The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-09-06

@'SiJ "h0AS III IloSe MOUNTAINS are ABUNDANT
proofs of their solid granite formation. The
surface is only covered with thin vegetable
mould, intermingled with loose rocks and
trunks of fallen trees. In this loose mould the
trees take root, and, if haply they can secure a
firmer hold in some crevice in the rock, they
may stand for centuries; but often they have no
deeper root than earth and moss afford, and so
are easily blown or washed down. And thus
happen those terrible "sides," when earth,
trees, and rocks, descend in fearful avalanche,
burying all beneath them in ruin, and leaving
the bare granite ribs of the mountain to bleach
in the winter SHOWS and summer suns.
So the stream has washed for itself granite
bed along the side Of the mountain. For the
first half mile it flows in every variety of form
now sweeping in broad, smooth stream, with
arrowy swiftness, down the steep, polished
granite; now, broken into smaller streams, it
whirls in beautiful miniature cascades and
dashing rapids leaping over lodges into little
basins, that seem followed out of the solid
rock, mot by the sport of nature, but of man."
Here are picturesque rocks jutting out into
bold lodges, where, from crevices in one warm,
sunny nook, grow harebells. Exquisitely beau
| tiful they were, contrasted with the rugged
grandeur around. Their slight, delicate bells,
hanging out from so small a crevice, they
seemed to blossom FROM TIE heart of the solid
rock. From this point ID exquisite view of
the valley below and mountains beyond. But
the eye is entranced by the water. Up and
down the long reach commanded by this point,
is seen at one view all its lovelest forms, as it
| comes, dashing, gliding, 'whirling, foaming,
sparkling, glancing, down the mountain side.
The fringey trees bend from above, their
bright leaves quvering in the light breeze and
glad sunshine; and so we reach the first cas-
cade.
Here the water falls in narrow stream, be-
| tween two masses of rock, that rise high above
on either side. 1t has perpendicular fall of
| between forty and fifty feet, and the basin into
which it descends is as beautiful as can be i'm
| agined. Our point of view is from rock in
the centre of the stream that flows from the
pool. Before MS is the silver waterfall, with
huge rocks rising far above and, on either
| side, steep banks and overhanging trees. All
along, up the rocks and down to the waters
edge, grow tangled wild vines, mingled with
the brilliant berries of Solomon's Seal, and the
feathery foliage of the mountain sumach.
Everywhere, on rock, and root, and fallen tree,
luxuriant MOSES spread a soft carpet.
We cannot go up the rocks at this fall, so
we must 20 around through the woods. 1t is
exceedingly amusing to see delicate ladies
"scrambling" up these rough ways. What a
contrast to their city lfel Here, foot is care
fully insinuaed into a crevice Of the steep rock,
and a friendly hand from above HOSTS you up
one stage when very likely you are left hold
ing with might and main TO some overhanging
tree, whose roots elm. to the bare rock, like
warrants to society, without any "visible means
of support" Hold fast swing round careful
y, and one bold jump puts you through safely,
if it does not land you on q treacherous moss
bed, where rock and chasm and tangled roots
are all overspread with a smooth velvet cover
ing, through which your foot sinks down through
roots, stones, and loose earth, until you wonder
where you are going to stop. Fortunately,
dangerous reptiles are rare in these mountains
scarcely ever, even in the valleys, an innocent
water snake; so We are safe on that score
On go the merry mountaineers, tumbling over
| rocks and fallen timber, clambering from dizzy
heights adown again to the bed of the stream ::
and hence, from the high rock above the falls,
let US look away downward. We have only a
glimpse of the world below us. Mount Tom
oil Al
ley between, no rock, nor stream, nor habita-
ton of man, is seen, only the endless forest
spread all around; while from beneath us
leap the flashing waters, which go singing and
dancing down the mountain side. until with a
bend of the stream, they are swept from our
sight. Look below. We are among the first
to scale the Steep" and at the foot of the falls
IS most picturesque group some with one
foot on the upward path looking doubtingly
behind at the long and toilsome way, with dim
visions of a cold dinner at the end, and aching
bones tomorrow; others are seated quietly, with
a selfsacri6ced air, which says, plainly enough,
I'VE have seen all that is worth seeing, and
1on't intend to make fools of OURSELVES.
Folks may take that break-neck scramble who
ion't know any better. We shall 20 home
with dry feet, and get our dinner in good time"
So, home they go, some with dry feet, and
'ome-but We will not anticipate.
Leaving half the party at the foot of the first
falls, We push on. Every turn of the stream
brings some new view, and is fresh stimulus
to exertion. All along, our path lies in the bed
ii the stream, sometimes with an easy ascent
over rock as smooth as city pavement, and
again in the middle of the stream, where the
polished boulders, washed by the torrents of
many winters, make good stepping stones. A
steady foot and true eye carries one safely
along this watery pathway, but everybody is
not equally expert. Honorable gentlemen,
whose vocation lies in their brains rather than
| their heels, made picturesque tableaux of them
| selves on that summer day. An ex member of
Congress, who was never known to PROSTATE
himself to anything earthly, and whose back
bone was never even suspected of having a
cartilage, so unbendable is it, had dashed on
with Characteristic enterprise. But one not far
behind was just in time to see our honorable
friend fairly tripped up, and laid across a rock.
with legs and arms flying in all directions, and
making the water fly too. "Oh, don't tell" was
his appeal, as from his lowly bed he saw tina,
his downfall had been witnessed. Further on,
a gallant gentleman steps forward to rescue a
fair lady from some imminent peril of wet feet O,
skirts, but the rock on which she is poised is
LOO narrow for both, and down he slides into
the water, lucky indeed if he does not carr,
II lad,