Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-06-14
. "a - 00.I0IH1Il.- D -
NO. XXVL.
E17. the Spectator,
n TOT US OPectUtOT.
Elliot,s Knob and Trip Thither.

ElliOt's Knob and q Trip Thlther.
Messs. Spectator: :-On Saturday, the 2lst
Inst, q party of gentlemen and ladies made an
excursion to this, the highest mountain in this
part Of Virginia, If not the most elevated in the
State And as no "cheip' from your office was
along "takin notes" with premeditated design
of ''printin 'em," propose, with yonr permis..
sion, brief notice of the trip in the columns OF
| the Spectator; less, however, with the intention
of reminding the citizens of this county that
there is within its borders 8 mountain peak, OF
| by no means difficult access, commanding
prospect, which for extent, beauty, variety and
tpicturesqueness of landscape, is unsurpassed by
any, and equalled by but few in our widely ex-
tended country. oIi'D 80
The early morning of Saturday, you will per.
| haps remember, was OF character somewhat
resembling the one on which "Mother Goose"
met the s'old man all clothed in leather" and
which in her ''melodies" is beautifully described
as }ls, ~tt i Fe r -
misty mOisty morning when cloudy was the wealth
er." v-
But the rising sun soon dissipated the clouds and
mists, and as the fog rolled in graceful wreaths
up the leafy sides of the mountain, bright and
beautiful day was revealed.
| The party, consequently, assembled IN hne
census being taken were found to number "for-
ty. save one;" about one-third being of the
agentler sex" as the "ords of creation" are some-
times pleased gallantly, to designate their moth
ers, wives, sisters and sweet-hearts.
The ascent of the mountain is commenced at
what is called on the Central Railroad the "sum.
init cut" but what in the parlancs of the neigh
borhood used to be known as the "turn OF
the waters" it being the ridge dividing the wa.
ters flowing into the James, from those that fall
into the Shenandoah river.
As the ladies were mounted on their horses
and defiled through the bushes was quite Hat
tered at hearing gallant friend, who although {
he has not been able to prevent "old time" from
sprinkling few gray hairs among his sunny
locks, has yet been completely successful in pre-
venting him from cooling his enthusiasm, chilli
ing his feelings or lessening his admiration for
the beautiful, declare, in kind of soliloquy, that
old Spencer was right when he sung,
"But chiefly skill to ride seem science
Proper to gentle blood" f,s t
The recollection that this sentiment was not o.
riginally applied to our sex in no degree lessen
ed the value of the compliment, in my estima-
ton. 49,,
In ascending the mountain nothing occurred
worthy of being chronicled, our party being
more fortunate than the one last summer, OF
which you were ''magna pars," Tom who has
been to College, says that latin is for actinga
prominent part in any undertaking,) as we en-
countered no s'copper.hea or ratte-snakes" as
fierce and bloodthirsty as the "Dragon of Want q
ly." Whether these hereditary foes Of the hu-
man family werc restrained from making their
appearance by wholesome prudence engender-
ed by the severe lesson taught to their fellows
t~x,k 81, pf and win
of ssempty shot guns, loaded revolvers and iron
shod boots" or because the season had not be-
come warm and genial enough for these serpent
inine mountaineers, am not learned enough to
determine. L.l tff
When we reached "the spring." which is up
on plain or steppe of several acres in extent,
and bubbles up cool, clear and sparkling foun-
tain, we dismounted for the purpose OF allaying
our thirst and refreshing our spirits with
draught of its sweet waters.
In a brief space of time, therefore, every lady
of the party was in possession OF handsome
boouet, composed of beautiful wild flowers that
had sprung up under the genial influences OF
spring even upon
"That windy summit wild and high"
And which until this moment bad seemed des-
tined to "blush unseen"
nAnd waste their sweetness on the desert all"
If had been, while under the care and tut.
ton of Mr.. - at --- Seminary, more
diligent student of Mrs. Lincoln's Botany,
might now be able to worry your composltor,
perhaps even provoke him into the utterance OF
some naughty expression, by bestowing upon
these beautiful little flowers we took so much
pleasure in cullng, some learned and high sound.
| ing names that would set at defiance alike the
powers of speech and of type.
But as an old proverb teaches US that rose
would smell as sweet by any other name" pre-
sumo these modest denizens of Flora's kingdom
will flourish and bloom, wither and die, ali the
same as if l had been able 20 describe their
beauty in the choicest language OF science:
The grave question now arose as TO whether
the ascent to the summit, or lunch, shoald have
precedence The gentlemen however, soon de-
termined in favor of the former; conclusion
arrived at doubtless under the influence OF the
thrifty maxim of ''business before pleasure"
AS it was vet several hundred yards to the
summit most of the party remounted and rode
up the mountain in "winding bout" not of
"iiuked sweetness" it is true but through mazes
running" over with luxu-iant growth OF black
lack and whorlle-berry bushes, until ledge OF
sharp and rugged rock was encountered forming
barrier that could not be scaled on horseback,
by riders even OF gentle blood"
A steep and rough, but short walk then
brought us to the summit and as the ladies OF
the party, reaching the top of fiat rock, with
ouickened respiration and high.toned color paus-
ed TO catch at one and the same time their
breath and glimpse of the landscape, my gal
liant friend was again ready with compliment
TO us from his favourte poet, declaring that the
exercise but served to bring out the "vermel
redn and make our cheeks look
Like roses in bed of lilies she'd"
The grand and magnificent prospect from the
Summit will not undertake to describe. 1t in
cludes on the east the entire valley, the view in
that direction being bounded by the Blue Ridge.
North YOU can see far into the counties of Rock
inpbam and Shenandoah and on the South the
House and Jump Mountains with many others
in Rockbridge, are distinctly visible; and on the
West Just at your feet, and apparently so near
you almost teel as if you could leap into 1t, Is
the lovely valley of the "Calf Pasture; )" and then
in the same direction mountain after mountain
meets the eye in endless succession. AsI gazed
eagerly around thought of the beautiful lines of
great English poet
"Straight mine eye hath caught new pleasures,
Whilst the landscape round 1t measures;
Russell lawns and fallows gray,
Where nibbng focks do stray,
Mountains, on whose barren breast
| The lab'ripQ clouds do often rest
| Meadows trim with daisies pied,
Shallow brooks and rivers wice"
Since this excursion learn that the inteli-
gent and enterprising proprietor of Buffalo Gap
oontempates improving the path to Elliott's
Knob by cutting out the bushes and removing
the loose stone that now so much interfere with
the pleasure of the ascent. For this good work
he will merit, as he will doubtless have, the
gratitude of all the lovers of the beautiful and