The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1855-12-12

From the head Of the Swannanna, at Mr..
Steps, where an angler can mud speekled
trout, there is an easy way to the Mountain
House, built by Mr.. William Patton, Of
Charleston, S. {. Its present occupant will
provide one with pleasant lodgings. and what
mountain journeys render 50 welcome, ai'
such comforts " Tor the inner man" as this
region affords, with fresh salmon from Scot
land and champage from France. to make
them go down easily. Alter resting here
while at the height Of $3.50 feet above ne
sea level, two miles Of travel on horseback,
as hundreds of ladies can testify, will bring
him to the top Of Mt. Mitchell.
When one is upon this peak he appears to
be on centre, from which there run OH ave
immense mountain chains. 10 the northwart
stretches the main ledge of the Black. with
A succession Of cones and spires along ITS
dark crest. On its right from the far north
cas-, from the Keystone State. across the en-
tire length Of Virginia, seemingly from an
immeasurable distance, comes along the line
of the Blue Ridge or Allegheny; but when
it passes almost under him, it is compare
lively so much depressed as scarcely to be
perceptibe, save where at the point Of juno
ton, stimulated BY the presence OF its e.
gantic neighbour, it shoots up intoa pinnacle
SO steep, that to use a hunters phrase, Il
would ..make buzzar,'s head swim. il he
we're to attempt TO fly over it."
Thence it runs southerly, till II touches
South Carolina, when il tends TO the west.
and is soon hidden behind colossal masses
that Obstruct further vision in that direction.
As the chain Of the Black sweeps around
westwardly, it is suddenly parted into two
immense branches, which run off in opposite
courses. The northern terminates IN ma
ljestic pile, with crown-,ks summit, with
numerous spurs from its base, while to the
south there leads oil the long ridge of"Crag-
gy," with its naked SLOPES and fantastic peaks,
over which dominates its great "Dome,'
challenging, in its altitude, ambitious CON-
parison with The Black itself.
Let the observer then Tilt his eye TO re.
mote distance, and take circuit in the OPP
posite direction. Looking 10 the southeast
and east, he sees, beyond Kings Mountain,
and others less known to fame. the plain 81
the two Carolinas, stretched out over held
of illimitable space, in color and outline
lundistinguishable from the "azure brow o.
: tue CdliU OCfdUs Attdt W " wv 1880
east, over the I.innyille mountain, stand:
squarely upright the liable Rock" with IT.
perpendicular faces: and its twin brother the
aHawkbill,n with its carved beak Of user
hanging rock, and neck incliued, as il act I,
stoop down on the plain below. Farther on
there rises in solitary grandeur, the rock,
throne of the abrupt and wild ''Grandfather.
This "Ancient Of days" was long deeme'
he "Monarch Of Mountains" but now. lik'
other exiles, he only retains shadow oi hi
former authority in patriarchal name siyei
him because Of the gray beard he shows
. when frozen cloud has iced his rhododcn
drons. Westwar, Of him stands ,let"rlou
, rival, the gently undulating prairie Of III
eRoan," stretching out for 10 miles in length
! mated BY casteIlated cray. the aBluf.'
From this extends, soutnerly. the long, bu
broken line OF the "Unaka," through th
passes Of which. far away over the entir
valley of East Tennessee, is seen, in th
distance, the blue outline Of the Cumberlan'
Mountains, as they penetrate the State a
the "dark and bloody ground" In contras
with the bold aspect and rugged ehasms o
the Unska, stands the stately figure Of III
"Bald mountain" its smoothly shayen an
! regularly rounded top bringing to mind som
classic cupola for when the sunlight sleep
upon its convex head, II seems temple NOR
worthy of all the gods, than that Pantheon
famed Ronan rival. As the eye again sweep
onward, tits arrested BY the massive pile .
the great "Smoky Mountain" darkened b,
IFS fir trees. and often by the cloudy draper,
IL wears. From thence there stretches quit
through Haywood and Henderson, To Soui
Carolina border. the long range Of the " Bal
, sam Mountain" its pointed steeples over
topping the "Cold Mountain' and "Pisgah.
: and attaining probably their greatest eleva
. ton towards the head Of the French Broa,
river.
Besides these, the eve rests on many
"ripr green valley with its winding streams
and many nsinelrss peak, and many a wa
wing ridge, initiating in is curling shapes
the bllug &c the ocean when most lashed b,
tie tempest. And if one is favored BY Jove
he may perehance her the sharp, shrill serean
81 his "cloud cleasing minister" and. a
he sweeps By with that bright eye whir
'pieroes downward. onward, or abaye. vii
a peryading vision. or enrircIes him in viii
curves, shews reflected back from the gold
en- brown u his long wings.
aTha western beams sslant,'
!. Of The descending sun.
but lrom Mt. Mitchell, where one is sti
tempted 10 linger, since my FIRST visit, va
has been opened quite 10 the highest point
!. A. one rides along the unduIating crest ,
the ridge, Ne has presented 10 him q success
/, sion u varied. picturesque beautiful view,
Sometimes Ne passes through open spot
smooth and green enough 10 be the danein
!, grounds of the fairies. and ANN he plunge
!, intu dense lsests u balsam, o,er groun
: covered By thiek beds 81 moss 50 soit an
elastic. thAta wesried m.n repnses on 4 :
! Ne would on basin ~ fluid mercury. j
the lat aud tarfest al the little prairies. on