Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-03-18
COMM MIC 10 N s.
LETTER FROM THE MOUNTAINS.

PIcKRNs DISTRICT, March 4th, 1884,
Mr.. EDITOR Il have often thought that no
man can be happy, who scons to cultivate taste
for the beautiful Mankind have capacity, and
consequently desire for something better than
this poor world can afford Man is a compound OF
the material and the spiritual How then can Peo-
pie give themselves up SO entirely to the useful, as
to exclude tile ideal, without breaking the harmony
of nature! He, who cmbclishes Home, and makes
it seem second Paradise not only contributes to
the enjoyment and happiness of the inmates, but
does great deal towards counteracting the sub
tie Vaccinations of the Evil one. Those who are
happy at Home, hardly ever plunge into the mael-
Strom of dissipation. All of the most lovable vir-
tues sprinp from the domestic hearth. Some no.
ton or theory like this must have actuated the
founders Of Walhalla am inclined to think so
because this hourishing and handsome Town,
which has sprung up as If by enchantment in the
very shadow of the mountains, is built upon site
of striking beauty, and its name is but another
term (in German Of course) for Happy Home
Having paid visit to walhalla. not long since, l
was both astonished and delighted at what saw.
The improvements, about this German settlement
are on much more munifcent scale than eSpec-
ted to see broad street. one mile in length has
been pretty nearly lined with houses on both sides
In almost every gap, or unimproved lot, saw eth
er quantities of lumber, or the frame Of some new
building. The Stare and Stripes may be seen
waving over every house. which Is yet in course Of
construction. This ,is&ah to be in honor of the
"hcad workman" There are already nine stores,
and three Hotel, in this place. Some OF the edi-
fees are really handsome and commodious.
think those Germans have shown not little taste
in painting their houses. A neutral tint P7erails.
One Hotel in particular, with its dove-coored walls,
it, double piazza presenting columns and balus'
trade of milky whiteness, looks pretty enough to
satisfy even the practced eye; and it looks nice
enough, if l may DO allowed the e1pression-to
give any man good appetite This is the Ameri-
can Hotel; so called, perhaps, because mine
hos" is q malice american. Most OF the stores
are ornamented in front with fancy work, and
showy signs, which have the effect of making the
| place look city-like. Amo"g other novelties,
| noticed the " Lion Tavern" and the " Cluck Auf
Tavern" these are places where the hardy NOUN
tainecrs can get wee BIT Of the overjoyful"
Than Wahalla, know of few places, which COM
maud more varied and magnificent view OF the
mountains The Stump House Mountain and its
contiguous spurs arc only four or five miles distant
whilst beyond these, and much higher, the Chin
new Top and the White Side, two noted peaks over
in Cashiers Valley, are to be seen looming up in
solitary grandeur Gentleman of intelligence
assured me- that tie nights here are delightfully."-
cool during the hottest part Of the summer Not
few native Americans have scttlcdIn alfalfa i
Doctor aud Lawyer have recently left Plckens
Court House for this place. In addition to This,
large numbers of German cmigrants are annually
arriving at this Happy Home" On dtt' that a
new paper" the Pickens Banner" is soon to be
started at this place Tunnel Hill alias St. mp
House Mountain, being in the vicinity of "allal-
Ia. as matter of course, my exploration was e1.
tended to that far-famed barrier in the Blue Ridge
Rail Road Several elegant buildings have been
put ND recently along the road between Wallialla
and "the HILL" Next to the base Of the noun.
tain. there is a residence on the cottage order,
which in conjunction with the fine scehery, is
unique" beautiful exceedingly such one as
compels the admiration Of the tourist. Tunne
Hill is quite Town in point of population and
noise The blasting is going on at six different
ponts on the Hill, and when one sees the embank-
nlents on the brow of the mountain, and hears the
big guns (the blastsr booming away on every side,
he can easily imagine himself in some place be-
siesed BY all enemy. The houses in this Berg are
not remarkable for their architectural beauty, but
they serve temporary purpose. 1t is said that if
the rail road were abandoned finished in less than
three months afterwards, the place would be en-
tirely deserted. On entering the Tunnel at the
Eastern portal, was ushered into scene not
soon to be forgotten. The darkness, the stencil OF
"villainous saltpere," the sharp ringing sound OF
drills struck by the ponderous Sledge, the haf-de
fined shapes of men gliding to and fro with lamps
shorn of their beams by the sulphurons Vapors-
all these were suggestive Of place no less dread
full than old Vulcans work -shorp! 1saquana falls
are but short distance from the Eastern end OF
the Tunnel. Here the tiny strcamlet filings itself
down an almost perpendicular slope to the depth OF
one hundred aud fifty feet Directly after this
comes george, deep, dark aud abrupt, through
which the dashing waters make their way down in
to the vale at the foot of the mountain.
Connected with this cascade there is legend,
the recital of which may not prove uninteresting
to the renders of the Advertiser. "Once upon
time" two hostile tribes of Indians met in mortal
fray. After the battle had been lost and won"
the grim victors made the welkin ring with their
shouts Of e1ultation when they found that lsa'
qucna, tho cheftain's daughter" and the sweet
est flower IF the forest-wss among the number 81
their csptiYes At night, however, the lovely