South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1878-08-02
Scenery and Health in West Va.

We do not know who wrote the fol.
lowing but We do know it is about what
any lover of nature would write in re.
ference to the scenery. and little ex.
perience on horseback among the noun
tains would soon enthuse the inv aid to
an endorsement of the health promoting
speculations of the writer:
a ramble through Europe NAV be
pleasant, but you are only going O long
way to see less attractive objects than
you can find at home. Numbers will
visit the Paris Exposition during The
coming summer. It will prove to be
only an exchange from the cars Of bust.
ness in your own city home to n hustle
among strangers in q larger city. Rest,
health and recreation will not be found.
Do you desire health? The pure OK.
ygen and invigorating waters of our
West Virginia mountains arc worth
more TO restore broken constitution
than all the medicines Of the world. Do.
you seek FOR rest! Then an hours sun
bath in the morning, or ramble
through the woods on bright day will
have more soothing effect on the dis
organized nerves than all the narcotic
drugs that were ever compounded Do
you want To delight the eye with beau.
tiful scenery Why then you find it
right here among our own mountains.
| do not know that l could suggest a
more pleasant Summer excursion than a
ramble through West Virginia.
The European tourist is prone to re.
gard the scenery on the Rhine as the
most beautiful in the world, when in
fact its only superiority over American
scenery is in the historic interest with
which it is invested. 1t is pictured to
the eye by the most picturesque monu-
ments it is the land of Goethe and
Beethoven. where Roman fountains,
Gothic cathedrals ard crumbling cas-
ties are hoary with age and mellowed in
the golden twilight of romance.
But West Virginia cxcels the Rhine
of Switzerland in variety and grandeur
of scenery. Here the scenery Is heaNz
tiful in every detail and harmonious
with the greatest variety of natural fea-
tures-plain, forest, shady glen, cas-.
cade and snow capped, cloud bearing
mountains carry the eye FROM mouth to
source through a wonderful PIANO rama
Certainly the views here are quite suffi.
cient for the most execting. Our roll.
ing hills, towering heavenward, and the
majesty Of our waters make it a region
of remarkable beauty and grandeur
1t is true that our State is lacking in
legends. The few plain figures Of our
border history have not yet lost their
matter Of fact outlines in the mist of
tradition still less have they been re-
vived in the rich, shadowy colors of
romance. We have the materials for
some future writer. more valuable ma
terials than Washington Irving had for
those rare pictures that will always de-
light the lover of man and nature, and
enrich the Hudson with souvenirs az
charming as the birds, the brooks and
groves Of Sunnyside and Sleepy Hollow.
IT. however, superiority is to be grant.
ed to the Rhine or even the Hudson
in legends and antiquities, yet | must
claim superiority for West Virginia in
one particular. 1t is ext-avagantly
furnished with the ruins of taste. The
majority of farm houses in this State
bear testimony TO this fact. For no.
where is the average ruin OF taste so full.
ly embodied rs in our common firm
house. a paradox can be made OF their
age and appearance, for most OF these
ruins are comparatively new. But in
this they resemble all our American in
situations and monuments. Lacking
the mellowness only acquired by age,
they miss the veneration due them
For usually the owner is the only man
who prizes them, probably because the
ruin concerns himself most nearly as an
EXPIRE ssion of his aesthetic culture. In
general terms q house Of this kind usu.
ally resembles huge dry goods case.
painted white and with rectangular holes
for doors and windows. The staring
front Of windows without copings look
like eyes without lashes; it's staring
gable without caves looks like head
without hat or hair a straight strip Of
plaza looks like a standing collar, and
the whole structure is all sidney, hard
and bald headed. The rail fence which
often enCloses Che house is so much bet.
ter than the pickets for then you can
sit on the top with your elbow on your
knees and enjoy the scenery. Still the
charms OF artistic cultivation arc not
needed 10 make more impressive the ell
ements Of Wild and romantic scenery
with which the State abounds. a ram,
bic through the West Virginia noun.
tains is the most pleasant and enter.
tanning excursion you can map ont
KaHaWha Quite.
a TERRIBLE FAMINE ~ Morocco
WAeUTNgTOy Juiy 2G Mr. 4