The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-10-26

expended In admiration OF these features OF the
IN shd ths further SIDE tide 70 my LETT Is stood
Upon the bridge, some little distance from
the water nearest the bridge. one Of those
velvety, verdant hills already described pre-
sented an extended front. Although Of grace
pronounced rs to excite my wonder Of Its be-
Ing at all susceptible Of cultivation.
1t was difficult to. comprehend how
horse and pillow could be driven across .es
ground became vt more bold and. preolpi-
tous; higher hills approaching the river. I'M
I'll their bases were laved by the current as
1t ran. Then, from the waters edge, they
rose high and steep, arriving almost to the
grandeur and dignity Of mountains. Upon
the other side the river bank presented no
striking features, and | therefore completed
the crossing OF the bridge to the wilder shore
and followed the flashing current. For some
short distance the road lay along the bank,
under the brow OF tho hills, which last, MS
they grew wilder, pressed more closely upon
the water, until at last the road was forced
away and struck Into the country. At the
turning of the road lay q sew,mill of limited
capacity, around which lay high and scat
tered, large piles OF lumber, effeetunlly bar
ring further progress along the base OF the
hills. A short distance up the road, however.
av p@h he Tnn 9 which f bR H%ss oS sa bsa
came difficult and precarious. Only by the
greatest caution and by Leading could the
horse be brought along; An attempt at rid
th s entre nnty Of leolhardIneas Hitchne
the horse occasionally. / climbed the precipi
tous slope which hung above, whose steep
front made stubborn resistance and rendered
various spots, however, upon tho height or
lower toward the waters margin. through
the underground and foliage, came delightful
Rlimpses Of the river, with her bright waters
LIN places placid though swift, In others
rough and even turbid.
Thus for more than an hour, the journey
was slowly continued, the path growing more
and more difficult, until 1t became impossible
To tho horse. Not far beyond the hills, again
receding, gave space for q cultivated field,
very small, and protected by worm fence.
which precluded all further progress Neees-
sarily my footsteps were retraced, each diin-
cult passage again overcome, and The public
road regained. 1t was not long thereafter
until stood once more within the halls OF
Swannanoa, through which sounded sweet
strains OF music to the measure OF which
busy feet In the dancing hell were keeping
times ] learned that q dancing academy was
regular intervals through the day and even
Ing there were assemblages OF dancers, the
tWinklinRs OF whose busy feet almost We'd In
rapidity with the sweeping wings OF old
Father Time.
The next expedition engaging my time
was to the Beaver Springs, about five miles
from Asheville. To the French Broad, and
across the bridge, the road was the same as
that trayerBet III the morning. Beyond the
bridge, however, the present road lay to the
left, parting company with tho river. and
leaving behind all opportunities for enehant-
ing Rlimpses OF Its charming bosom. Nothing
Of an important character enlivened the ride
until the springs were reached. There, o
gate lay to the right OF the road, upon which
q sign board notified the public that through
| 1t the way lay to the springs, and that
visitors We're required each to pay 70 the
keeper ten cents FOR the privilege Of visiting
there. Within this enclosure, many years
SINCE WAS located a connections hotel, the
property of one William Henry, which, In Its
day. enjoyed considerable popularity and
patronage 1t was, just previous TO the war,
named Perry, under whose management 1t
did not seem to succeed. About the time for
the lease to expire the building and Its con-
tents were destroyed by fire, and there were
having been the author Of the contlagration.
The object assigned by these parties for the
deed was the concealment OF q wholesale
spoliation of the premises, and the theft OF
the most valuable furniture. The truth or
been submitted to judicial investigation,
must remain forever O matter OF doubt.
| The springs are two In number, one OK
white and the other OF black sulphur. The
only one Of the two which WAS being cared
for is the white, its guardian being one
legged Individual, doubtless a relic OF the late
war. Taking this view OF the matter, the
dime paid him was not regretted, but, on the
contrary, found cause to rejoice in the fact
that a manned patriot thus found means Of
subsistence. The springs were both strongly
impregnated with the taste and odor peculiar
to sulphur waters The darker color OF the
one was owing to the presence OF iron, 1T be-
Ing chalybeate as well as sulphurous. Drink
ing the water and lettering around, an hour
was passed most hgreeably, especially as
there were opportunities OF observing sev..
eral younger couples, OF various degrees OF
| manliness and beauty, making love more or
less violent, or otherwise amusing them
selves at the spring or under the trees In It's
environs.
The earlier half OF next day was devoted to a
ride up "Beaucatcher." The origin OF this pecu-
liar name was unable to trace, but Its applica-
tlon is to mountain OF rather moderate pre-
tensions, overlooking Asheville, to one OF Its
sides. The ascent by the road was not dill
cult, and 30 the journey was an easy one
from base to summit. On either hand the
road was lined with countless bushes of the
dwarf chestnut or chincap1n. The morning
was cool and pleasant, the atmosphere brac-
ing and invigoratlng. 1t was one OF those
occasions when. many advantages consplr,-
ing, existence itself is q joy. TIE brisk
mountain breeze, delightful and refreshing,
filled me with all the frollcsomeness OF youth.
Having heavy hickory stick, the myriad OF
chincapins hanging to the right and lett
UeIDpLea Ulb VI Sld5ll tueul dS phooco, piHS-
} ticing the various cuts Of the sabre exercise
My steed was frolicsome as well, and being
myself In the mood, he was humored to The
fullest extent. Many and desperate were the
charges we made upon the unoffandine
bushes to the destruction Of tnnumerable OF
} their spring fruit dare say these charges
would not have been half so numerous OF
brilliant had the objects confronting US beer
armed and sturdy troopers ready to return cut
and thrust, perhaps with interest.
/ On the summit OF the mountain Is located al
old earthwork OF limited dimensions, sufi
t Client for not more than two guns, or perhaps
three at pinch. This slight fertilization
{ constituted one OF the defenses Of Ashevill'
| during the late war. The position command
r ed we'll the town itself and the roads LEADING
r thereto, with stretches Of the one up which
]. sition In front OF the battery the face Of TIN
) mountain was too steep to be swept by tn
q hut this cha ntalistin rnnderpd 1t