Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1842-08-11
MOUNTAIN SCENERY.
Ertraet IF a Letter from tie Editor.
WARM SpaNas, JuLY 80, 1912

presented from the top Of the Wsrm Springs
mountain has scarcely failed to attract the notice
and admiration of every traveller who has had an
opportunity. Of beholdiug it. 1 doubt, indeed,
whether Nature has any whore on the face of the
| globe disported her power to the same extent in
the production of picture of such mingled Wild
ness, beauty and grandeur, and then laid it wide
oPen' In all Its vastncss, to the eye OF man, as
here; and the mind must truly be dull and unide.
| al in which il can excite no emotions. had Of
ten paused to contemplate the scene from the road
as 1t winds up the Eastern ascent of the mountain
nut never until the other day hal full survey
Oh IL IN all Its extent and magnifcence, when in
company with some friends visited the ..Flaq
hock,' the most commanding eminence on the
mountain, and so named from the circumstance
that white flag is kept constantly flying upon il
by our kind host, Col. Fry, to designate the spot
to strangers, there being another point nearer, in
the path travelled, answering to its general de-
| scHption, but not so elevated. The view from
ms rock found to be far more extensive than
that afforded from the road, and is well worth.
not merely The trouble il may COS: the visitor to
rrach it, but, as Mr.. Jefferson said of the scenery
at Harper's-Ferry, might add with immeasura-
|
! The approach to the ''Flag Rock" is from the
Turnpike, few yards Of the tol-ga,e, by IA
bride path along the top of the mountain and the
whole distance To be travelled TO reach il is abou,
two miles and quarter from the Springs. As
you come within hundred or two ya,ds of the
Rock it seems to rise like pyramid 10 a very
narrow point, and you are aptto anticipate wea.
rlsoihe and somewhat difficult ascent even on foot
But this appearance is entirely delusive, as YOU
may ride TO the very top OF the Rock on horse
back. This, however. is not generally done BY
visitors, and only say it may be done because |
understand 1t was once achieved by lady-Aliss
N-ph---'he same who performed the strange
aud hazardous ftais "a, IA" Nn.ara, bridge, which
are commonly told TO visitors.
| From the top Of this Rock. az Won look East.
"ard' mountain after mountain rises in rapid SUE
cession' each overlapping the oiher and forming
vast amPhtheatre, until your view is at lenpth
enclosed III the distant horizon, by a chain almost
as flint as cloud, which stretches a,onu i,s
whole circuit, except where, for short intervals.
IL Is broken by some intervening peak. Those in
the lore ground which you trace more dis
nnctly are thrown into nearly every variety of
shap"-now undulating-now smooth and unbro.
; ken--and again falling away or interlocItrd with
and lost behind some more towering steep-some
inli and swelling, and others strangely and r4pu-
iaI'y marked with ravines running 10 their very
'oPs' presenting to the eye of the beholder, under
an evening sun, successive tinis Of light and
shade In beautiful and endless VARIETY Nor is
The nearer view at all in Contrast with the distan,
scenery.-'The whole intermediate SPACE between
You and The mountains is d succession of ridges
and hills covered with impenetrable foliage, and
ana aiiordng scene, wild as the widest child
OF Nature could WISH Here and there il is true.
small clear spot may be seen, d-noinc that
man has there made Tor himself an abode but all
else around seems left in its primeva soIitudes-
so completely are the settlements of the nume-
rous vallies, which the mountains embosom, con-
ceaieG from your view.
ihrre is something peculiarly inspiring In such
scenery the mind seems to catch sort Of en-
thusiasm from the grandeur and sublinliy Of
the objects which surround it. ] found myself
almost invountarily excamng surely the
God Of Nature has destined this as the eternal
nome OF frcedom--aud if ever our Liberties are
lost upon the plains--here, here we may retire
and forever beat back the foe! 1t is impossible
that the hand ofTyranny can ever establish it,
dominion over such country, while there are
free hearts left to defend it.
In order to asssis: your mind in forming some
more distinct and definite idea of this wild and
magnificent scenery, however, than can he COR
veyed by mere general or grouped description
OF it, will enumerate the different mountains
which are brought into the view, as their names
were given to tne by an intelligent gentleman nC
the Warm Springs, who one of our compa-
ny.-Passing. then, over the numerous ridgns and
spurs OF the mountain upon which We stood. and
which have already been family described first is
the Mill creek mountain. then Watson's. then the
Bull Pasture, next the Calf Pasture, then the
Sister Lick Knobs Then Walkers mountain. mex, !
Elliotrs Knobs then the Rough mountain, next |
the Mill mountain, then the dump mountain. |
next the North mountain. then the House noun. |
tans, and then far off in the distance, stretching
along the horizon like cloud are the Blue RIDGE
mountains.--Thus showing, as is the fact, that
the Warm Springs mountain far over-tops all the
rest, 60 that we really look down upon them, and
their appearing 10 rise one above another, in am.
phitheatric form is mere illusion Of sight
regret that have not had more time and OPP
Porunity 10 furnish you with n.inu,er descrip-
tim. forassuredly The scenery is worthy Of It.
There can be nothing Of the kind any where GER.
tain'y 20 sureass it,---foi the ego Of raan cou,d