief that
the best regime for health is, hrst to take
sea breezes and baths for preparation and
tone and then the mountains to build the
system up. Acting on this, great multi
tude will come here in August and the
company expects to this year entertain
two thousand people. :,
AS that is the height OF the season, all OF
the great events have been reserved Tor
that time. A grand illuminated lawn fete
will be given ON August Sth and only those
who are acquainted with the beauties OF
the grand lawn can imagine the fairy scene
il will present when decorated for the oc-
casion, ON August IL the first grand fancy
dress ball will be given. Signor HaZizer
has brought over two hundred magnificent
costumes for this and similar occasions and
those on exhibition have fairly charmed
the eyes that have looked upon them. In
August, also, comes the racing season.
The splendid half mile track, lying just
beyond the springs, has been already near
ly completed and critics pronounce IL
good one. The entry books will soon
be opened and as the meeting is in charge
OF the Maryland Jockey Club, we expect to
see some unusually fine sport. The purses
offered are generous and munihcent and
will attract horsemen from all parts OF the
country. Among the purses l notice one
is known as the WHEELING REGISTER
Purse" to be contested for by West Elr-
ginia horses on the third day. While the
races are the principal attraction Tor
August, there are others, as Will tell you
from time 10 time.
The Dress Ball.
promised to speak OF the grand dress
ball on Friday evening, and really it was
worthy of record But let me get 10 1t by
saving q word or two of the scene here at
night. At sundown the fashionable pleas
ures of the day begin. The long yerandas,
the walks and the lawn are thronged with
people and as every guest then dons ms
best attire, the scene is moving one.
As the after glow Creeps on, the hundreds
of lamps are illuminated and the
soft radiance of the electric lights
is shed over the grounds, and, subdued
by the semi-Opaque shades, gives an effect
yery like moonlight. The faint glow from
the cottages forms an enclosing circle OF
! li-ht-a charmed circle, as il were, beyond
which all is forest and gloomy mountain
| tops. From this circle the immense hotel
| is one blaze of light, and presents a scene
| of brilhance TO which description cannot
| do full Justice. When the last faint touch
of crimson has faded from the West, the
\ cooling and heavy dews begin to fall, and
| the grounds are untenable and the center
| of life and attraction is found in the west
| end of the hotel, the reception and ball
| room and the broad verandah enclosing
| two sides OF ii.
On this particular Friday evening, sup
| per had been hurriedly dispatched,
| nF ha
| and many who did come wearing hats
| suspiciously low over their eyes, scarcely
| covering the white band that enthralled
/ the bangs" destined TO work so much mis-
| chief at the ball. Usually supper is only
| half served at o'clock, but this evening
! the last leisurely guest had satisfied his ap-
| petite before then. A half hour later
| Eramer's Orchestra had taken its elevated
position, and as white robed figures hur-
| ried across the lawn to where the light
Streamed out from the ball room windows,
| the delicious strains OF "WOmGR'S Lore
| waltzes floated out 70 meesthem and sound
cd softly everywhere, drawing guests thith-
er with magnetic force. All dancing even
ings open fol the benefit Of the children,
and these incipient bellies and beauxoccupy
the floor for the first hour, during which
dowsgerS and duennas, cicerones and
| chaperones take their places about
the room, bestowing their fair charges
where their charms appear to best adyaa'
tage TO the cavaliers as theys:scan the front
row. The young ladies enter the ball room,
not as though it were public affair, but
| Just as they would at home and their
escorts are not young men, who must find
| them afterwards.
How They Dress,
The White, you know, is renowned for
the brillanCe and general splendOr of the la
dies toilets and on this particular evening,
leng really the first grand ful dress ball of
the season, the opening opportunity was
afforded for display OF wardrobe. 1t was
fully taken advantage Of, and the ball room
was graced by costumes on which the handi-
work Of Worth and Straumann was very ap-
parent As may be always observed atsuch
gatherings, the young married ladies wore
the handSomest dresses and most diamonds,
though several Philadelphia and Louis
vile demoiSelles glittered in altogether too
many of the latter. Many Of the first
named cbGielabaSS, while they had chosen
the most expensive fabrics and finest laceS
in which to set off their charms, were ar,
rayed with such exquisite taste and were
withal so fascinating as to obtain the lions
share of attention, dividing it equally only
with the more popular of their unmarried
sisters As to the dresses of these latter, ii
is very evident, from a glance at them,
that
The square Bosom Style
is thoroughly revived. Not one of the
ladies completely barred her arms or
shoulders, though in many cases the lace
scarce concealed them, but nine of
every ten had her dress cut
in the square bosom style, the amount of
the lace filling i'm varying with individu.
ais. Just before the dance dashiug young
lady was met on the piazza by her chaper.
one with the remark: My dear. your dress
is really too low; pull out the lace little"
The lace was pulled out little, but when
the elder lady passed~on il was carefully
tucked back sgain to its former position,
and so remained throughout the evening
She was not alone in this. 1t was the pre-
yalling style, without regard to the. q aues-