The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-11
white SULPHUR
THE ANCIENT SPA
CONTINUED From First Pagc.)

2 AZ Hen the first settlers crowded
back the red men towards tho head
waters OF the James. into the shell
tcring mountains. 1t was here they
pitched their wigwams and conjure5
with this nature cure. or many lie.
sends and stories that were left by
them, one or the most enchanting is
OF the Indian maid vino haunts the
pool at midnight. awaiting the time
Wnen the last drop shall have heen
arained from the spring--thc sigma.
Tor the restoration OF her lover, and
the reward of her faithful vigil.
A crude form hydrotiierapy was
mere practiced by the medicine man
Tor his patients. In tubs followed
from tho trunks OF trees and nlled
with waters from the spring. which
had been heated with hot stones. they
plunged the ailing ones with pr omises
of a cure.
1t was about the time when the
fathers were drafting the Constitution
or these United States tina. the South
ern planters brought their rheumatic
relatives and lived in tents ABOUT thu
spring for the benefit of the curativ,
waters.
Ancient and Glorious.
Before Saratoga was discovered. 81
Newport dreamed OF. the White Sui
phur was accorded the prestige of 8
widespread fame. 1t first became
known as watering place with tht
achievement Of commodious hote
more than n century ago. and from
that year, 1908, 1t has never wholly
relinquished its sccptre. In peace
ful valley with It's murpuring stream,
and encircling hills. the great ramb-'
ling hotel with more than 90 cot,
tages. has "A social history that Is
proud. distinctive and essentially arls
tooratic. Lined up as Florida Row,
Louisiana Row. Baltimore. virginia
and Carolina Rows. these cottages
with their antebellum designation,
show a certain loyalty to State and
city. There still remains the Prcs
dents cottage. devoted in other years
to tho Presidents and great states
men. There are also the Bachelors
Row and Paradise Row, superiativc to
their suggestion OF freedom and hap
piness.
Lying in the direct path OF war. the
hotel was used as hospital headouar
ters for the sick and wounded of the
Southern army. but through the in
.iucnce Of noble woman. the matron,
the buildings We're not destroyed
During the administration q the
carly Presidents the springs were in
high favor. and it was in the luxuri
Gus, idle "forties'' and "fifties'' that
1t reached the zenith of resplendent
entertainment. The dcbutante daughter
OF the planter WAS accorded an indif
ferent coning-out party-if 1t did not
take place at odd White Sulphnr." j!
tho Governor OF one state would com
pliment by invitation 10 banquet OF
reception, the Governor Of another
State, it was to old White" they re-
paired, where the state Of the Gov
ernor host would finance lavish
fote-so for hctrothal and honeymoon
here WAS the true hear; culture.
In days OF old the guests who jour
neyed thithcr in carriage aud coach
with postillions and oujridcrs, ana
attending retinue OF body and house
servants, were welcomed at the main
entrance with the proverbial southern
hospitality by host and old friends.
Imagine the hustle and excitement
that such an arrival would occasion.
the hospitable greetings and the clat-
ter OF many servants removing volum-
inous baggage. The reception Of the
coming and the speeding OF ,he de-
parting guests Of the present day.
while not SO noisy. is not one whit
less cordial aud sincere.
Ola Time Records.
Rare possessions OF the present hotel
company are the old books OF account
and registers. with their priceless au
tographs of these guests of other days.
Then mage WAS devoted TO each
guest. and the items curiously re-
corded Certainly the charge for room
and board was modest the ct cetera
OF drinks--jul.ps figured without
stint-and "grogr for the servants,
tobacco too. and 'scgars" for the mas
ter. In those days dancing was a ne
cessary accomplishments, an essential.
a teacher Vas In attendance and fire.
Quently the charge WAS daily for his
instructions. Tradition Is replctc with
recollections OF the j'treadmill," which
seems to have been the naughty for
bear OF the "hoardwaik" promenade.
while the favorite dance Of the grand
ballroom was The White Sulphur
Riley" sort of minuet.
Way back in 1916 the arrival OF
Commodore Decatur is recorded: Ell.
Clay, OF Kentucky" was assigned q
page the following year. In poliu-
cal conference of that date. Millard
Fillmore, OF New York; and Rufus
Choate, Of Massachusetts. came down
to be present with Henry Clay.
Franklin Pierce made an extended
stay in 1851. arriving on the Fourth
of July, which was the occasion OF
great festivities. Four years later the
Prince OF Wales. the late King Ed
ward, was an honoreI guest, and feted
with becoming pomp and ceremony.
Another reminder OF the fascinating
period OF the "Old South are the re-
naming old-time servitors. Half
century, fortyhve, thirty five years
mark the respectful dcferential SER
vice OF some OF these maids" and
boys" while n dozen or more have
been in continuous attendance for
more than a quarter of century.
All have for the new" guests stories
to tell of the beauty and wit of the
bellies and bcaux. and accounts of the
1avishness and brilliancy of the parties
held at the white" in the past.
In These Modern Days.
There is something about the place
that revives sentiment and renews
youth. Sitting on the broad verandas
of the hotel one is confronted with
II view OF enchanting beauty, of which
you can never tire: valleys. mountains,
forests, streams, everything that lends
charm to a landscape. Enticing wind
ing paths beckon with their mysteries
those who would stroll: for one who
loves to tramp there are wooded ways
and mountain trails to climb, and for
perfect charm there is nothing that
surpasses ride through the forest