Huntsville gazette., 1882-09-09
SOUTHERN GLEANINGS.
Go-as-you-please" Girls in North Caro-
lima.

So-as-you-please' Girls in North Caro-
lima.
The six girls who have been trampinc
through North Carolina for about a month
marched into Laurinburg the other morning,
an Well and in good spirits, and though
much sunburned, as comeiy set of lady pc
aestrians as ever undertook a long tramp
ihey determined to end their journey at that
point, as three ofthem are school girls, who
nave taken this mode of spending their vaca-
tlon, and at the same time gaining, health and
strength Since they started they have
walked about 400 miles, and during the long
march have crossed mountains and rivers
andpenetrated some Of the widest portions
OF n5e State. Much of the time they have
. sieistin the open air, on shammocks sv ang
from te trees, the hammocks having canvas
spread over them, in order to protect the fair
occupants from the dew and rain One night,
seeing heavy storm coming up, the party
had to stop in grave yard, and there spent
the night sleeping among the headstones ard
their leader says they suffered more from
fear that mig hit than on any o her occasion,
although they afterward 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
turn writing up in it the record OF the days
happenings, impressions of scenery and de-
scriptions of the country which they passed
during their tramp. Two of the girls made
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 open
to them by the hospitable owners, and fire.
quent profers 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 suf-
fered was from hlistered feet, but, as they
moved on their feet became hardened. The
most difficu part of their tramp was tle 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 of its
wild fissures, with a 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 rattlesnal<es, but their fears were
groundless not one of the, dreaded reptiles
being seen. The members of the party al
lege the only annoyance they had during
the journey was from certain OffclOuS par
ties of their own sex who undertook 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 chapcrone 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
slIun publicity the girls frequently made long
detourS 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 thcysay that
at no time on their Journey have they been
spoken to rrIiely or roughly, save by one or
two women, who characterized their wander
ing abouttiae country alone rs immodest and
unmaideny. The girls are young the eldest
being % and the youngest II. All Of the party
feshened aftel the first week. except one
who was inclined to be too robust she was
reduced from AS pounds to 133-A They are all
enthusiastic at the success of their untieItall-
ing. and announce their determination to
spend their next vacation in the slme way.