The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-05-20
WALHALLA.

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having found an old friend there.
He urged this gentleman TO go with him
into the mountainous region Of Tennessee and
North Carolina.
1.-THE foiage,n he said, twill be worth study
in SeDtpmher: and besides, / have an errand
there for nv brother. He is a hOuse-decOrator
in London, and when he was in the Alps last
summer, he was told that WOOd-caryer, whose
work he saw i'm Berne, and fancied, had emf
grated TO America two or three years ago,
turned farmer and Joined a small German col
Onv in these mountains. / am TO ma TINS col
ony if ! can. and if there is any workman OF
real skill in it, to offer hrr regular work and
good wages in London. My brother is in i'm
mediate need Of panel-caryer."
He could have imported dozen from
Bene."
Certainly said Reid, with shrug; but
Tom has his whms. He faucied that he de-
tected a delicacy, a spirit in this mans work
an undiscovered Bewick, in fact. Where do
you suppose the fellow is hidden. POmeroy'
Do YOU know of any such colOnyF
"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.
Beg pardon. but couldn't help oyerhear-
inc. Think the place You want is in South
Carolina. Name Of Walhaila. Village Queer
little corner. OcOuee County,
" O. thanks" said Reid, eyeing him specu-
lativclv as probably a 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
an old acquaintance. " They're Germans, l
take it. Shut out of the world by the mount
aims as completely as if the place was 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 snutt-
rubbers and Georgian clav-eaters. Hound the
village five years ago, while 1 was buying up
skins i'm the mountains. I'm a fur dealer.
Cincinnati. One OF my cards, gentlemen!
To WaIhalla. therefore Mr.. Reid and his
friend went They tried to strike a Decline to
it, through a wilderness Of mountain ranges,
bv 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 feas, 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
coast of the continent. closes abruptly in walls
of rock, iutting like mighty promontoues INTO
the plains of Georgia and South Carolina.
Reid and PomerOv 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 now
into the Atlantic, the other into the Gull 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 cunu-
lus clouds were driven, ebbing like waves, out
toward the horizon. Far down in the valley a
raiu-storm was raging. 1t occupied but small
moi in
gray fog, torn at times by yellow, Jagged
lightning.
Not far from the spring a brown mare was
tethered. and near it a stout young man IN
blue homespuu was lying. stretched lazily out
on the dry, ash-cOlOred moss, his chin IN ms
palms. watching the storm i'm the valley. An
empty sack had served as a saddle for the mare
slung about the mans waist was whisky flask
and a horn. lie was evidently farmer, who
had come up into the mountains TO salt ms
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 friendH'
The man touched his cap, and pointed to a
wisp Of smoke at the base of the mountain. As
they rode on. his dog snuiIed curiously at then
horses heels. but Hans did not raise his head
to look after them
"That is the first man I have seen in Ameri-
ca, said Reid, who took time to look at the
world he lived in.
When they were gone, Hans Law watching
the cloud below soften from metallic black
mass into pearlv haze: then it dritted up into
films across the green hills. On the nearer
plain below. he could now see the white-bolled
cotton-fcldS. 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
After long while he rose leisurely, his eyes
filed with satisfaction, as one who has had {
good visit in the home OF a friend. lie mounted
the mare and rode down the trail: the sun
shone ruddilt on the peaks above him, but
there was a damp, shivering twilight in thu
gorges Both seemed holiday weather to thu
Young fellow: his mare whinnied when ht
pattcd her neck; the dog ran, barking ant
Jumping upon him; il was a conversation tina
had been going on for wears among old friends
Mr. Reid reached Walhalla Just before sun
down As his mule went slowly down tEt
wide street. he looked from side to side VIII
pleased surprise.
1T is a street ont Of some German village,
he said. 81 have not seen such THRIFT or home
" comfort in this country
II is only the sudden contrast to the grand
eur and dirt behind u.s. said Pomeroy. -
YOU miss the repOsc and eXaltauOn OF ulelOIJ.
heights which YOU talked OF, you VIII hh'
scrubbed floors and fiedless beds solid con
ISOLATION
The sleepy hamlet consisted OF but on
broad street, lined by quaint wooden houses
their stOOps covered with grape-vlnes Orroses
Back OF these houses stretched trim gardens
CAV with dahlias and yellow wal-fOwers; bacI
Of these. again. were the farms. Along tn
middle OF the street. at intervals were Shadet
wells. public scales, platform for town meet
ings. The people were gathered about one o
the wells, in their old German fashion, tn
men with their pipes, the women with thei
knitting.
Reid remained in Walhalla for two or tire
DAYS He found that there were several Swis
families and that many Of the men had beel
wool-carvers at home. He hit upon a pal
to accomplish his purpose. He gave a subjec
for pane4-the Flight into Egvpt-and an
nounced that any one who chose might Un
iertake the work; that he would return in
month (he had found there was access TO Co
lumhia bv railway through the Valley, an
would then buy the best panel offered at a fai
price. and, Il the skill shown in the work sal
isied him, would send the carver TO Londo
free of expense, and insure him high and stead
wages.
The dav he left all the village collected abou
the well TO talk the matter over. Here was
strange gust from the outer world BLOWN
into their dead clsiml Most Of them had fo
gotten that there was a world outside of Wa
halla. They titled their farms and bartere
with the mountaineers- Twice a year SchoF
went to Charlotte for goods to fill his drows
shop. Londonl Richest Famel The bias
of a strange trumpet, truly. The blood b
gan to quicken Such Of them as had bee