The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1891-07-01
rnE n. J. EplronrAL ExcuRs1oN.

After partaking OF lunch at Wizards
Hotel, the editors and their friends were
at liberty to visit the many noted public
buildings. The White House and Capitol,
by request, were specially kept open till
o'clock. Their usual time for closing
was and o'clock respectively. Many
regrets were expressed that the President
was not at home, but greatly to his credit,
as we'll as to our little State, he was So
journing for the time being at Cape May. |
He, too, may express regrets on his re-
turn to find his card basket heaped with
editorial cards. Returning to Wizards,
diuing at o'clock, at which time a |
heavy rainfall cooled the air and laid the
dust for the next days journey, which
was resumed at A. NJ, on the esd, via
the Old Virginia Midland, now the Chesa-
peake and Ohio r. r.
This route passes over 10 or 20 noted
battle fields of the late civil war. The
first 70 mile run down through Virginia,
including Alexandra, shows gradual
deterioration. Miles of uncultivated lands,
here and there an old log house, not large
enough to admit of its own chimney,
which is universally built in this section
on the outside. At Charlottesville aud
basic City, just across the Blue Ridge,
and still further on in the beautiful valley,
we pass Staunton, Goshen and Clifton
Forge. These towns With many others
hsve been and are still being doomed.
Enough lots are already laid out in some
instances for the next two generations to
come. However, there must be much
stability in many of the improved towns,
especially where there is mineral wealth
to back them. Crops through this section
do not begin to compare with old Hunter
don and Bucks.
are being erected along the line. The lat
ter are most conspicuous in the vicinity of
the mountain ranges, the views from
which, as well as from the II. r., are very
fine. After darling through series of
tunnels, the tortuous ride around sharp
curves, steep grades and in turn down,
down. we emerge into the beautiful valley
OF Green Briar. Here we reach the noted
"Whi,e Sulphur Springs, the point of our
destination, after travelling a distance of
over 800 miles. Here our northern visitors
are greatly surprised to find one of the larg-
est hotels in America, the great Saratoga of
the South, the ground floor covering over
an acre, main dining room over 800 feet
long and one-fourth as wide, main parlor
| 105x50 feet, ball room same size as par
lor; also, many other spacious rooms on
first floor. Aside from this mammoth
hotel, under the same management, some
distance away, are 100 cottages, built in
old Virginia's quaint archetype, with mas
sive columns, forming an irregular circle
almost entirely around the hotel, from
which all cottagers are required to dine.
Down yonder is pointed out the cottage
of Van Buren, and Mcclellan, northward
the cottage where Grant and Arthur so.
iourned. Here are seen old colored SER
wants, once slaves, who have served at
these cottages faithfully % long years ;
also, two churches, club house, steam laun-
dry, bath houses, livery; lastly, the two no.
ted springs that form the nucleus, which
are at respectable walking distance, Que
of which has the reputation of making
sick while the other acts on the system in
the opposite. The writer's experience in
merely tasting of medicinal waters has
been very unsatisfactory. Days of sick
ness followed, and on this last occasion it
was not until swine were seen drinking
the water running from the spring, that
he ventured to partake. The colored Dip
pers rarely drink these waters. They say
the common water ''am good enough" for
them. This plant includes $4,000 acres
of mountain and valley, all owned by one
individual, and dates back over cenlu-
ry as pleasure resort; long before rail-
rOauS were tnouBuJ Oi.
On Wednesday, number OF US, through
the persuasion of a dominic, started to
climb Sweet Brier or Kate's Mountain, so
named from mother and her children
seeking refuge from the Indians who had
killed her husband The trail most Of the
way was found to be good, $l3, 900 hav-
log been expended many years ago to es-
tablished stage road, but was abandoned
when the cost was found to exceed $50, 600
to complete it, The trail is finally mar
rowed down Till one is lost for even Il
path. 1t was difficult to Judge when you
were really on top. Those that found an
open space were favored with most
magnificent view. Height above tide
water $500 feet. This journey was com
parable to the journey of life--many drop
ped off at the 2 mile point, others at
miles and but few reached the summit.
The Dominic, by the way, was ready &c
shoot his white high hat aud wished he
had never seen mountain.
On Thursday, special train was run
over to the Natural Bridge, to accommo
date about forty OF our tourists, who never
had visited this natural wonder. The OK
ira cost, including admittance to bridge
and dinner, was So 90. All were delight
ed with The trip. The young folks and
also few grey heads had every induce
ment offered for dance, at the nam
moth house, which they avaied themselves
of in their usual splendor. A few OF the
walters favored US with concert OF some
good old plantation songs.
:, Friday morning at 8 o'clock, we were
:, on our way homeward, via the Shenan
doah Valley to Luray, where we remained
: till Saturday morning. We found tb'
caverns much improved in walks anC
o | ..as...n.,. =. ,,I,o4 tko,, ,,,a.a L., 1000