Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-04-07
Temperance Meander,nr..
NE Editors Of tie Chronicle /.

Did you ever travel? / do not mean
to ask, did you ever afflct yourself
with foreign tour" but in the
mountains and across the valleys of
"your own, you native" TENNESSEE?
And have you Travelled under leaky
heaven, and over muddy road? And
In these delightful wanderings did you
ever get lost? And after many miles
of weary wanderings, did you ever ex-
perience the delicious, bewidering,
astounding sensation that pervades
you like an opium vision, on finding
yourself back at the very spot whence
you started? You never have? Then
"lend me your ears"
1t was on u beautiful February after
noon. The rains had descended, the
floods had come and passed, leaving
the farmer to wade through muddy
deposits and rebuild his fences; the
milers to reconstruct their dams, and
the railroads their bridges - when,
deeming it safe to travel, the writer
hereof might have been seen speeding
his way up the Kentucky" road and
soon thereafter stopping off at PowelPs
Station.
Ascertaining that we were expect
ed, we at once scented the temper-
ance battle from afar, and prepared for
the contest. Night came and the peo-
pie did likewise. Within the halls of
the Peabody School" to an intelli-
gent audience made up largely of Pro-
/ fessors and students, we delivered the
temperance gospel and took names
for "Charter Members"
The next morning arose fair and
frosty. Answering the invitation of
Prof. Perkins to address the school,
we did SO, and politely bowed ourself
out amid the laughter and applause
that followed said speech.
We looked around; the morning
was bright, the train would not be
along until after o'clock-concluded
to walk to Heiskell's Station-bidding
adieu to our kind hostess, we sailed
forth equipped as follows: One very
heavy overcoat, one valice, one UNI
brella, (now useless), one roll of "char-
ters." We took the railroad track,
knowing it passed by Heiskell's Sta
ton. We walked and got warm, we then
proceeded to walk till we sweated-
wished our overcoat was at home. Came
at length to where the mountain and
the Railroad Company had been con-
testing the field for years, each in its
turn victorious. The company had
fortified itself within wooden tunnel,
covered by the heavens, but walled in
by heavy timbers. This stronghold
was garrisoned with a squad of men,
armed with crowbars, broad shovels
and a very muddy "dump-car." The
mountain thus foiled, called to the
heavens for achievements. The
heavens answered with thunder and
! lightning, and floods of water. The
mountains thus reinforced, instituted
a series of Gland slides had succeed
ed in stopping the trains and smashing
some heavy timhers, but at the time of
our visit, the dump-car squad was
again so far victorious as 10 allow
trains to pass, but the signs of the
muddy conflict were everywhere
poised on the slippery crest of trail,
with umbrella aginst the tunnel sides,
we slowly passed through the damp,
mel, aforesaid. Having reached solid
earth, we were astonished to hear
that the distance to Heiskell's Station
was one mile greater than when we
left Powell's Station. But was kindly
informed that by leaving the railroad
and taking path TO the right over
the hills, we could save two miles.
This was not to be despised. So we
took the path-followed implicitly all
directions as we understood them
with the following results We walk
ed on. The hills and wales arose and
fell in long and weary succession.
Time passed. Anticipation arose tip
toe on reaching each hill top, looking
out for the long anticipated Heiskell's
Station. AT length from the wooded
} crest of very yellow hill, the long
looked for burst in thrilling vision
! on our eyes. There, below us in the
! vale wound the railroad track-there
was the depot, and ware house-and
| there the village. We slowly wound
: down the hillside, and coming sud
denly upon some children who were
, by the roadside, we inquired of a l.
year old hopeful, my son, can you
! tell me where Mr.. Oats lives ?" No
but pa is in the house, he can tell. y
Suffice it to say did not inquire of the
gentleman indicated, for on looking
around we discovered that it was Pow
ellis Station we had reached instead o
Heiskell's Station We had returned
to the point of starting! A profound
mystery. We waited for the O'CLOCK
q train. j. f. GOLDMAN.