The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-11-01
The Highlands Of North Carolina.

Highlands of North Carolina, region
but comparatively little known rs yet
to the tourist, describes the scenery and
the people in very readable article of
the October number of Lippincott's
MGgazine. She says of the region:
The western part of North Carolina
is a region of wild and picturesque
beauty. Mountains stand - purple
shoulder to purple shoulder-all over
it; shaggy forests of oaks, pines, stately
hemlocks and immense chestnuts clothe
all their slopes; down the narrow glens,
dark with the shade of rhododendron
and laurel, rush clear, bright streams,
fed by gushing springs, and everywhere
rich profusion of wild flowers is to be
met in their season. Botanists who
have been attracted TO this region by the
enthusiastic and though vague. descrip-
ton of the flora, given by the few tourists
who have penetrated its wilds, have
found their expectations far surpassed
both as to variety and beauty.
Health and pleasure seekers have
come summer after summer to Ashe-
vile and other resorts on the French
Broad, and sportsmen have penetrated
the Balsam and Smoky Ranges in
search of the deer and bear to be found
in the remote forests, or the speckled
trout that abounds in the cold streams.
But, compared with the space to be
traversed, visitors are few; there are
whole leagues where the foot of q
stranger has never trod, and the native
life of the region is uninfiuenced by any
contact with the outer world. In these
mountains there is a dialect spoken
which has
RARELY IF EVER
appeared in print the mode of life and
habits of thought of the natives are less
known to general readers than those of
the peasants of any country in Europe
Artists have never set up their easelS
in these magnificent forests nor dream
ed, pencil in hand, upon the swelling
outlines and amethyst hues of the dis
tant mountains. Two or three literary
workers have found fresh and interest
ing material here while on hasty visits,
but there are types of character that
have never been delineated; there is g.
rich store awaiting the seeker who is
gifted with the power of insight and
expression. The existence that goes on
in these cabins has not yet found an in
terpreter. The tanned, athletic noun
taineer who steps lightly down the
slope is figure suggestive of the
Homeric age. That woman carving
water from the spring to the glen leads
a life as unfamiliar to us as the dweller
in q wheeled house on the Scythian
steppes.
Three things attracted us-the noun
tain scenery, fine climate, the cheapness
of living, and each of them has sur
passed our expectations. The grandeur
OF the mountains has been a perpetual
feast; the climate has restored ones
jaded nerves and color TO paling cheekss
and we have lived we'll, as regards an
abundance of nourishing food-not lux
urious surroundings-on one-third of
what it cost us to live at home.
PRIMITIVE HOUSEKEEPING.
1t seemed us if we had gone back
several generations-to the DAYS of our
great OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES we went to
housekeeping here. Our floors are bare,
and the constant clack of our heeled
shoes on the oak boards has become
familiar accompaniment to the perform
ance of household duties. Our wallis
are ceiled with smooth dressed pine.
untouched by oil, varnish or paint, and
variegated only by numerous knot
holes, except where we have fastened
up two or three pair of deer antlers,
clusters of the bright scarlet berries of
the mountain ash and some photo
graphs. Our windows were for some
time curtainless, but they framed views
of distant SUBMITS and nearer ridges
clothed with majestic hemlocks, chest
nuts, naples and oaks, which we were
loath to shut from sight, and at night
host of big bright stars were visible.
Pumps and wells are unknown here;
the supply of water is always obtained
from springs. Our spring is several
rods from the house, at the foot of a
hill. 1t issues forth from the hill side
in strong. clear stream, deliciously
cold, and runs away through an almost
impenetrable thicket of
LAUREL AND RHODODENDRoN,
to join stream whose constant mur-
mur and gurgle we hear in the adja-
cent forest. By the spring are the con-
veniences for washing clothes-a large
black pot, with each of its three feet on
fat stone, under which fire is built
on washing days, wooden bench and
some heavy tubs. Part of our cooking
is done by the fireplace, whose capa-
cious mouth yawns wide enough to
take in the largest back log, and whose
stately brass andirons have come down
from former generation; the rest is
done on u little antiquated cook stove
which was probably in use when Jeffer
son was president. We fancy, however,
that the fireplace cooking tastes the
best; certainly nothing in the way Of
modern conveniences could improve the
salt raised bread, chicken pot-pies and
huge peach pies which are taken from
the old-fashioned oven on the hearth,
heated by Goals beneath and on the lid.
Our bedsteads are of native wood.
and made here; one is vanished and
savors of luxury, the others are not.
Our beds are striped ticks filled with
straw, and, as we drop into sound re-
freshing slumber as soon as we retire,
we have never perceived that they are
not woven wire or curled hair. Our
chairs are hand made and made to or
der, which proves that they ara genu-
inc, solid and have individual character
the qualities so much sought in mod
ern furniture.