Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-01-11
For the Spectator.

Mcssys. Editors: 'Tis strange that the tour
ist in quest ofthe picturesque in Virginia, should
not have described the pass through the Blue
Ridge. at Tye Rivor Gap It ought to grace
one of the pages Of Beycr'3 Album. Twas my
good fortune on the 9Th inst, to cross from Mid
way, in this county, TO Masse' Mills, in Nelson
county. Although pelted by cold storm of rain
and sleet most of the way, yet was compensated
for any. discomfort, in the diversified beauties
of the ride. Midway Greek, within a few hun
dred yards of the village, forms series of beau
tiful cascades, before its union with South River
of Rockbridge The dark green arbor vitol and
cedar and spruce, give romantic charm 20 the
babbling stream. As you commence the ascent
of the Blue Ridge from the South River, the WIS.,
ia that opens to your eye in looking West, is q
magnificent one and worthy of any pencil
With al that there is to please the eye in your
progress to the top, It's the grand scanA present
ed of varied beauty in the Eastern descent of
the Mountain. AS the nists shifted from the
various high points on either hand and present.
cd them in their native grandeur of rugged AL
pine steepness, or settling down in the wales be-
low YOU, no stretch Of imagination was requisite
to picture the striking scenery Of Switzerland
with its mountains, lakes, and rivers. The Tye
River soon makes you acquainted with its pres
once, as it dashes, deep down below you with
a roaring. kissing sound, in O descent of from
three to four hundred feet to the mile. But the
5ea,.ty of the scene is the Three Cascades of
The Grab Tree" which, when your eyefrst rests
upon it, away up, up, up the mountain side to
your right, strikes you as streaE of snoD ex-
tendng from the summit Of the mountain to its
connection with the river. l stopped my horse
tor several moments to drink in the beauty Of
the scene, and it required strong effort of the
will to convince the sense of sight that it was
water lashed into foam, and not snow on which
the eve gazed The mountain almost perpendio-
ular, is very tell, and the "Crab Tree" rising q
few Yards from its summit, has most uncererno
nious introduction 10 the "Tye," by descent OF
over three thousand feet, the three Cascades a.
lone, making distance of toeenty seosn hundred
fset Several rude bridges are thrown across
some of the narrow gorges of the stream, where
the traveller with an eye for the picturesque
can admire it with iInpunity. Not so, lower
down, whero the river widens, By the addition
of the Eastern Fork, and as impetuous as ever
endangers not only the diluting your romance
but the conversion of your self and horse, By 6
speedy process, into convenient food for fishes
After an undue indulgence in the absorption o
aqueous properties by six hours ride in STEADY
rain-to say nothing of the imminent risk of di
vers duckings in the now rapidly swelling "Tye,
your traveller, sufficiently cool, as you nigh
suppose, enjoyed with zest, scene he was pres
emily destined to witness-after weary ride
of near thirty miles, through mud and owe
boulders and carrying an umbrella, he approached
within few miles of the foot of the mountain
On reaching an abrupt turn in the road som'
twelve miles below the top, he encountered
large carryall, containing in the front part
large trunk, aBd in the rear part there lately hat
been seated three large men, but who were nov
all disposed Of after this manner, to witt on
holding by the bride bit of horse, weighin,
perhaps GOO pounds, harnessed to the carryal
aforesaid, q second with shilalah, belaborin
the poor brute, and the third pushing at tn
wheel, when the horse would come to q halt
which was every ten or twelve yards. The first
broad heavy Sc. Phi!istine, as q salutetio
when Irode up, enqured Stranger, does you
horse wogk1" l replied ho did. Gan l hir
HIM Of you to pull as to the top of the noun
tain 2" Twas cool, was il not'
SiLyEe CoiNAaE.-Some immediate action