Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-09-18
Motes nf Gravel.
... Written for the Yorkvie Enquirer
THE GLAND OF THE SKY.''
A TRIP TO THE MOUNTAINS.

We read of the beauties and delightful
salubriety of the far-famed Adiondacks and
the Catskal- these pleasing sketches of Wild
and romantic scenery-so we'll calculated and
fully intended to induce the reader to con-
clude that this is the land Of whsch the poet
dreamed. To this health-giving region he
must at once fly to breathe rejuvenation and
drink in the pure climate and loveliness OF
the surrounding scenery. AS picture this
is enhancing, and this pe conclude Is but a
fancy picture. In view of this conclusion, we
stepped aboard the Spartanburg and Ashe.
vile Railroad train, bound for Henderson
vile, N. Ca name within itself so very un-
romantic. But what is in name-"a rose
by any other name" etc.
TIE train was crowded with people bound
for different parts of the mountains and towns
along the line of railroad. AS we journeyed,
after leaving the thriving, business town OF
Spartanburg, the fertile and well-tilled fields
of corn and cotton first met our eager gaze.
On we sped over this new and well-built road,
at the rate of twenty-eight or thirty miles per
hour. We strained our eyes in contempla-
tion of the first sight of the mountains. At
last in sight, as we neared the foot Of Tryon,
we could see in the distance its mountain
heights, as they loomed up to the very sky as
it were, to meet and welcome the feathery,
floating clouds. Thus towering far above the
common level, it looks mighty power within
itself, bidding defiance to feeble man and hu.
man skill to ascend or penetrate. Distance
here only lends enchantment to the view
simply creating stronger desire to explore
the heights-more ardent and adventurous
than any other scene could excite e.,
At length we reach Tryon Station, at the
very base of the mountain. We come to a
halt. A few of the passengers get off to stop
while with the afable old Doctor McAboy.
The Doctor was at the depot, Of course, his
face wreathed in smiles, as he talked and as
sisted ladies and children to get out Of the
cars. We regretted that the stop was too
short to admit our hearing the Doctor expa-
tiate upon his favorite theme-the isothermal
belt-the most wonderful phenomenon in ma
ture, a region clothed in perpetual Spring, en-
joying mean temperature unequaled in the
known world, the "Land Of the Sky" in which
he lives, and which he never ceases to praise
in the most glowing terms. The Doctor is
undoubtedly the Sage of the Land Of the
Sky. He occupies the "Mills House," on the
Howard Gap road, leading from spartanburg
to Hendersonville. Doubtless. some of your
readers have many pleasant recollections as
sociated with this old place, and thus recalled,
it will awaken sweet memories of the past,
when they, in company with gay young friends,
travelled in an old numbering stage coach to
Hendersonville and the Warm Springs.
Onward we sped, passing lovely valleys,
wild and romantic views of the mountains
towering far above US, covered with the most
luxuriant growth of the tall, straight pine,
oak, chestnut and black walnut, and many
other trees of beauty and value, the verdure
presenting no dwarfy, scrubby growth, so pc
culiar to most other mountains, North and
West. Its rugged sides are evenly fringed
with the long and graceful feather fern, so
much coveted by the ladies to adorn their
greenhouses. From each mountain gorge
flows rapid, leaping, dancing stream of
crystal waters, the Minehaha's of this most
picturesque of countries. ....--
Onward, upward we climb, having reached
that most remarkable Of grades-rising seven
hundred feet in three miles-in our humble
opinion one of the grandest and most wonder
full undertakings of the age; grand in its
conception-wonderful in its construction.
Again upon level, we reach Saluda, a
lovely little mountain village. Here we have
a most delightful view Of the surrounding
mountain peaks and green valleys. Far up
the sides of the mountains we see dotted
about the neat little cabins and cottages,
which constitute the village, in addition to
the large and commodious hotel, which pre-
sents most inviting appearance with its old
fashioned, long piazza extending the entire
length of the house. From the piazza, a
magnificent view of the surrounding country
is admirably presented. Here, again, few
of the climate seekers disembarked.
While we wait, a native mountain genius,
wearing broad. brim slouch hat and suit
of well-worn jeans, appeared on the scene.
Under his left arm he held an old fiddle,
strung with white cotton strings. With a
broad grin be enquired, "Whar's the corn
ductor? I am wantin' to ride awhile on
this thing. Eff l can't pass by playin' tune
on old Bets, l calkilate I'd better go like
freight; they tell me that's cheaper. Now,
boys, you never hearn no music tell you hear
me. 1 played last night at the frolic over
here at Squire Potts."
We asked him to play one of his most in
spiriting pieces. He commenced to tune his
instrument, which was not Cremona, nor
was the artist Paganini, and extorted from
it a tone, the remotest idea Of which cannot
be conveyed on paper, either by words or the
most violent contortion of the chromatic scale.
Like all performers of bis calibre, he employ
ed much time in tuning, and after winding
up the strings until their feeble vibrations
suited his. ear, he rasped away on the frag-
ment Of breakdown" repeating the same
"strain" several times without variation,
smiling while he progressed, as though he was
highly pleased with his performance, and that
the acme of musical perfection had at last
been attained. The performance forcibly re-
minded his hearers of the fellow in the "Ar-
kansaw Traveller" When the train moved
on, the fiddler took his seat. Major Ander-
son, superintendent of the railroad, took a
seat near the fiddler. The Major was thus
addressed by him: "See here, Cap, want to
ride, and 1 can play you one Of the gone:
byest tunes you ever hearn. Can I 60 on ?"
The Major nodded his assent. Again the
fiddler struck up his favorite tune. Just then
the conductor came along collecting tickets.
The Major motioned to allow the old fellow
to pass. This seemed to arouse the fiddler,
and he determined to get nearer his benefac-
tor. AS he jumped up to change his seat for
this purpose, his black bottle and corn.cob
stopper were thrown from his shallow coat
pocket and shattered on the floor. The old
fellow looked around upon the crowd with the
saddest and most woe-begone expression that
ever dis6pnred a human countenance He