The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-01-15

| Ridge RanrOu6-ttaIerF FOWeT3 csc.
WALHALLA, January 5, 18c9.-Walhalla, in
the mythology of the ancient Germans, bore
/ sienification somewhat akin to the Olympus OF
the Greeks, the abode of gods and heroes,
though believe it had reference more especi-
ally to the latter. Tho great and good OF this
mundane sphere after death met again to dwell
forever in Wahalla. 1t is well known that
King Louis of Bavaria, the greatest patron OF
art of This century, erected about twenty OF
twenty-five years ago, in the vicinity OF Rats
bon, a temple specially dedicated to the Ger
man muse. Here the poets, painters, warriors,
statesmen, in short, those distinguished in
every path of art, science, literature, as well
those who have shed lustre on Germany by
their achievement in arms, in the forum, or
wheresoever else, all have monuments erected
in this great mausoleum, with suitable nscrip-
tions, the latter by the king himse If; and this
temple is called ''WalhaLa."
So much for precedent. But our Walhalla,
the new town on the Blue Ridge Railroad,
though unquestionatly very nice place, fast
and thriving place, is not like its namesako,
the abode of gods or heroes. 1t is peopled by
mere men, made of flesh and blood, fashioned
in body and spirit much like you and me-of the
earth earthly; and it is just as well that it is so
am no great believer in your heather divini-
ties. One live man, with good brawny arms
and Just little common sense, is worth dozen
of your Herculeses; and as to women, I d1n't
,,l;o Iho To11l attfo a
would stand the ghost of chance BY the side
OF our Walhala girls.
Walhalla, formerly in Pickens District, now
the county seat of Oconee, was founded about
1850 by the German Colonization Society, af-
forwards Incorporated (1s53) as the German
Settlement society-C. F. Seeba, ]. A. Wagon
er, Jacob Schroeder, John M. Hencken and
Claus Bullwinkel, trustees. The tract, of which
tie tcvn forms the centre, thirty thousand
acres of land, was purchased of Colonel Jo-
seph Gresham, for about $4,000. West Union,
about two miles from Walhalla, near the rail-
road depot, is an old settlement, but the pres
ent site of Walhana was then perfect wilder
ness. 1t was the intention, 1 believe, of the
founders Of this settlement that it should be
composed of Germans only, and at first there
were no others; afterwards, however, Ameri-
cans from this and adjoining States settled
there. The population is estimated at from
five hundred to eight hundred, one half Of
whom are Germans. A negro is o rare bird
here; there are probably not over five or six
belonging to this town.
,JoI
little cotton-too near the mountains. About
fifty bales have found their way here 'his sea-
son. There is great deal OF BART here.
Everybody who comes here brings something
he or she wishes to exchange for something
else provided by the shopkeeper. The chief
articles brought here, and either sold or ex-
changed, are corn, peas, apples, bacon, pota-
toes, onions, rye, wheat, -four, butter, eggs,
fowl, live stock, whiskey, venison, herbs and
roots.
As this is the present terminus Of the Blue
Ridge Railroad, Walhalla draws a very large
adjoining States-North Carolina, Georgia and
Tennessee-and wagons may be seen every DAY
in the streets Of this town from these various
points. Many Of the conveyances are OF a very
humble character, drawn, it may be, by mule
and steer,or only by single cow. Ox-teams
are very numerous about here. The merchants
here do not sell much fine goods. Cotton
yarns, jeans, homespuns, calicoes for Sunday
wear, together with groceries and hardware,
are the chief articles in demand. Articles OF
luxury are less in request than nearer the sea-
shore; hence, perhaps, the greater share of
health and vigor enjoyed by these mountain
eers. There is, however, q very thriving trade,
and, must say, the merchants are fully alive
to it, for there are said to be no less than forty
of them here now, one-fourth of whom COM
menced business this fall. The principal part
of the business is, of course, confined to few,
though all get o share it.
The town is about two miles long and one
mile wide; but the houses, except in the Gen.
tral part, very much scattered. Most OF tho
stores and dwellings, are OF q very modest, uu-
pretending character, plain 10 inelcgance, and
do not look very comfortable. However, in
this respect they mey belle their looks. The
original German settlers have impressed
their character and their pcculiarties on the
place, and industry, thrift, frugality and con-
tent arc pictured on every countenance, on
every house, on the streets, on the town, on
the very pigs that root and grunt contentedly
in the streets CT this modern Teutonic settle
ment.
They who would see Walhalla right should
come here in summer, and not, as did, in
midwlnter; and was pleased to learn that
seekers after health and pleasure came hither
from the lower and middle parts of the State
in considerable numbers last summer, and
went away much pleased with what they had
seen and what they had to pay. In time /
have no doubt Walhalla will be the great cum
mer resort for those of us in Charleston and
surrounding country who can raise the wind to
watt us 10 that more pleasant summer climate.
In point of health, there is in all South Caro-
lima no spot to compare with Walhalla. Chills
and fever are never heard of, and if it we're not
for the raYages OF time, do not think they
would need graveyard. As it is, there is
only one apothecary. and perhaps ono or two
practiciug physicians for the town and the
country around; and if I may credit what
was told, these professional gentlemen ere not
making fortunes.
The scenery, even viewed fiom Main-street
in WalhalIa, is very fine. Mountains nearly
all around YOU, ridges upon ridges, and peaks