The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-08-12
U HEBRON.
A TRAVELLER TELLS OF TOWERS. TIL.
EscoPEs, AND TURNPKEs.

A TRAVELLER TELLS OF TOWERS, TIL
EScoPEs, AND TURNPKEs.
A Jolly Party hat Have a Merry
Time..Crophic Description OF their
RambIes Over the Mountains.
HENDERsoNvILLE, n. C., July, 1856.
EditOr Press and Banner:
Saturday morning to visit the mountain
called Hebron" There were nine OF w, all
told, consisting of three fur daughters OF
Green one from: the neiRhhorhood OF
Charlotte and one WHO lives IN this pretty
town OF IIcndcrsonville OF gentlemen there
were four, two OF whom came from Columbia,
last was an artist who spends his summer In
this town trying to accommodate the many
visitors with souvenirs OF the mountains to
carry hoinc to their friends.
We left tow In the cool Of the morning,
ard were soon booming along the picturesque
road which led to our destination, singing
snatcllcs OF songs and laughing rs heartily
rs II crowd Of school children out on q half.
holiday. In the midst Of our glee we were
startled by q swapping sound and sudden
halt. and to our dismay found one OF our
horses had givch IN unexpected start and
and suggestions which calne from different
members OF our party did mot in any way
discomfort our driver. who only asked for five
minutes 10 remedy Inc evil. IL WbS Win
great interest W. watched him as he cut u few
sapplIngs from the roadside and twisted them
into ropes, and cutting n stout piece OF oak
he bound IL firmly across the broken tree, and
In n short while lie had spliccd the break and
made It rs strong as the most timid could
wish. We were soon Off again. md the
glimpses we caught Of the lovely scenery dis
PEELED so slight an accident from our minds
and we 'gain made the woods ring with our
songs. At one bend OF the road we were at
tractcd by a board upon which was painted,
"Gicnn Rock" and rs one OF the party sng.
gestsi 2 halt to examine tho place we AL
spot could conceive an idea OF Its beauty. SO
l will not attempt q description. The party
were soon seated around what proved
TO DC a spring. though one would hardly take
1t to be anything but q basin followed out OF
II rock with II little mud in tho bottoni, 50
PERFECTLY, clear was the water with which 1t
was filed.
While VIC rested in this beautiful bower or
cove. with which nature had provided us, our
artist qnictly unpackcd his cniheru. etc., and
proposed making a picture. The party were
for only n few seconds. and then wifi one
last look nj this pretty spot we again started
on our way. Only those who have travelled
these mountain roads and witnessed the
many changes and variety of scenery, AS one
gradually aScends one mountain after anoth-
er, winding around the base of one, but grad
unlly getting higher and higher, can nppre-
ciate the effect II has upon one. We're ! OF
I" poS ~ vi III L SOubu blftt dPOiE
tile grandeur and sublimity OF the noun
TOMS and go:ges, but as my business Is mere.
Is to detail whit occurred during our trip, I
will leave you 10 itnagine the rest.
Our next stoppngc was at the gate which
was opened by The proprietor Of the tower at
the Mount Hebron. This specimen of hu-
mnnity reminded inc very forclby OF Rip Van
Wrinkle utter his long sleep.
A:ter passing through the gates where we
had 10 pay toll. we followed the road which
wound around the brow OF the mountain To
the foot of the tower. While some assembled
This 50 feet of wood work, others amused
themselves by talking to old Rip, who is
slightly hard Of hcarins. and a tribe ecccn.
trio aud fond Of good company. Our artist.
intent upon phOtOe graphing the magnificent
scenery which lay stretched out In iii direc.
tions. was too busy TO follow The example set
HIN! by some member OF the party who werc
evidently intent upon 'mashing." One
) young gentleman seemed very uneasy, having
on the road met with Il slight accident which
neccssitalcd his wearing Il linen buster oil
the rest OF tho day. and which caused him u
sl,un the society of tho ladies. I was ut u loss
TO account for his conduct, rs he was one OF
! the livclicst at the start, and Il regular mash.
err; tiefore 1 supposed naturally enough that
he would have accompanied the ladies on
theft tamblti Instead or which he contented
himself with il game of cards, and the use o.
the powerful telescope with which we were
enabled TO Inspect more closely the object.
Of interest.
IN tower on Echo Mountain which stood
between as and town we could almost climb
so close did II appear, while 1 heard orc re-
> mark that he could see u man blowing the
other side OF the French Broad Valley. Hog
u Back and other mountains, situated some
| where In South Carolina were plainly seen
L and Our view was only bounded by the Blue
t Ridge. The mountains beyond the French
presented Il very imposing appearance, auL
made us oil fcar the approach OF r.in. Sc
much so that we haslened 10 tile foot OF the
tower, and while SOME retreated 10 the house
III nrI Inv nthnrC ngrnnNpsi lap1eol..ra r,n,lor
the staircase OF the tower. with the prOvis.
: ions, coatS, rugs, etc. But to our Joy the rain
passed of In another direction, and we oil
assembled and ate our dinner In true picnic
s style. Delicious milk was furnished from the
spring house. and some OF the ladies enjoyed
u cup or coffee which the daughter OF ole
!, Rip kindly prepared fOr.them.
:. After the heavy rain cloud had passed
5 Off we again assembled the tower and were re
wafdcd by, the grandeur OF the scene. The
2 light and shade upon the landscape. the va
ricty Of the foliage, md the beautiful clouds
with which the sky was bcdecke ed. On
= might we'll call 1t the land Of the sky, for u
those who have any love for the sublime
T. there was indeed II land where one conld
= est places, and witness the most beautiful Of
( fects of lisht ard Shade and never tire. In
his consists tn my imagination, one Of tle
greatest charms of mountain seener*: In 4
few hours you can see o mountain chnngc Its
|. appearance several times. so much so thai
you can fancy sou arc looking upon an en-
: tircly different scene. Sunlight md clOud
e seem to play upon The earth and produce The
h strangest phenomenon. On otr right q die
I tant valley was covered In golden sunshine
! MS WAS also tho mountain upon which We
= wcre sitting; while between these two brlgh,
PLACES was u mountain wrapped In shadow
making the foliage with which it was GOV
d cred almost black. I fancy II must have been
some such scene rs this which moved the
/ poet WHO wrote the lines:
T. "Ilast thou marked how light and shadow
y Lie 50 closely side by sid"
/ but I must leave my airy Smiles. MS we
very soon did Mt. Hebron. We had deter
mined to return by the old load, which was
more direct, though sleeper; having come by
t Ing graded tn so gradual u rise that u Is pleas
mt In ascending the mountain. We hultcd
In front OF tho house where our artist
slatchcd another picture: We then passed
ious to show IFS "a p%Ictur." 1t was u print o.
, the building Mt the New Orleans Exposition
= and IT amused us iinincasurnbly tn see the
bye We started down the hill. and had barely
reached the bottom when the driver pulled
r suddenly up, which caused the second We
!. hicIc to nearly run over us, putting the two
agitation, requiring nm exchange Of seats
1 They did not fancy there was room for two
horses In their scat. Luckily no further harm
. was done. and as the clouds were gathering
= up and looking very much NJ II they were
sorry we houId escape a slight sprinkling.
We let the horses travel ,hriskly lo,neward,
The old road was full OF interest TO us
, Astounding in picturesque crooks and turns
|, and we j0urneyed home rs Joyously us We
went. Iiut our aprinkling awaited us, and
we had To resort to the protection of over
coats. umbrellas, etc, when we were within
u mile and q half OF town. Stil we werc not
visited heavily, and landed at our door al
four o'clock, when all agreed that they had
spent u most enjoyable day..
Il would 1ISiSp all those who wish 10 nntOy
themselves to organize q party and go t.
Il tf.,,, . JY,Ir~n hNIHlND