Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-03-24
COMMUNICATED.
KNoxv1LLE, TzEE., March q, s.

MEssRs EDToRs:
Threading the lonely valleys, climbing mountain
heights and winding an intricate and difficult way
along unfrequented roads and scarce-trOd paths,
seems 10 be the marked and memorable fate Of every
young genius Of mercantile adoption.
From long collecting tour, unmarked scarcely BY
q single trace Of pleasure, the wOrd-weary and al
most ioyless clerk returns from his Peregrinatons
and persmbulations through the hills and valleys,
not merely home-sick from the dull mOnotOny and
unvarying aspect, which long settled and worn
out country presents; hut he encounters lhe
heightened vissges Of wOe-begOne principals even
in his Imagination he wends his weary footsteps
home, and almost shuddsrs at the thought Of re-
turning, unburdensd With money, TO encounter the
CHASTITY eountenances heightened long by the scar
city Of filthy lucre and the pressure Of hard times
Melancholio indeed we're the feelings Of "yours
respeetfullv." when told the cares Of imperative
business. called hence your humble servant to
winding march O'er a lOng-beaten and beautiless
rack. amid the arid scenes familiar even to child
hood.
Taking the two o'clock evening train for East
Tennessee. the shrin whistle announced, as it rose
over the valley and died amid the distant hills, the
departure a
like whirl wind from the City of Rocks, and all
regrets we're drowned amid the rattle and roar Of
the On-rushing cars.
Hills towering glOomily and grand-valleys deep
shaded and sombre-felds dismantled and wrecked
by the ravages Of remOrseless Winter-hill sides
robed in her mantle Of faded and decayed grass and
lawns even Invested of their carpet Of enlivening
green, passed US in our hurried march " .er hill
and dale"
The clustering winds sighed through the leafess
branches Of dismantled trees which once skirted IN
rich fragrance the irOn-bandage Of the rOad-the
tree-tops waved not their salutatiOns to the gentle
breeze-felds green, rich, and bossomiug, relieved
not the weary eye as it gazed far out upon the view
sunny skies, with not cloud athwart, illumined
not the parched and pillsged felds-birds Wsrbled
not their merry oarol-nor luXuriated the farm
stock upon the uuinviting laWn-blOOmed not along
our Path, bright spring rose or summer flower.
Nay, even in darkness almost vieing with the color
Of night did we, like a giant hghtsOme and light,
speed unsung on our way.
Upthe gentle slOpe-anon adown the curWng hill,
around mountain bases, through tenantess fields,
Ger bridges and through tunnels, amid the CHATTER
Of deafening wheels, we whistled prOudgli-
ding march, passing salute to the merry and ad-
miring eyes which mirrored in the winding track.
whistle and ring Of the bell tell US we are near
our destination, and looking out We see in all the
rich beauty Of countless stars and the many lights
in the distance the mountain bound village ofChat-
tanOOga.
On the left rolls, in all the snhanc ng beauty OF
a quarter moon, the majestic and far famed Tennes-
see Biver-a stream unsurpassed IN gorgeous ana
picturesque scenery-While on the right lifting Its
crest to the eternal skies, stands like giant spec
ire Of the night the hill of hills yolePed Lookout
Mountain"
Struggling upon business released friend IN
Chattanooga, who was exceedingly sOcitOus OF Wis
iting this grand observatory, with feelings Of the
liviest pleasure, as usual, yours was to COM
mand.
Taking horses, we approached the hill, and wind
ing round its devious and mary outlines, approached
almost unaWares the mountain home Of our glorious
eagle.
Even here, when diamond ideas should Sow ele-
CANT and graceful the river to the sea, the pen
stands still-intelect succumbs-fancy falters' and
imagination drOOps in its utter inability to soar
with the grandeur and glory of the scene.
with the fiery genius Of Clements, have all entered
the realm Of the gods and muses. to Pen-paint the
beauty Of this indescribabe scene and yet though,
each, we all admit being possessed Of an exceeding
" feicitous style Of descriptive language, how sig
nally they all fail to impress upon the unseeiug eye
the unspeakable grandeur Of this glorious sight
Warming with the theme, which would have set
the soul even of a stole afoat, my companion went
of into one of the richest bursts Of native eloqucnco
which it was ever mine to hear.
He called upon the muses. in all the refulgence Of
their heaven gifted briiauce, to loan him but one
minutes aid: he invoked the spirit Of Raphael
prayed 10 heaven for colors and dyes-utcred
thousand wishes for Irvings descriptive pen; said
the impaired ideas, the jewelled thoughts, the
fairy dreams all called up from this ecstauc scene,
opened upon his vision such glimpse Of an uu-
thought heaven, that did it vanish instantly, his
heart would burst Of the illusion.
His speech was exceedingly egant unsu.Hcd by
q single stale quotation; for the whole was bril-
liant ebuIHtion Of poetic feeling; fragrant shower
Of elegant conception from the refreshing fountains
OF an exuberant imagination. From the crest OF
this heaven lifted and ol0ud-capped mountain, four
distant States can be seen People inhabit its tow
ering heights, and almost upon the brink there Is
a hotel erected for sojouruers hence in the summer
season. Extensive preparations are being made for
a large crowd next summer. But q short distance
below Mr.. Whitesides hotel, there stands beauti-
ful and UNIQUE structure, built for a summer resi-
dence. bv the distinguished Captain Williams, of
your city. 1t is now for sale,
And now, in closing, the pen feels an ambitious
v-I hat #fh nra NOR
gifted have sigually failed to do.
rgThus to stand and view natures own grand piano.
rama by uudimmed moOulight-tO stand upon the
towering rocks which lift their crests to sublimity
Of height that might be for miles-tO describe
the green and blooming valley, which smiles amid
flowers and OdOrs-
That valley, whose streams dow as sparkling and
bright
Az the stars that descend in the depths Of the night
Whose vioets fling their rich breath IN the arr
Sweet spendJhrifts Of treasure the spring has flung
there
To describe the long ranges Of mountains which
rise one above another until lost in the distance thus
lending enchantmenl to the yiew-to eHpaaate upon
The INDISPENSABLE richness and romantic scenery
which margins theiucomparable Tennessee paint
an idea Of its exquisite beauty it winds its crystal
borders around mountain after mountain appearing
to the eve like silver cord, stretched OBVIOUSLY Tor
long miles avay-tO paint only half correctly the
appearance Of an approaching train Of cars-to
draw portrait Of a steamer just rounding INTO
SIGHT from the most distant point Of the compass
emblematical Of fairy dream floating adown the
stream of time, would be the highest ambition OF
Ever yours, &c,
JAY SwUAzY BEE.
ny Mr.. CETTENDEN, in the Senate Chamber
announced himself a Northern Democrat as the |
~ -.rnonc-a Lura of LLa dow dannes Lhose |