Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-07-19
THD SOUTHERN SARATOGA.
A Rendezvous OF Planters and Poll
ticians Before the War. Now a Vast
Emptiness.


stare rather vacantly at the long rows
of untenanted cottages. The immensl-
ty of the place dwarfs a company
which would lend prosperous air to
resorts less generously planned. 1t is
an advantage, of course, that there
should only be one hotel; it permits
kind of magnificence and vastneSs
impossible otherwise, and making
single, direct impression. For the
White Sulphur Springs hotel is not
only the sole hotel in White Sulphur
Springs; it is white Sulphur Springs.
1t is the village, and, with its full
Summer population, the largest vii
lage within a hundred miles. The
post and telegraph and express Offices
are within the grounds.
The springs are in a hallow which
looks up the easy slopes of a circle of
hills that strike one as rather mild for
West Virginia. In perfectly quiet,
unaggressive way it is pretty scene
greets ones gaze as the boy dips the
water under the curious-pillared dome
with the cheap statue of Hygeia on
top, and one does not like it the less
for the suggestion of Saratoga in the
boys apparatus, nor the fatal famiG
aritv of the modest reminder, Pen
MES for the dipper-boy, sir!' But one
understands as a group of Baltimore
girls with their bright, pure complex
ions forms come down into the pavll-
ion attired in the invariable white of
southern morning costume, and escort
ed by an equal number of young men,
Il o4G
ly the object of those who gang on
pilgrimage TO the White 1t is not
greatly resorted to for the virtues of
the waters, on the other hand. but it
is the thing" to offer ones self up in
procession after breakfast, and while
| write in the middle of a desert of
brown piazza, the festival or sacrifice
is in gay progress a hundred yards be
low.
The value of the white to the south
ron is that he meets everyone he
knows, and offered the spectacle of a
vast varieties of personages whom he
would like to know-governors, sena-
tors. representatives, railway manag-
ers. These have not yet come in con
siderable numbers, though the names
of several are ON the register; but
their friends and those who wish to be
such are beginning to arrive, and
these, with the large flow of transient
visitors which commenced with the
opening, June IS. and these inveterate
white frequenters who come from
summer to summer and stay the sea
son, sufficiently rescue the halls from
desolation and fill and brighten at
least portion of the veranda. The
summer, it is complained, has not yet
been warm enough to drive people to
the mountains; but if one may Judge
from the torrid heat that comprised a
Chesapeak & Ohio train few after
moons since and beat in throbbing
waves against the long lines of win
dow glass. this is not likely to be long
a grievance In fact, the guest popu-
lation increases from day to day, and
the great dining room will presently
be called into use. This is one of the
numerous things about the Springs
which tempt the statistical 1t is
probably the largest dining room in
the United States, as it is claimed to
be. At least it is impossible to distin-
guish forms and faces at the distance
of its length. 1t is conveniently en-
tered from the portico by numerous
doors in way that reminds one of
Niblo's garden, and one is told that it
is supplied with two kitchens and $50
walters when in use. 1t is far from
being handsome room, and indeed
no part of the hotel impresses the
northern eye as fine in quality save
the bigness The structure Is built
plainly of wood, and its interior APP
pointments are worn to the verge of
barrenness. The furniture is without
exception plain. the chairs in the la
dies ordinary, for the present used as
a dining room being of the rudest
rush, bottom bind, and the chamber
floors meagerly covered with a single
strip of mating. But this is charac-
teristic of all southern homes and so
long as the cuisine-which is more
than fair-is respectfully maintained,
the patrons of the house do not grum-
BILE.
1t Is satisfying thing to wander
up and down the broad poIticO at the
front of the house after supper. The
evening IS COOl--tnc udNH' WHICH diN
never very warm, are always followed
by mild and agreeable nights-and
the ladies are wrapped in their fieecy
mantles as they sit talking IN their
rich, vibrant southern voices. The
men in their widebrimmed hats, eX-
pansive shirt bosoms and squaretoed
boots, sit chatting with them or when
Younger, in modified dress walk with
them. The ladies' parlor. opening
upon the " anda, is brilliant with
evening cost mes From the reading
room come occasional sounds Of polltl-
cal discussion. A string-band plays
somewhere in the magnificent dis
lance of the portico Street lamps IL
lumine the white faces Of the mnu-
merable cottages opposite, most OF
which are engaged and sooh will be
filled. 1t is long walk through the
grounds along the gravel walks wind
ing through the carefully kept acres
of lawn, over the bridge crossing a