Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-10-06
Mlistellaueuns &eading.
|, MONTH AMONG THE MOUNTAINS.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.

A MONTH AMONG THE MOUNTAINS.
The scorching rays of July sun drove u:
from our otherwise pleasant home amid the
oaks, whose wide spreading boughs made 8
contiguity of shade second to none We had
ever enjoyed. But even the breeze that sci
dom famed our cheek seemed laden with
heat In consequence thereof, we abandoned
the shades of home to seek the cool and
bracing air among the mountains, Hender
sonville, N. c., being our objective point.
We took passage on the opartanburg and
Asbeville Railroad. The entire country along
this line of road is perfectly enchanting. The
towering mountain peaks, covered with lux.
RANT verdure of living green, are grand, baf
fling description, to speak of which all Ian
guage fails and silence begs for thought. En-
raptured, we gaze upon the beauteous scenery
with insatiate ardor we feast our eyes in pro-
found silence, drinking in each healthful
draught as it comes to us fresh from the
mountain heights. Insensible to time and
travel, we find ourselves at our destination,
to our surprise, some time after the sun had
set, as we had during cur travel to this point,
been living far above the common level.
Wrapt in profound admiration of the scenes
through which we had just passed, our admi.
ration was wrought 10 the spirit land. This
sudden, abrupt termination was shock to our
sensibilities. Hearing the wild and unciv-
ilized yells of Take the yellow bus for
Chase's Globe !"-"This side for the red bus
take you anywhere in the city !"-'twas most
certainly chaos and confusion. A fellow
hardly knew which way to turn-whether
he was on his head or heels-a perfect nui-
sance over which the town authorities should
exercise some degree of control, to the relief
of the poor traveller.
Well we had tickets for the yellow bus, and
must needs ride therein and go to "Chases
Globe" and 60 we did, and a most excel
lent house we found it, preferable to any in
the town. The town was crowded to over
flowing. Hotels and private boarding hous.
es had all that they could comfortably accom-
modate; but still they came. Henderson.
vile seemed to be the place, this summer.
Many went through to Asheville, the Warm
Springs and Waynesville ; but their stay was
short. They would return to Hendersonville
to spend the remainder Of their mountain
summer trip. Indeed, Hendersonville was
the most popular resort this summer and it
possesses as many attractions and facilities
for making itself a permanent name for a
summer resort as any We have seen. 1t is
very convenient distance from the many
places of interest among the mountains. The
view from Stony Mountain, four and half
miles, is very fine, and the view from Mount
Hebron is perfectly enhancing. A full view
of the French Broad and the surrounding
mountains is truly grand-sublime in the ex-
treme-the most beautiful picture the eye
ever beheld in the whole book Of Nature.
The afternoon we drove TO Mount Hebron,
we drove to the top. Following the circuitous
windings of Mr.. Jones pleasure drive, we be.
held to our delightful surprise, the first and
only steamer that over piled the waters of the
lovely French Broad. She moved slowly
up the river on her trial trip. We must con.
fess that we were somewhat disappointed in
the French Broad for in our imagination
we had pictured broad, majestic stream,
while to the contrary, it is narrow, crooked and
rugged, though picturesque. Congress will
have to appropriate many thousands more
before the French Broad can be made suf-
fcently navigable to promote the CONNER
cial interests of the section through which it
runs. y
The steamer, Mountain Lily" is private
enterprise, belonging to joint stock company.
We had the pleasure of meeting the president,
Mr.. Pickens. He showed us over the boat.
He seems quite hopeful that it can be made
successful. The mountaineers visit this little
boat by scores and gaze upon it as the great.
est wonder Of the age. 1t is certainly novel
sight to see a steamboat riding upon the
tains The "Mountain Lily" is very light
boat, drawing only thirteen inches, with a
carrying capacity Of one ton to the inch.
She is propelled by two side wheels, driven
by two engines of eighteen horse power each.
Since the trial trip, the company has con-
cluded that she has not power enough and has
decided to put in two larger engines. AS a
means Of transportation, it will be a great
convenience to the people Of that section.
We have made casual allusion to the
"Globe," the place where we took up our
abode during our stay among the mountains.
We met there, youth, beauty and old age,
wealth, worth and intelligence among the
dodgers. As social beings, we were most nat.
uraly drawn towards each other. We did
not stand upon conventionalites. formalities,
or strict etiquette. according to the rules as
adopted in the high social circles of the day 4;
but we mingled together, enjoying each
others society, reaping the mutual benefits to
| be derived by such an intercourse; by each
others expression and observations. Thus
the pleasure of our stay was greatly en-
hanced. We had gay, dashing, gushing
young widows, peculiarl y fascinating and at
tractive, whose attractions were never lost
nor allowed to waste their sweetness upon the
mountain air; young ladies of lovely charac
ter, face and feature-one with a dark, CO.
quetish eye; another with eyes blue, affection
! ate and glad, that seemed to love every thing
! they looked upon.
There was walking, dancing riding and
J flirting, as usual. Says the indignant Kin
ston Freeman "Abolish flirting at summer
resorts, and at once the saints from Ocean
Grove and Chautauqua, and the sinners from
Coney Island, Saratoga and the Catskills,
would fly home, as from the breath of a pes
! thence. Expunge that usage from our social
statute book and the whole fabric of society
would be subverted and social anarchy would
ensue Strike down this priceless prlvi-
! lege of every free born man and woman and
the faintest blossom of pleasure is withered."
Our company was also made up with a
plentiful supply of children. There were
children-I was tempted to say by thous-
ands-but they were there in such numbers
! that really we sometimes could not rest, and
we were often led to exclaim: