New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-20
THE CAROLINA HIGHLANDS.
NOTES OF AN AUTUMN TRIP.

JACKSON COUNTY, n. g., Dec. Tine
crest of tho Blue Ridge divides the waters
flowing to the south and east to find tne Atlantic
from those which set out their long journey OF
,bou.and miles 10 the Ohio through the Tennessee Bnt
The Blue Ridge all the Aneghany ranges lies nearest
10 the an, and consequence all the STREAMS WIN
musical names which hurry forward to the MISSISSIPPI
must cut through all the other ranges Oh 'is pro"u
mountain bolt In the south western part OF Nortn
Carona these streams urrow their way for fifty miles
before they reach the Big Smokes OH the Tennessee
tho ranges they cut in two with the cross ranges
between them often higher than the Blue Rage IL
self There is nothing here therefore like an elevated
plateau or tableand, but confusion OF steep noun
tans and deep valleys and from every overlooking peak
the spacious prospect from Roam with Its troubled
sea of mountains rolling away TO the horizon
on every hand is repeated In its essen
tal features. One who travorses thesc hlShI"h'h
counties any direction always rides from one gap
10 another with music Of running water rarely OUT OF
hearing or the prospect Of steep mountain Slopes cau
with forest green scarcely out OF sight Gnpses
OF This scenery In bits vouchsaied even
70 these who travel by rail such points as Doe RIVER
Canon already spoken of, SwaDnanoa Gap Ill the DcA
Mountains along the reaches OF the french bFoS Ut
where dropping down the further side OF the Balsam
Range with fall of 81 feet 10 the mile But one who
would gain intimate acquaintance with the features
of the ann an the scenery Its elements arrange and
r.arranCe themselves in Infinite diversity or enchauthg
prospect must ride through the Highlands on mule.
Whore there are roads and these not too arluOua an
expedition ON horseback is a delight, especially when by
for,pne's favor good hard whitman saddle is founu
clinched upon beast with legs that tange themselves
mn into those peculiar steps Kentucky saddle
gats. OF course every master In the rlnihg-sehoos
swoons dead away at the bare mention OF these move
ments because they are un-Engllsh NeVertheIcss 'o
Midday rider who has felt the Iefreshment Of shift OF
ea,t as his horse gides fiuently into 81 0X-trot OF
lunuing walk satisfied TO remain out Of the fashion,
an, his common sense will argue that tho play OF mus
Giles in new combination is an equal reireshmeht 10 h
beast But these accomplishments are OF no avail on
roads where an animal must carefully pick his way ana
on mountain brdleps;h mule will climb with conn
dam stem where horse can hardly find toe-hJid Ana
then mule never gives way nervous excitement ana
tears things taters when he gets into ugh' pace
He is WISE thoughtful and full OF resources Whe
horse has mother wit at best ana Is he most he
less of fourfooted beasts in an emergency BESIDES all
this a mules activities of mind or body are never
hammered nv apv moral restraints This does not imply
Tint he is totally depraved and prone to evil as the
sparks are Fly upward. He simply does not look out
upon the universe from ethical STANDPOINT nor waste
his cucrges debating over the right or wrong Oh any
proposed limo OF action. The horse Is noble animal
and his neck is clothed with thunder He has heroic
,en,per and high ambition and devotion TO duty Will
often urge him to attainment OF an elevated aim at
the expense OF being windbroken ana Kneespruhg "he"
he gets there. But mule was ever known 70 inquire
himself In wind or limb from loyalty to an idea anu
thought to curb his generous impulses. lie knows
that his beast will hold his superior intellect to the
single task taking of himself and generally Wha'
is best for mule is best for his rider As we were
riding down into the valley OF War woman Creek n
fine clay-coored animal Of exceptionally inscrutabie
WAYS even for mule suddenly dashed away FROM the
Marty and p-ecipatrd himself down steep dec!ivty
nto a tlicket. aud began to roll with great energy
among the azaleas and huckle0erry Dushe' HIS rhef
went on as stopped short to roll and therefore,
was not naiened under pressure II was none the
less disturbing experience and We hastily set 1t down
a. a manifestation OF tue beasts original sAfulness
p, LATER when our heads began swell we discovered
that the mule had stirred up yeow-ackets nest and
with rare presence OF mind had flung himself ana MS
rider into the brush battle the attack Of the resentfu
insects which he was wise enough 10 loresee' bOtD
mule ana man escaped without sting
Saddle stock of kind does not appear to be over
abundant for we often saw a aud his wife, VITA
detachment the ranks OF the younger chil0ren'
puon a single animal. We once encountered little
nne not more than thirteen hands high covered com
nloteIy up except his ears, by two welsrown young
vomeu Quo on his withers aud tue other OIL bis Group
and "a they looked demureiy from the recesses OF
their slab sunbonnos it never occurred to then mat
the picture they made could be interesting 10
ANY human being for its novelty. But saddle
animals are, perhaps as plentiful as 'he o'"er
sares Of life in the mountains anu II IS not dhcul'
IN hr An gated. sure-fOOed sasacous and totally
NM. ocipIel mule for fifty cents dollar
d.v And wheu that mule Is mounted, small matter It
is which way mead is turned II his rider has an eve
To mark the modest grace OF shrubs and plants 0i O"ef
growth disposed about waysldc rock or ON tho Drink
of flowing water FJr grant as are these broad noun
,ain views the muuter details OF the foreground are in
their wy equally attractive The richness OF the Forest
4, ,b,re.nt species - fairly matched by the varied
forms Of shrubs and smaller trees, for 1t Is
fact that no part of the world has lurhishcc
the gardens OF Europe and America WIFE
SO many ornamental plants OF ta's k'ho
os has this Same Allegheny region. And nowhere do
they appear in such rcyel Oluxurance rs under these
mild moist skies and Ia this fruitful soil Along the
course of every rocky to an altitude OF 4oOe
feet are lnasses Of the greater rhoiodcndron ana
kalmla while the borders % the intcrnGaoIe and
imperylous thckets they form smaller OroAileaYcd
Evergreen understands OF the rarest beauty Ike
Cstesbys Andromeda Near the submits OF the lonies
mountains especially on Roam and the bald peaks OF
the BIZ Smokes nJurlshes another rhododrndron WIN
rosyilac sOwersR. CdiI7jieHSS-VhioI has been used
ns he OF all the hardy garden Vretic' IN cunV@
ton. But ali III, gardens ia the world could not
mako a display equal to the blaze Of co!o
that nluninates Roam Mountain for hundrcd'
OF acres on its Opoa whel these plants are in
bloom most rcaGtltul or nDwernE shrdDs ara TN
azaleas. and four OF the five species which belong TO I'M
fora Of this continent are here nassel together in mar
velous profisiOn aud luxurianto. Moro common thai
the Pnxter flower OF Northern wood borders the eres
Gamccolurcd azlea whose blood has aIdci ylgOr aud
vividness to the hybnIs which the most striking
ornaments the parks aud garlens OF the Old anu New
Worlds But the effect of the cxtenied plantations
is feeble enough In with the square miles OF
mountain flank and river bottom that all agOw Will
bloom In June.
These are named rs the most conspicuous OF the flow
ering shrubs but there others Of TIT
same family, like the interesting rhodOiendrOt
ya,eyi discovered some five years ago. besides spece
OF dozen othor genera that coud be named, each with
special charm OF Its To these add tao spocief
that are small lawn In the North pat attain tha
stature OF timber here. OF which tho hOuy, td
silver bell the buckeye the sorro tree tho moose maple
and seryc. berry can bo cited examples; aud then
the dOgwOods, thorns, vlburnums, Suuichs ana crap
spples-a grOup OF small tr5os that FOR neatncss 81
habit and beauty of roliag", Hover. ana
fruit With bril.iancy o. autumn cOOriDg has !