Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1879-07-17

TO exhibit on our return o nice string OF fish.
On this farm nature seems to haye combined IN
GU astonishing degree the useful and tho beauti-
full. Wo here found water power unsurpassed
by any In our county, noted for It's water power.
The stream Is largo and near enough the moun-
tains TO be noyer.failing in its supply. The
shoal is not only high, but nature seems to have
left II ready for uso by providing dam Of solid
rock running dagonally across the stream, just
| where the waters begin their descent, turning
them into narrow channel, ready to be utilized
| by tho hand Of man. The shades Of evening
reminded Us that it wos time 10 abandon these
pleasures and rethfn to those not less attractive
awaiting us at tho hall. After hearty supper
wo spent the evening in variety Of enjoyments,
not the least among which was tho delightful
promenade, aud under tho influence Of suoh
exhleraing circumstances who cah blano as If
tender words were spoken?---
ndeyeslooked love toeyes which spake again."
Eleven O'Clock found us all asleep, for it was
proposed early on tho following morning 10 pay
visit to The Tomassce Falls. BY seven in the
morning We were on our way, win ling through
tho fields. We crossed the river near the centre
Of tho farm, half milo above and just in front
Of the hall. The first point of interest is that
portion Of the farm lying on Tomassee Creek;
which is hidden from view from the hall by tho
intervening hill already mentiohed Here Iii d
beautiful valley, now in high state Of oultiSa-
ton, was fought tho last battle iii upper South
Carolina between the white man and tho Indian.
In tho edgo of this valley stands the old hoitc
of Governor Pickens but tho roof that used 10
shelter one of South Carolina's most Worthy
sons is now in state of decay dhd ruin. Not
thus shall his fame decay for long after tho last
timber Of his childhood's home shall have
| crumbcl into dus, will his name be cherished
with admiration and pride in tho heart of every
truo South Carolinian. Leaving those scenes of
! historic interest, ride of two or three TITLES
! brings Us TO tho foot Of the mountains neat the
mouth of the gorge through which the waters of
Tomasseo Creek find their way into the valley
below: Hero We leave the buggies lind begin
very ols0mc ascent, much Of the titno neat and
often on the margin of tho strcafn crossing il in
many places. The sides of tho path, which IL
would bo impossible to trace without guide,
arc lined with black and whoftleberry bushes,
anu dt tho time Of our visit both these delicious
fruits were just ripe, and some of our party,
particularly the ladies', derived much wholesome
and substantial amusement as we'll as enliycned
tho tediousness of the way by picking and eating
them. The principal feature in the scenery on
the ascent is its extreme widncss and rugged
ness. Just behind is the beautiful valley of
Chcohcc, with its magnificent farms rustling
now with their broad fields Of ,assling corn,
around us tho solitude of nature unbroken save
by the gurgling of the mountain torrent at our
feet or the breeze whispering among The branches
OF the tall chestnuts above our heads and before
us is the mountain path winding upward among
! the rocks md ferns OF an angle which 10 an un-
accustomed eye seems almost 10 defy ascent; but
VIC continue to advance, and finally reaching the
summit Of an cminencc whence tho falls arc
visible, are rewarded for our Toll by q sight
which, for delicate and impressive beauty, is
cquallcd by few others even in this American
Switzerland Tho oear limpid stream comes
pouring down from the heights far above us,
rushing over bouldcrs, roaring through oaverns
anu forming numbers of miniature cnsoades,
foaming as though it would strike the bchodcr
with the idea that It is giant mutering in the
oxuberance of his wrath, yet MI tho timc un-,
nindfnl of the terrible descent it is to make.
Reaching the edge of the prcoipicc it is appalled,
ut the sight, but it is too late 10 draw back and
gliding oil it makes leap of 100 feet sheer
down the face of the cliff, losing all consistency
Ill 'nc ucscchI anu lnlilnS i'll Inc lorm OF dlh-
mond drops and iris hucd spray. After making
several dcscents less notable md less terrible il
finally glides away out of sight under the over
hanging bushes and among the dropping ferns
which liuc its margin like coward who is nnx-
ious 10 escape from scene fraueht with SO
much terror and humiliation. This place is
entirely out Of The route generally pursued by
tourists and almost completely unknown to them.
II is seldom visited BY man and is still buried in
its primitive loneliness With its rugged scenes
ana gigantic rocks scattered about it looks like
an unfinished end Of the universe, II fuel house
OF nature, deckcd in the gorgeous dress Of
dropping ferns md whispering myrtles, which
Chamber along the prccipiccs and hang their
lovely heads dripping with spray from crcyiccs
| in the cyclopeun rocks far above us as though
they were ever repeating their floral Paternostcr.
We hope this beautiful fall may soon become
better known and visited by many from dis
lance. After enjoying the scene for somc time
and partaIing Of luncl! for rclishing which We
were doubly prepared by the latcness Of the
hour and the labor of our walk thither, wo re-
turned to our buggies and were soon on tho way
TO the hospitablc home Of Mr.. Jones. So long
hnd we fingered in admiration of the beautiful
scene that We barely had time, after reaching
the hail. to pnrtakc of q dinner already prepared,
make orr adcus and drive the ton miles TO Wal
halla, before dirk. Before closing we regret to
sny that our tlme was 80 tuken up with outdoor
amuscmcnts, visiting and enjoying tho almost
unlimited sccnery surrounding tho place that VIC
had but little to devote to an examination of
Mr.. Us extensive library We saw enough,
however, 10 justify US in saying that ho has the
most complete collection of standard English
| works wc have ever seen, together with many of
the classic and Spanish authors. Wordy thanks
are so common as to have almost lost their signi-
icancc, and VIC will only add that never in our
! lives have wc moro thoroughly enjoyed q trip
than that which we have here attempted 10 do
scribe. 1t is needless to say thnt TO Mr.. J. and
| family we arc indebted for il all.