Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-09-13
our SPECIAL CoRRKsPoNDENCE
AshcyilIc-Its CIimale and HeallhfuI-
mess-Eile East and West-The Scene
ry-The View from ssBeau Catcher
General CiiDgman-Unplea cas- ant
Trutlfs-The Million Springs-COl.
LW Humphrey. &c. &c
WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA, D
September 9Th, 1872.


Dear Journal Much has been written |
and said of the climate of Asheville; it is |
alleged by its admirers to be more salubri- |
Gus than any other portion of the Atlantic
States. Some enthusiastic letter-writers
claim that it can scarcely be eXcelled for
its equable temperature that the atmOs- |
phere is pure and dry beyond most other
places, peculiarly adapted to persons of
weak lungs, evaporation being so great, as
they say, that small streams dry up in their
course, leaving the impression that one
must be expert in his additions, or the
water in his wash basin will vanish in the
clouds Indeed, those panegyrists would
almost lead us to believe that sickness and
death gave Asheville the go-by.
In this paper [ will give you the impress
sions made upon me during the tel days
OF my sojourn there, every morning OF
which, without exception, was ushered in
by heavy fog, which lifted and cleared
away about seven O'Clock. Yet, the walls
of my room never gave the slightest trace
of moisture, whereas, with the same fog at
my residence in the East, the inside walls
of my house would be coated with thick,
unhealthy, damp emulation. l can well
believe, therefore, that the place is favor
able to persons of a pulmonary tendency
indeed, the evidence Of this is too strong
to be doubted. The climate of Asheville
is certainly salubriOus, beyond any other
place l have visited outside Of the mouI
tain region, but sickness seeks every local
ity, and death is monarch of us all. l have
even heard learned and eminent physicians
venture the opinion that the ratio of Ion
gevitY is as favorable in the East with its
sWamps, as in the West with it's noun
tains, for while the former suffers from the
malaria which generates chils is, in great
measure, free from several diseases which
often prove the scOurge Of highly elevated
sections.
Nevertheless, those who wish to enjoy
life while they may-WhO act upon the
principle ''dlup UiUinuS viUdnnas," will find
a Summer residence in the mountains in
comparably more pleasant than one on the
plains. AT Asheville they will exchange
the extreme heat Of the East for a range
of the thermometer rarely, if ever, exceed
ing eighty; they will escape the sitting
night air, the blood thirsty mosquitoes, and
may WOO the god of sleep, even in mid
Summer, in pleasant atmosphere not ex-
cceding seventy Fahrenheit, and, as the sea-
son advances to September, will find blan-
kets not only endurable, but necessary to
comfort they will besides, be free from
that lassitudc, the foe, alike of mental and
physical energy, which so often makes eX
iStence in the eastern portion Of the State
a burden during the heated term.
The situation Of Ashevile is in the high
est degree beautiful and picturesque, and,
whilst it has produced men gifted with fine
has not given to us a single poet, or even
toEerable versifer. One would scarcely
suppose that generations could exist and
pass away i'll the midst Of those eternal
mountains, without one among them ever
having felt the influence of the {" divine Gf.
.tatus." Even young Miss, in my party
of only thirteen Summers, thus writes of
scene near the town.
Asheville is surrounded by mountains
on every side, and the situation is the
most magnificent | have ever seen. L will
describe view obtained from the summit
of Bean Catcher which is about a mile
and half from our hotel. None of our
party were venturous enough i'll walking,
to attempt the ascent, save and
myself. 50 we climbed up WearSomely
until we reached the top, when, throwing
ourselves on the ruins of an old fort, we
were prepared to enjoy the beautiful pic
ture spread out before us. Beneath us lay
the town with its bright brick stores, and
its white and brown private residences,
here and there slopes of green, beyond hills
covered with groves OF pine and oak, and
away in the distance the mountains lowered
pride, to kiss the skies. AT the time of
our review, the Sun was bidding goodbye
to Earth, like all that is beautiful in life,
looking most lovely as it faded away. In
the East the sky was bright blue towards
the West was a food Of golden, gray and
rose colored clouds. The broad glare of day
had softened downright and darkness
had joined, and seemed to have united to
make the scene grand and magnificent
beyond description.
81 have always thought l would like to
be buried at sunset. The funeral of
Earth's departeI ones seems 50 appropriate
just as the sun retires, as the Ancients said,
to rest i'll the dark depths of the Ocean,
for they, too, retire from 1leeting world
to the Ocean of Eternity"
l would gladly pursue the theme sug
gested by the above extract, which l have
given literally, but space fOrbids. l will
merely explain that "Beau Catcher" takes
its name from the execution there done
upon the hearts, with malice afcrethought,
by the Asheville bellies. | refer the curious,
on all the foregoing matters, to the Ashe-
vile Citizen of January 4th, 1872, which
is wholly taken up with dissertations
thereon, chi fly from the pen Of Gen.
CIingman, to whom we are all greatly in
debted for the zeal, knowledge and ability
he has manifested in making known the ad-
vantages of this section of the State. Let
me suggest to Gen. Clingman the propriety
of preparing his essays on This subject for
publication in pamphlet form, and let the
State bear the expense in the interests Of
immigration.
Having thus borne cheerful testimony
to all the advantages of this favored sec
ton, rust that may be pardoned a few
unpalatable truths, which canno: withhold,
in Justice to the travelling DIblic. Or even
to the citizens Of Asheville. CandOr COM
pels me to declare that, in my opinion,
there is not Summer resort in America
where sc little provision has been made for
the comfort and entertainment Of guests.
DIR. w. A. b. NOrcOm, of EdentOn, ply 81
clan Of distinguished ability, who would
stand high with the faculty of New York
or Philadelphia, attributes the diarrhpa to
which most strangers at Asheville are at
first subject, and which follows some of
them persistently, as much to a want of
proper regimen as to sudden change of
water, location, &c. During my stay it
was estimated that there were four hun
dred strangers in the place, drawn together
by the health-giving climate, and yet were
all the best points Of all the hotels united
in one hotel, that one would scarcely be
second class. So far as / could learn,
there was not a band of music, a ten pin
alley, billiard table, or hot or cold BATH
except such of the latter as might be eX-
temporiZed in rooms, to be found in the
town. 1t may be, indeed, that the evapora-
ton is so great as to interfere with the
successful institution Of baths, but would
suggest the propriety of trying the expert
ment. To its credit be it said, there are
no drinking saloons in Ashevile. / have
heard it intmated, nevertheless, that a
cfyyT al