The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-06-29
ROCKBR|DGE ALUM
ALWAYS At TRACTIVE
Has Modernized Without De-
stroying Old Beauty.
HISTORY OF ITS PAST GLoRlEs
Equalled in Their Succession by Pres
ent Success and Popularity-Private
Entertaining and Cottage Parties
Much in Force.
tspecial Dispatch to The Tlme..l

(SpeCial dispatch TO ne 1lmts.y
RoCKBRIDGE ALUM SPRINGS. June
2s.-June, Eldest of the summer sister
hood, rose-crowned and fower-Wreathed,
still fingers 10th to bid farewell to her
crowd of gay worshippers at the ROCK
bridge Alum Springs. She came treadlns
in the footsteps of many months OF roses
who have Jeen her notable predecessors
in the seasons that have waxed and
,saned since the footsteps of the first
Corners to this great resort halted here,
built their camp-fres and pitched their
tents around the veritable fountains OF
YOUTH which De Soto sought for, else
where so long and SO vainly.
The fame Of the fountain was soon
noised abroad. The company of pilgrims
who repaired to its health-Giving waters
was augmented year by year; cabins and
n primitive hosiery were built; families
came In wagons to spend the long sum
Yner months in quest of renewed vigor
and pleasure. At first, the strains q the
mountaineer's yoilin eniivened the even
ings and set the measure for. contra
dances in which rural Phyllises and rus
tic Corydons beamed blissfully upon each
other. In the cabin, during the day, do
mestic labors succeeded to tn dissipation
OF the preceding night and life flowed on
in ldyllic rhythm.
Gradually, however, the tide of inno-
walton came rolling up from the lower
country. New buildings sprang up. as
ii by magic: carriages and coaches. not
only from Virginia, but from other
southern communities. their occupants
attracted to this favored spot, longing
TO test and experience for themselves
its almost miraculous power With the
invasion came the reign of the gallant
in silken coat and lace ruftics; OF the
dame and damoiselle in brocade. powder
ed hair and patches, who trod the min
uet, and set each others hearts a-beat-
ing as men and maidens have been DO
ing since the world began.
IN NATURAL ORDER.
In natural order and sequence these
Gays also had their passing, and the
brilliant ante-bellum period followed, the
peIiod of all others the most distlnc-
I'VE the one in which such pre-eminent
southern bellies as Mrs. Maria Mayo
Scott. Miss Maria Ward, afterwards the
wif of Peyton Randolph: Miss Elizabeth
Cabell, who refused Salmon P. Chase
10 marry. Judge. William Daniel with
hundreds of beauties from Charleston
Savannah, New Orleans, and other soueh-
ern cities, made a galaxy OF ioEeliness
still proudly referred to in the ballroom
and hotel annals of the Rock Alum.
This watering place was one OF the
first to welcome back its habltueS aiier
The strenuous period OF the ciNil va VA
IA, the crowded seasons of the 3seSehues
a wonderful NlTSllld
,,.,;n,ett Miss Elizabeth Cabell, OF
vounre1 generation than the one men,
toned above, and Miss Matte onid-stlli
,i,..er nv virtue of their exceeding grace
and graciousnesS in the MINDS OF LidhS.
Who saw them first in the throhs U
,.;sftors to this historic summer resort.
past plories have been fully eaualleu
in their succession by presen. plosps. -
1,eauties Of by-gone days. If they are per
,,,;,te5 glimpse of mundane AFFAIRS
,.,,ila tn see their descendants busy IN the
conquest of hearts and the enloHmeht
IF hellehood in the scenes amid which
,rav once moved and had their being.
1I;storv repeats itself. The summer girl
Of 1909 arrays her jaunty person II.
silirtwaist and shirtwaist hat, IN stou'
.,,oas and short skirt and sallies forth
armed for conquest on the tennis lawn
or golf links, where she plays, In aool-
ton to her part of the ruglar programme
a. skillful game Of hearts and more often
than otherwise comes out a winner ny
long odds.
OUTDOOR PLEASURES.
All outdoor pleasures lie within easy
reac oh of the Rock Alum bellies and BeauX-4
through the scenic advantage and beauty
of its location. Ono of the pleasantest
and the most natural things for people
of leisure here to do is to take a ride
through the famous Goshen Pass. with
its tcrraced masses of pink and white
laurel bloom, to pay a visit to the Ale
rhany Hotel at Goshen or to the Cold
SULPHUR; to make up coaching party
for a drive through the most picturesque
county IN the world to Lexington, va,
the site of the Virginia Military Institute.
washington and Lee University; the
home for some years of both Generals
Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson
and their burial place On the road to
Lexington is the neutrality-suspicious., a
pleasant haltinG place for rest and a
lunch.
The Rockbridge Alum is in compare
tfy@ly new dress this season, large
amount OF money having been expended
since last year in improvements The
advantages offered by the Rock Alum
and the Grand Hotel connected by a COW
cred walkway. and by the cottages with
al the well-known advantages of such
al, rnecualled combination, are too Well
known and realized to need special enun,-
Grafton. Mr.. Frazier, whose name has
been so long associated with the Alum
ard who has been the genial host and
friend OF his guests so many years
has fortunately with him this summer
Mr. Thomas. who has already made the
acquaintance of number of the Rich
rnond patrons of the springs.
THE NEW SEASON.
The season of 1902 has opened most
arsp:ciously. a goodly membership of
the summer contingent has already ar
rived and the chances are that the fourth
or JAY viii find both hotels and the cot
1ases well filed. while by July 10th or
1sth social affairs from present indi-
cations, will be In full swing. Last
season was a very crowded one. even
Tor the Alum: the engagements already
made show that this will be equally 50.
The alumni has always been conspic-
nous for the amount Of private enter
taining done by Its guests Cottage par
ties are the rule and not the exception
Consequently many of the cottages are
already being handsomely put in party
trim. Gay awnings and bamboo cur
tains transform piazzas into sitting
rooms which ahcv additional furnishings
IN tea and card tables. comfortable
chairs, harmocks, books, magazines,
writing and fancy materials. There is
4 good deal OF pleasant rivalry in plan
Ming cottage adornment. different COT
tages making their summer parlors
characteristic by the adoption of a GER
tain color which prevails in. every detail