Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-09-30
FROM NORTH CAROLINA.


in 1913, that before the expiration of
many years they would be known to
all the world, doubtless would have
been realized had they been located
anywhere else than in North Carolina.
Virginia, even in her colonial days,
held the world q" in awe attentive as
she depicted the wonders of her mat
ural bridge" and its towering " rock
ribbed sides became the register of
her ambitious sons; while hundreds Of
feet higher and infinitely grander, the
majestic nights of Linville contain not
a name of the many noble sons who
sleep in the valley. 1t has been said
that Adam Smith added pecuniary
value to each foot of soil that he
touched with his magic pen. IfChris-
tian Reed miss Fisher has not en-
HANGED their value, she has at least
led the world to fall in love with the
picturesque mountains and valleys of
western North Carolina. 1t is estima-
ted that the visitors to this section
have increased in numbers at least 100
per cent. within the last three years
Somewhat akin to the emotions that
fill She soul of the traveller to the land
o Burns and Scott, as he beholds in
the distance the banks and braes O.
Bonnie Doun" and Loeb Katrine, are
those awakened by the prelibation of
the beauty and grandeur of the land
of the sky" afforded us from the hills
Of East Tennessee.
A comfortable stage, drawn by four
fine horses from johnson City to the
top of Roam mountain, was a tempta-
tion that could not be resisted; so we
engaged passage, and one bright July
morning found ourselves, with six
other passengers, ,dashing away through
the hills of Washington county, our
exuberant spirits keeping pace with
the foamiDg steeds that drew us. We
did not forget that the country through
which we were then passing possessed
historic interest. Washington county
was settled by Virginia farmers, who
supposing that they were in that State
called the county in honor Of Colone
George Washington, then of the State
military. A subsequent survey dis
closed the fact that it was il
North Carolina. Almost every STATE
in the Union now has its Washington
county, but this one is entitled to thu
distinction of having been the frs
named for the father of our country.
Jonesboro, the county seat, is the old
est town in the State, and will in few
days celebrate its centennial TIL,
old court Of "pleas and quarter ses
sions here, contains some interesting
records, among them the original entry
of the admission of Andrew jackson
to the bar of Tennessee, he having
previously practiced in North Car.
olina. Three miles from John.
son City we passed over the
field where Governor Upton with
the North Carolina forces met John
Sewer and his men in ITS and fought
the battle of Franklin, where the
first blood was shed upon American
soil after the revolution for secession
The old house still stands where Tip.
ton was barricaded for several days
until reinforced, when he sailed forth
and the State of Franklin, with its
coonskin currency, was given to
history. The logs of this house
which has since been weatherboarded
are said to contain many of the rebels
bullets. 1t has also an additional
interest to Tennesseans, as having
once been the home of Landon G.
Haynes, the East Tennessee orator
who at the time was practicing law in
partnership with the Hon. James w.
Deaderick, the present distinguished
chief justice OF the State, and who
afterward resided in Memphis. We
passed in sight of the poorhouse Of
the new county of Unicoi, a substan-
tial log building and which, be it said
to the credit of the county, contained
only four paupers. We left the road
for a short distance to visit a cave,
said to extend under the ground for
several miles, the acoustics of which,
however, struck us as being its most
interesting feature. Professor A,
Ryan, the elocutionist, and his young
son Rolla, were of our party, and they
both favored us with recitations in this
solemn and impressive chamber OF
nature. The former, standing on a
ledge of rocks some yards from US
with the murky blaekness Of the un'
known depths beyond for a back
ground, his long hair dishoveled and
large eyes in a fine frenzy rolling,
recited his Maniac" with such power
and originality as he himself confessed
would have been beyond him with
Ordinary surroundings. And never
was the genius Of young Rolla more
ooncnicuone tbon ON tbot oooos;o,, -,