Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-08
THE WHITE SULPHUR.
An Old Confedcrate's Visit and HIS
Memories.


Memories.
CREENBRIER COUNTY, w. VA. May
6.-(special.) being In the neighborhood'
I drove over yesterday to that famous
southern watering-place the "Oid "hi'e'
just to revive pleasant memories ana see
II the people | heard were TO run IL this
season were getting 1t In shape for busi-
ness. Before I got inside the extensive
grounds the deeply-rutted wagon-road con-
WINGED me that heavy hauling was gong
on. and once / was in the grounds the
busy carpenters. painters. ana plumbers
left no longer "A doubt upon my nina init
the grand old place is to be open again
and that very soon.
went. anticipating pleasant memories
alone. but how Derverse is our nature
If there Is. perchance. anything SAD 10
recall upon revsiting our old haunts'
however much Of the pleasant there may
be- the sad and the melancholy will push
themselves 10 the front and monopoiize
ones thoughts.
Now. although / had been TO the White
time and again since 1861, had not driven
through the big west gate on the present
occasion before the stirring war scenes
enacted here in 1861 and the battle ana
the b,oodshed and death of lSj came
crowding one another in rapid procession
before me There In those early days OF
the struggle was the marshaling OF new
troops. as Ex-Governor Wise, new
fiedged brlgadier organized his Legion,
which camped in the beautiful sugar
maple groves around the White, while
the belligerent old general and his stan
occupied cottages on the lawn. The UNI
forming of the rough-ciad mountainsefs'
the equippne with war acoutrements, the
drilling of the raw infantry, and the prac-
ticing of the new artillery. all made
novel and exciting chapter in the ex-
perience of the writer, one OF Wlse's
drill-masters. who had two green COM
panies TO drill. each three times "A day,
and to whom the incidents recur as fresh
to-day as though they had happened yes
terday.
WISES ORDERS.
There is the cottage where the quarter
master kept his stores, and there the
old general said 10 me: "Go in, Lieuten-
ant. and tell the Major | say issue you
the best pair of boots he has. You've
worn out yours drilling my men. and
you deserve new pair and see mere
look after my men; teach them some
thing. God knows they need it, and III
not forget you"
He didn't. either. for a speedy promo
ton testified to his good memory and good
faith. Nobody had been hurt then. Inc
men were full of health and spirits and
pluck. and enjoyed their visit TO the
springs more. / dare say, than will the
bellies and beaux OF the season of 1875,
for the conquests they looked forward to
then led 10 fame and glory. and, We
thought liberty. But the campaign or
81 closed and returning 10 the White IN
an ambulance l found my quarters IN
that long row OF cottages with hundreds
of others. wounded and sick and dying.
and the hearse, or the dead ambulance,
stopped as often before those doors then
as will the pleasure carriages before them
this coming season Of 1885.
Then followed the campaign of 'C2, clos
ing with another long death-roll, the Wise
Legion scattered to the four winds or
the Confederacy. but the doughty Oh
general still in the saddle, now below
Richmond with Lee. Then came the
battle of Dry Creek. where the spirit ana
carnage of war invaded those precincts
heretofore dedicated to pleasure Shot
and shell shrieked around the lawn and
over the Grand Hotel. and the ball
room was filled with wounded and dead
and % made more big gaps in that COM
pany of the season Of 81. and now,
thirty years after. as | drive up through
the familiar grounds and mentally call
the roll. there is only one here and there
TO answer.
ABSENT, ABSENT. ABSENT.
From the general down 10 the little
corporal ON his left" then TO the high
III. To- all al. ayt ah
absent but accounted for. is the answer.
The splendid old trees are there. though.
and the noble spring, which has given
health and life 10 generations, still pours
forth It's 2,oOS gallons every hour day and
night and the vast lawn. green and
velvety. with the early spring flowers
peeping out here and there. smiles away
sad thoughts. As | drive up to the great
hotel and run my eve along those extern
siye porticos, crowded when ] last saw
them with youth. beauty. wit, and
wisdom, and am greeted at the door by
MIR. Glover one OF the proprietors. and
Mr.. Burdette, one of his assistants. and
mark their busy air and the hustle that
pervades the whole place. | am adj
monished that the gloomy days are all
past for the White. and that the pace
is about 10 open its historic doors to
probably the largest company any season
has sent il.
1t may be necessary 10 remind many
Of the Dispatch readers that the White
was sold a year ago for $4,000 to the
trustees of the Dulaney estate. who held
a large debt upon 1t. Mr.. Julian Burke.
the administrator, has leased 1t for a
term of years TO Mrs Eubank and Mr..
Glover who have for several years past
managed so successfully the Warm
Springs, in Bath
IN FIRST GLASS CONDITION.
The owners Of the White are putting
everything in first-class condition. They
are reftting the large corridor and offices.
putting handsome baths in the hotel, and
perfecting the system Of drainage, etc,
etc. at an expenditure Of about $1,000.
The White VIII be open TO the general
public on the 18th of June though there
are some cd friends who insist upon
beng accommodated on the first of the
month. and such will, | suppose, be
provided for.
Durant and Cfrcumgtantial Evil
dencc.
tah