Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-05-27
WALHALLA.

WALHALLA.
A few years ago young English artist,
named Reid, who was travelling through this
country, stopped fora day or two at Louisville,
having found an old friend there.
He urged this gentleman to go with him
into the mountainous region of Tennessee and
North Carolina.
The foliage" he SAID, will be worth study
In September; and besides, l have an errand
there for my brother. He is house-decorator
In London, and when he was in the Alps last
summer, he was told that a wood-carver, whose
work he saw in Berne, and fancied, had emf
grated to America two or three years ago,
turned farmer and joined a small German col
ony in these mountains. / am to find this col
ony If can, and if there is any workman OF
real skill in it, to offer him regular work and
good wages in London; My brother is in i'm
mediate need of panel-carver."
/" He could have imported dozen from
Berne.'
Certainly" said Reid, with shrug; 'but
Tom has his whims. He fancied that he de-
tected a delicacy, spirit in this mans work
an undiscovered Bewick, in fact. Where do
you suppose the fellow is hidden. Pomeroys
Do you know of any such colony!'
"No, and hardly can believe that there are
any thrifty Germans among those impregna-
BILE mountains. Why, access to many OF the
counties is only to be had on mules, and at the
risk of your neck. Your Germans must have
market for his work; he would find none
there
They were talking in the breakfast room of
the hotel. A man at the same table looked up
and nodded.
&C. Beg pardon, but couldn't help overhear-
ing. Think the place you want is in South
Carolina. Name of Walhalla. Village. Queer
little corner. Oconee County,
60, thanks ~ said Reid, cycling him specu-
latively, as probably new specimen. of the
American. "Any Swiss there, do you know"
"That can't tell you, SIR" said the stran-
ger, expanding suddenly into the geniality Of
a od oa o the vo be the
aims as completely as if the place was a hall
of the Dead as they call it. There it is, with
German houses and German customs, dropped
down right into the midst of Carolina snuff
village five years ago, while was buying up
skins in the mountains. Pm fur dealer.
Cincinnati. One of my cards gentklemens, !.
friend went. They tried to strike Decline to
it, through wilderness of mountain ranges,
by trails only known to the trappers; taking
them as their guides, and sleeping in their huts
at night. After two weeks of climbing among
the clouds, of solitary communion with Nature,
of unmitigated dirt, fried pork and fleas, they
came in sight of Walhalla.
They had reached Macon County, North
Carolina, where the Appalachian range, which
stretches like a vast bulwark along the eastern
of rock, jutting like mighty promontories into
the plains of Georgia and South Carolina.
Reid and Pomeroy stopped one morning on
one of these heights to water their mules at a
spring, from which two streams dubbed
through the grass and separated, one to flow
into the Atlantic, the other into the Gulf OF
Mexico, so narrow and steep was the ridge on
which they stood. The wind blew thin and
cold in their faces; the sun shone brightly
about them; but below, great masses of cumu-
lus clouds were driven, ebbing like waves, out
toward the horizon. Far down in the valley a
rain-storm was raging. 1t occupied but small
space and looked like a motionless cataract OF
gray fog, torn at times by yellow, Jagged
lightning.
Not far from the spring brown mare was
tethered, and near it a stout young man in
blue homespun was lying, stretched lazily out
on the dry, ash-colored moss, his chin in his
palms, watching the storm in the valley. An
empty sack had served as saddle for the mare
slung about the mans waist was whisky flask
and horn. He was evidently farmer, who
had come up into the mountains to salt his
wild cattle.
Reid took note of the clean Jacket, the steady
blue eyes, the red rose in his cap.
''Swiss," he said to Pomeroy. "Where is
Walhalla, my friends"
The man touched his cap, and pointed to a
wisp of smoke at the base of the mountain. As
they rode on, his dog snuffed curiously at Their
horses heels, but Hans did not raise his head
to look after them.
"That is the first man have seen in Ameri
ca" said Reid, "who took time to look at the
world he lived inn
When they were gone, Hans lay watching
the cloud below soften from a metallic black
mass into pearly haze; then it drffted up into
films across the green hills. On the nearer
cotton-felds, wet and shining after the shower
threads of mist full of rainbow lights traced
out the water courses; damp, earthly scents
came up to the height from the soaked forests
filed with satisfaction, as one who has had q
good visit In the home of friend. He mounted
the mare and rode down the trail; the SUE
shone ruddily on the peaks above him, but
there was damp, shivering twilight in the
gorges. Both seemed holiday weather to the
young fellow; his mare whinnied when he
patted her neck; the dog ran, barking and
Jumping upon him; 1t was conversation that
had been going on for years among old friends.
Mr.. Reid reached Walhalla just before SUM-
wide street, he looked from side to side with
pleased surprise.
at is a street out of some German village"
he said. 81 have not seen such thrift or home
" comfort in this country"
1t is only the sudden contrast to the grand.
eur and dirt behind us,'' said Pomeroy. at
you miss the repose and exaltation of the lofty
heights which you talked of, you will find
scrubbed floors and fealess beds solid con-
solation.''
The sleepy hamlet consisted Of but one
broad street, lined by quaint wooden houses,
their stoops covered with grape-vines or roses.
Rack of these houses stretched trim gardens,
gay with dahlias and yellow wall-fowers; back
Of these, again, were the farms. Along the
middle OF the street, at intervals were shaded
+. wells, public scales, platform for town meet
ings. The people were gathered about one OF
the wells, in their old German fashion, the
men with their pipes, the women with their
knitting.
Reid remained in Walhalla for two or three
days. He found that there were several Swiss
families and that many of the men had been
wood-carvers at home. He hit upon plan