The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1856-08-21
fFor the Carolina spartan.l
The Mountains In Midsummer.
WooDRuFF's, August Z, 1856.

MEssRs. EpIroRs: Perhaps you are wea-
ry OF the click Of scissors, and the rattle Of
papers, and would like to breathe the pure
air of the country awhile. So drop your
quill and join us in a
TRIP TO THE MOUNTAINS
about midsummer, when the mercile.s rays
of an unrelenting sun inpinge with scorch.
ing violence upon the earth-absorbs its
last drop of freshness, and leaves it pulvor.
lied into troublesome dust. Spartanburg
is certainly the dullest place in the world.
All nature loses its last element of vivacity
and the citizens give themselves over to
ennui and lassitude. The best reception
the town can afford is lazy smile, don't.
care ative nod of the head, a half uttered
good morning, and dead mechanical
shake of the hand. But possessing little
OF the samo spirit ourselves, engeudered by
the fatiguing and monotonous labors of the
past year, we hoped change of residence
from the "broad still country" to the lively
operose city, which s. is reported TO
be, would relieve us Of our laziness and
make us blithe again. But being disap.
pointed in this by the prevalence of the
aforementioned epidemic, we determined
to persevere in the pursuit of the versatile
butterfly, Pleasure, which, in its wild wan
derings, winged its airy flight to the laurel
that decks with beauty the brow of the
sublime Blue Ridge Whilst the incidents
OF our first days travel were common place.
and would prove dull and unintercslinr to
the accustomed traveller, yet the novelty of
scene around us-,he mingled melody Of
breeze, birds and brooks (nature's self.tuned
choristers)-the fragrance Of wild flowers
that stood upon the way-side, like glittering
gems IN barren waste, redeeming it from ra-
pulsiveness and lending it charm. were all.
to our -unsophisticated senses, sources of a
sweet enjoyment. Ere these scenes grew
monotonous and wearisome they were re-
lIered by perplexing accident. As we
were vending our way, over siump.cov
cred country road, towards the residence of
a friend, we missed our direction, and found
ourselves IN somebody's plantation. We
knew not what To dove were at the end
of our row. But whilst we were irving TO
unite the Gorlian knot Of our confused sen
ses, kind ".Iicrande,'" came fortunately to
our assistance, and sundered tho mazy en-.
tang!einent, by pilo:ing us through what,
had been, G"t 'O0S not, a road, CO, cred with
fallen trees, and unco guIlies. At length,
however. we emerged from this defaccd and
torsaken track into passablc road We
wished good luck to attend our dusLy guide.
and placed n remuneration ia his hand
which made his eyes glsten more brightly
than did our benediction. We reached the
home ofour friend at last, and whiled few
hours pleasantly away in converse gay and
cheerful around the smiling board Sunse,
found us safely and pleasantly ensconsed in
the commodious boarding. house at Chicks
Springs. This is delightful summer re.
treat. The location is beautiful, wild, ro-
maniic-the water cool, refreshing, health
ful-the landlord accommodating, cheerful.
debonair-the guests gay, ,jocuud, vivacious.
All of which are calculated to diSpel the
dark dl cams Of the melancholy, revive the
dropping spirits ofthe desponding, strength
en- the weak and heal the sick And il the
worthy proprietor would secure little more
diligence and promptness in the servants,
tho most fastidious could find no fault and
Chicks could boast Of being favored in its
locality, blessed in It's landlord, and unique
in everything.
But our fickle golden winged allurer
soon grew weared of this place, and catch
ing the exhilaraling fragrance OF an early
morning breeze, just loosed from its aeoliau
home, ITS wings were seen glittering in the
first beam of waking Aurora, as it flew to
the mountains away. or course we follow.
Ell in lis wake.
y few miles northward gave us a mag
"'"cehl Wow oi those mighty giants OF ma
ture which line the northwest portion OF
South Carolina. The scenery on this road
is beautiful and sublime. As we ascend
each hill, the distant mountain comes
nearer and nearer into full sight, until upon
It's summit base, and apex, clad in purple,
the soul is filed with awe. Then, descend
ing-the broad valley below, covered with
monarch oak and rival ash--humble shrub
and propitious com-serves to let the i'm
aginaiion gently down from the contempla.
ton of tho mighty and stupcndous, to reve
in the fair and beautiful. At length the
point of our destination came within coup
d'eiI sufficiently plain TO be recognised as
that bald old Titan Of The mountains