The Van Buren press., 1871-10-31
The Van Buren, Pisss,
VAN BuRhN. ARKANsAs.
The White Rosk.
EwiNe SEMINARY, Oct. 10.

1
has ever given to the public an account
Of the many interesting features OF this
section of Arkansas. The majority Of
the reading public prefers slmest any
thing to political squabbles, and at atime
when such themes are all-grossing. how
grateful it would be to the reader. to find
in his weekly column or t~o from M
ture.
/ n---,.,-,..,- 49, -s~.snnsy " nsoessss.,
sceaery witt tssst OF ..,s .ises valley, ot
vast and fertile bottoms covered with
their primal growth OF gigantic trees,
drapcd in festoons Of vines that undulate
to every breath Of air wild commin
Cling OF forest, brake, lagoon aud cult
vatcd field, this portion of the State Of
fers to the lover of nature wide extend
cd field OF pleasure. or the very many
interesting objects none is more notable
than that which heads this article--the
White rock.
All who have passed along this valley
must have had their attention attracted
to high and rugged peak Of the Boston
mountain, that throws its hcsi far above
the adjacent elevations This peak on
account of i. altituds and hoary appear
ance was hy The Indians called the
"Fathcr of Mountains. aud BY the
whites is known bv the less poetical APP
pellation of " The White rock. Owing
to the difficulty of reaching it, it is very
rarely visited, except by the hunter, and
this class being generally more intent on
the game these wilds afford than the con-
temptation Of natural scenery, this Prince
of Boston has not received the attention
that his importance demands.
Approaching from the south, the tour
ist finds the dim path that he is follow
ing growing DINNER, and finally fading
away and now his way becomes so i'm
peded by bouldsrs, that it is impossible
to longer keep the saddle, aud so, how
ever reluctantly, he 10 forced to dismount
and make the best Of his way on foot
over the disorderly masses Of Granite, that
have been hurled from the mountain
above. lie now feels that, lot the truth
Of the nphorism about learning be as il
may, there surely is no royal road to the
summit Of White rock After complst.
ing about two thirds Of the ascent, wide
and level escarpment is reached, which
upon the upper surface is as smooth ~ a
floor; this 10 called the "Table Of the
Chief " The vast block that formerly
filled this place seems to have been torn
from its position by some convulsion OF
nature, which strewed its fragments along
the face Of the mountain to its base. In
the rear Of this paleau( p the mountain
rises perpsndicrarly and is inaccessible
however, by taking a circuitous route, a
tolerablc route may be had by which the
summit may be gained, but owing to the
vast quantities Of shattered rock, as we'll
ss the steepness, your way 10 very toll
some Respiration too 10 somewhat diff
ficult owing to the rarity OK the air, and
one 10 constrained to stop frequently for
breath But no one with the top of this
grand old mountain but . few hundred
feet above him, can think Of yielding to
toll, but forgetting the roughnsss and
dangers Of the way, press on until he has
placed his foot on the very brow OF the
Father Of Mountains. What q glo
rious sight now meets hi, eye. lie who
has never stood on the lof,y pinnacle OF
some towering peak that overlooks oil
within sight, can appreciate the feelings
Of one who, inspired by the genius lost
for time, feds himself superior to all
the vast world beneath Looking 10 the
north, he bol,olds chsIn after chain Of
mountains. rising ",srrace abovs ter.
race" until they fade away and are lost
IN the ulstunce, 10 tHe south' VIC ocH"t'-
ful valley Of the Arkansas, with here and
there a spiral column Of smoke marking
the homo Of the planter, and ever and
anon the beautiful Arkansas itself, M II
elides like q silver serpent out OF the
dense forests that grt its banks. As he
drinks in inspiration from this scene, the
tolls Of the ascent are forgotten, and dull
indeed must be the imagination that does
not for time give itself up to nature,
and feel with Byron: "1ti not solitude,
ts but to hold converse with nature and
view her charms unrolled
In comparison with the other peaks OF
this range. this one presents several Pc
culiarities, being destitute Of timber or
other vegetation. and also ofthe sand
stone which ia generally quite abundant
in the others 1t is composed OF Gran
ite, and Judging from its shattered appear
ance has undergone some terrible con,
vulsion. vast yswnng chasms open ap-
parently to its very center, and from the
face Of Table Rock" horizontal rent
extends until it is probable il meets the
perpendicular ones, In which II may in
future suffer considerable diminuton.