Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-06-21
FOR THE EVENING STAR,
FOUNTAIN SCENERY IN VIRGINIA
"Kanswha's crags their giant shadows throw,
I'M oaplo.S athwarf fhe annaetsa

And eagle sal H athWsrt tie e1 sunsets sio4!
A vast tract OF territory in our neighborlng
state OF Virginia is stu, as 1t were terra incog-
ita, which has been long awaiting discovery
by tourists and artists. This almost unex-
plored region is in the southwestern porti of
the state, where the two great mountain
ranges, the Blue Ridge and the Aleghantes
which form the valley or Virginia, meet aud
assume very wild and rugged character The
western table lands OF North Carolina tray-
erses this tract for more than a hundred miles
now roaring and foaming as it breaks through
one grandly towering mountain chain after
another, now quiet and gentle as it glides alony
over broad bed, TIL it passes by the Hawks
Nest" precipitous cliff more than 1,O03 fee,
takes the name OF Kanawha. How little ia as
yet known OF this entire region with its caves,
natural tunnels ana eataracts. appears from the
gomery county were not discovered until the
summer of 1869. These falls are formed by a
mountain stream which plunges headlong over
the rocks some 1000 rect.
vIRGINIA's ONLY LAKE.
1t Is In these parts, moreover, which so abound
with landscape beauty and strange natural
formations, that we find suspended amid the
clouds VirginiaS only lake, generally called
s.Salt Pond by the people Of the surrounding
country. 1t lies on plateau near the crest Of
.. Bald Knob" more than 1900 feet above the
outer were considered as being the highest
crests in Virginia, but later and more exact
measurements have shown Bald Knob to be
the king Of the Virginia mountains. Notwith-
standing the lakes popular name, its water is
fresh and as clear as crystal it covers some nifty
acres, and lies embedded among close evergreen
woods. When the thickly growing rhododen-
dron, laurel and aZalea are In bloom, surround
iLg this water. mirror like wreath of flowers
on dark background Of hemlock the view is
enchanting. Until recently, the lake contained
no fish, but the Fish Commissioners Of Virginia
have made an attempt to stock it with choice
varieties, such as trout and California salmon.
But few years ago the only building near the
lake was dreary log cabin, which served as a
station for the stages plying over the noun
tains between Christiansburg and the springs
in Monroe, Greenbrier and Bath counties In
its stead there now stand several roomy and
handsome hotel buildings, capable of accommo-
dating the annually increasing number of WIS.,
cultivated lady of Philadelphia. was looked
upon with astOnishment by all Giles county as
having engaged In hazardous undertaking,
ahaG which thsr the old residents creda
"should people travel from long distances, over
rough and rocky roads, just to see Salt Pond ?"
The brave and energetic lady, however, who
who has made Its improvement her life work,
Is already reaping the fruit of her industry.
One may conceive how cool and delightful is
the temperature here by considering That the
situation OF this resort Is twice as high above
tide as that OF the celebrated hotels in the
White Mountain region of New Hampshire.
LII d 6OuCuWcStSIu ulTOCUlOu ITOIn I" MOUNTAIN
Lake." some eight miles distant, down in the
valley, lie Eggleston's or the New River White
sulphur Springs. The buildings are located on
Knoll, and the river comes sweeping by in
cliffs here overhang the stream. Altogether it.
Is an inviting and dreamy spot, full of rural
and quiet charms: and where the softly muir
Wanderer to sleep. 1.-THE Cascade" is the name
OF very attractive waterfall, formed by the
Little stony Creek" tributary of New River;
~ to 1t from the Lake House. Alighting at an
old mill, we take path following the stream
do DOW, Tor hall q mile through gorge OF
wild beauty, crossing several times on rustic
bridges. After arriving at precipice, we de-
scend steps without number and stand before
the rushing falls. Above us is visible but
cipitous walls OF rock, nearly one hundred feet
high. The stream glldes down, spreading like
mantle, tn projecting lodges break its fall,
Maen angry ana Chatting, 1t rlshes by and is
Here In this region we feel all the charms of
the prfmeval forest, and its sOlitude-one may
travel for miles without seeing house or
cabin, without hearing the barking Of dog or
the t1nkling OF a cow bell-the eye takesin wide
stretches OF unbroken forest only the hawk and
the eagle sail In long sweeps above your head,
gain the protecting thfcket. Winding our way
through this romantic wilderness, we regain the
hotel on the edge Of the lake, whence broad
carriage road leads to the summit, which ia still
some 500 feet higher.
BALD KNOB.
Here, all OF sudden, an overwhelmingly
grand panorama uDfOidS itself TO the view
1.-The most sublime mountain scenery in all
virginia." said an American tourist but few
years ago, "1s yet comparatively unknown I"
And the same author thus concludes his poetti-
cal description OF an ascent Of Bald Knob "A
slight rain had fallen just before we commenced
the ascent, and the leaves Of the dwarfed oaks
still held drops OF water tllumined by the CLAN
eng rays OF the setting sun, and giving the eff
savage mountain. We had assembled up out or
The cup formation of Salt Pond, its narrow cir
cumsc Iption OF scenery, tc the sudden view OF
miles away. We could look into i've states.
Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennes.
see and North Carolina; we could see the
parallel ranges OF mountains. mountains
running transversely, sierras, single noun
talns, mountains near by matched with
rock and shrub. mountains In the distance whose
even line OF summit looked sharp as knife edge
and mountains which peeped ever beyond On
the furthest banks Of the infinite sky. The
avariable purpllsh tint rested on the mountains;
the sun was throwing across them the last
heightened javelfns OF the day. The savage
mountain scenery was spread around US and
away, glittering object-the light of the sink
Ing sun must have famed on a cupola In a dis
tant village, for in fold OF the purple robe OF
the mountain there shone something like a
Sill gle STAR bright as diamond-f1t clasp TO the
regal attire or the scene! New River. too
deeply sunk In It's valley TO catch the last rays
OF the sun, appeared but as silver thread. -
All around US scene OF SURPRISING and indie
scribable sublimfty. such as one might look for
In the Rocky mountains or the Sierra Nevada,
but the like OF which had never expected to
see In Virginia.
1t Will probably not be long before the gates
to this alpine region win be thrown wide open
and those heights and crags will reverberate
from the thunder Of the iron horse, speeding
along the banks OF the glorious New River and
connecting the two great railroad lines OF the
state, which run south and weSt-the Atlantic
Mississippi and Ohio and the Chesapeake and
Ohio. r. 8
The Husband Bought A Bonnet.
"New bonnet new bonnet-S12 for a new
bonDet!" exclaimed Mr.. Slick the other evening
as his wife suggested change from the win
ter styles. eyes, only $12," she humbiy re-
piled. Twelve dollars for bonnet is q con-
founded outrage, and know It'll" he went on,
"Why, can buy two fine silk hats for that
money, and have some strawberry change left
It's dead swtndle to ask SIP for bonnet. I"
"Well, can't do any better, Mr.. Slick That's
the price, and must pay or go without" "You
don't know how to buy-that's what ais you, {"
he growled. "In bet money can buy a SIP
bonnet for s.. It's all in knowing how to
handle the salesman" IL wish you'd try It,"
she suggested. 81 wildly George! will! Ill
pring you up new bonnet in the morning, and
III get II 81 cheaper than you dare to!' Mr..
SICK was as good as his word. He went into q
tanthy store next forenoon with his eye