The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-10-13
The Daily Bulletin.
The Highlands Of North Carolina,

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The Highlands Of North Carolina.
A lady who has summcrcd in the
Highlands Of North Carolina, region
but comparatively little known as yet
to the tourist, describes the scenery and
the people in "A very readable article Of
the October number Of Lippincott's
Ma9a2ine 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 shoudor-all over
III shaggy forests Of oaks, pines stately
hemlOcks and immense chestnuts cl0the
all their slopes; down the narrow glens,
dark with the shade Of rhododcndron
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 vino
have been attracted TO this region bvthe
enthusiastic and though vague descrip-
ton OF the flora, given by the fcwtourists
who have penetrated its wilds, have
found their expectations far surpassed
both rs 10 variety and beauty.
Health and pleasure seekers have
come summer after summer TO Ashc-
vile and other resorts on the French
Broad, and spOrlamcn have penetrated
the Bal-am and Smoky RANGES in
search Of the deer and bear to be found
in the remote forests, or the specked
trout that abOunds in the cold streams.
But, compared with the space to be
traycrscd visitors are few; there are
whole leagues where the foot Of "A
stranger has never trol, and the native
LIE OF the region is uniniluenccd by any
contact with the outer world. In these
mountains there IS dialect spoken
which has
RARELY II 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 nave never set up their easels
in these magnificent forests nor dream
ed, pencil in hand, upon the swelling
outlines and amethyst hucs 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 delneated; there is q
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 a figure suggestive Of the
Homeric age That woman carving
water from the spring to the glen leads
life As unfamiliar to us as the dweller
in a wheeled house on the Scythian
sleppes.
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 cheeks;
and we have lived well, as regards an
abundance Of nour.Shing food-not luz
urlous surroundings ON one-third Of
what il cost us TO live at home.
PRIMITIVE HOUSEKEEPING.
1t seemed as if we had gone back
several gencrations-to the days of our
great grandmothers when we went to
housekeeping here Orr floors are bare,
and the constant clack Of our heelel
shoes on the oak boards has become a
familiar accompaniment to the perform
ance Of household duties. Our walls
are ceiled with smooth dressed pine
untouched by oil, yarnish or paint, and
variega,ed 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 curtaiuIess, but they framed views
OF distant submits and nearer ridges
clothed with majestic hemocks, chest
nuts, naples and oaks, which we were
loath to siut from sight, and at night a
host OF BIZ 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
hill 1t issues forth from the hill side
in strong. clear stream, deliciouslv
cold, and runs away through an almost
impencirablc thicket of
LAUREL AND RHODOpENDRON,
TO join stream whose constant muir
muir and gurgle we hear in the ada
cent forest BY the spring are the con-
veniences for washing clothes-a large
black pot, with each of its three feet on
q fiat stone, under which u 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 a little Anticipated cook stove
which was probably in use when Jeiler-
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 od-fashioned oven on the hearth,
heated by Goals beneath and on the lid.
Our bedsteadS are of native wood.