St. Landry democrat., 1882-09-09
SOUTHERN GLEANINGS.
" Go-as-you-please' Girls in North Caro-
linn.

$. Go-as-you-please" Girls in North Caro-
lima.
The six girls who have been trampinG
through North Carolina for about a month
marched into Laurinburg the other morning,
all we'll and in good spirits, and, though
much sunburned, as comey set of lady pc
destrians as ever undertook a long tramp.
They determined to end their journey at that
point as three of them are school girls, who
have taken this mode of spending their vaca-
ton and at the same time gaining health a%d
strength. Since they started they have
walked about 400 miles, and during the long
march have crossed mountains and rivers
and penetrated some of the widest portions
of the State. Much of the time they have
slept in the open air, on hammOcks swung
from the trees the hammocks having canvas
sDrend over them, in order to protect the fair
occupants from the dew and rain One night,
seeing a heavy storm coming up, the party
had to stop in grave yard, and there spent
the night, sleeping among the headstones, and
their leader says they suffered more IRON
fear that night than on any other OCCASION
although they atterward slept in the noun
tain Businesses and were startled by the ap-
pearance of bear lurking about their
camp From the beginning to the end OF their
long walk they kept what they called their
clog book" each member OF the party IN
turn writing up in it the ecord OF the days
happenings, impressions of scenery and de-
scriptions of the country which they passed
during their tramp. Two of the girls maze
sketches of various points of interest along
the route. From first to last they have re.
ceived nothing but kindness along the line OF
their path. Farm houses were thrown opeE
to them by the hospitable owners, and fire.
uuent prOtfers of vehicles were made, which
were, however, declined, as the pedestrians
decided before starting that they would walk
every step of the way unless sickness pre-
vented. They are in excellent condition, and
the only inconvenience they have ever sui
fered was from bliStered feet, but, as they
moved on, their feet became hardened The
most difficult part of their tramp was the as
cent and exploration of the Bald Mountain,
whose mysterious rumbling created so
much excitement some years ago.
They not only went to the top OF
the mountain, but penetrated some o. its
wild assures, with view of satisfying their
minds whether or not the rumblngs were
owing to volcanic action. In going through
the mountains they were in great apprehen-
sion of rattlesnakes, but their fears were
groundlcss, not one Of the dreaded reptiles
being seen. The members of the party al
the journey was from certain Otficious par
ties of their own sex who undert ook to deter
them from their project, and called it an i'm
modest proceeding. One old lady became so
much worked up about it that she insisted
she would go as chaperone for the party, and
announced her purpose of making her coach
man hitch buggy and drive her along with
them; but when they said they proposed
walking where no buggy could be driven, and
said they had no objection to her company on
foot, she abandoned the idea. In order to
to avoid an appearance of immodesty and
shun publicity the girls frequently made long
detours so as not to enter the villages and
towns along their route, and as they kept
| their proposed line OF march a secret their
whereabouts were never known, and so
crowds were avoided. Doubtless had they
gone through the streets of towns they might
| have been subjected to jests, but they say that
at no time on their journey have they been
spoken to rudely or roughly, save by one or
two women who characterized their wander
ing about the country alone as immodest and
unmaidenlv. The girls are young, the eldest
being % and the youngest H. All of the party
f1eshened after the first week, except one
who was inclined to be too robust; she was
| reduced from AS pounds to 1873. They are all
enthusiastic at the success of their undertak
ing, and announce their determination to
spend their next vacation in the same way.