Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-07-18

FCL MOUNTAIN LAKE-HIsToRIC ABINGDON
THE ASCENT OF Roam MOUNTAIN.
Correspondence of THE EVENING STAR:
SANDY SPRINGS, MD July 18th.
The ride as far as Luray through the fertile
fields of Frederick county and past the historic
scenes of Harper's Ferry, is familiar to many.
but too much cannot be said in praise OF the
marvellous beauty and diversified wonders OF
the caverns. The Luray inn is luxurious and
beautiful. and the view from its wide pOrticOes
most restful. Unlike other Virginia inns, how
ever, 1t is somewhat expensive. The ride down
the Shenandoah valley is attractive from be-
ginning to- end. Fertile fields sweeping away
in gentle undulations to the Blue Ridge and
Mas>anutten mountains, and at times to the
distant AlieghanieS, offer scenes of rural beauty
unsurpassed stately mansions and modern
homes, busy villages and quiet hanletS,
streams flowing, now lazily and now bolster
ously, through wooded wales or far-stretching
meadows, Afford pictures OF diversified lowell
ness Upon every side are signs of thrift and
'sInoothed his wrinkled 'front.' for few would
siSDec: that the tramp of cOntending armies
sol"ng and So cruelty marred the fair face of this
beautiful section. New towns are springing
mp, old ones are stirring with 81 new life, fine
hotels. extensive manufactures and an earnest
looking people show even to casual observers
thai Virginia Is indeed awakening to pros
porous existence worthy of her capabilities and
opportunities. Railroads are being pushed in
every direction, and her mines of coal, iron
and other rlch products are being rapidly de-
veloped 1t was Il source OF pleasure TO OBJ
serve. and 10 have the observation confirmed
by residents, that the genus ioQfer-the man
could eomplacentiy spend most of the day at
the country store or railroad station liStIeSsly
Watching the coming and going of such as
might be travelling: srtppling with great fnan-
ciai problems, with, perhaps, not dollar in
his packet, and judging men and measures
from the narrow standpoint of his limited eX-
perience-has wel-Digh disappeared The farms
arc generally well cultivated but it was sad to
see how complete the future OF the wheat
crop. Field ALTER field scarcely appeared worth
harvestins- The moving grass, too, was short,
Out the herds OF thrifty cattle, principally
short-hOrns, gave a clue To the secret of agri-
cultural wealth. in that limestone region.
THE NATURAL BRIDGE.
In Rockbrid,e county is the Natural bridge,
reached by u ride OF two and One-half miles
from tho railroad Three comfortable INNS all
under one management, give hospitabe wei,
come at a reasonable cost, and beautiful and
fttisues OF travelling. But the wonderful gram
deur oil the great arch strikes the behOlder with
anazement. We had heard and read of the
Natural bridge since childhood and nearly
every one Is familiar with the pictures upon the
Covers of copy-books and in school readers, yet
none can be prepared for the majestic subliInity
of the scene itset The proportions are SO ad-
mirstble that the observer does not realize the
great height G2lo feet or the width $50 feet,
but Is gradually overcome with al realization of
its vast extent us he walks nearer and nearer
and still finds its vastness growing upon him.
As Is Well known, n county road runs over the
top, and so well are the edges concealed by
trees and shrubbery that travellers sometimes
pass across WltnOu5 knowing IL.
EGGLEsTON'S SPRINGS.
At Roanoke the Shenandoah Valley II. r.
forms junction with the Norfolk and Western
r r. AT Central, on the latter road, the New
River X. Il. pushes westward through goryes in
the Alleghanies To the productive coke works
River road we alighted and soon found our
selves waited back 10 the Olden times of Old
Virginia A row boat ferried us dreamily about
a mile down the silent river to Essleston' S
White sulphur Springs, in Giles county. Va.
Here we found u quiet undisturbed by the rude
shocks OF hurrying travel or business 1t was like
the Land of the Afternoon. The buildings had
been erected to accommodate several hundred
guests, but multiplied attractions elsewhere
the attendance here. Situated on the banks oil
the river, Il beautiful lawn extending its green
tures9ue bluffs opposite recalling readily to-
mind the castles and iOrtreSSes of the Rhine,
with host VINO seemed every inch a Virginia
gentleman, and who gave evidence of being II
successful farmer, il is a place where. but for
I'm, inc distant echoes from the passing trains on
be forgotten by the busy world.
MOUNTAIN LAKE.
From the springs stage ride of SIX miles
over a road reasonably good for Il mountain
road took us up to Mountain lake, n place once
seen never to be forgotten. 1t is a beautiful
sheet OF water about one mile long, one-third of
a mile wide, and in places seventy-five feet
deep. IT is in the heart of the Alleghanies and
at an elevation of about 1000 feet. Densely
wooded banks rise upon either side through
the gliSfening foliage of which aZaleaS, laurel,
rhododendrons, countless ferns and varied
nowers gave diversified and Understandable
shades. The hotel is comfortable and the rows
upon the dark, cool waters OF the lake sooth-
tngly delightful Tradition says that within
the memory Of venerable men still living tor of
Their parents. perhaps. the bed of the lake was
only marsh, and that annually the owners of
cattle ranging through the almost interminable
mountains would gather them together in the
narrow valley To- salt, count and brand them.
The trainping of SO many hoOfs stopped up the
adj in
cent wooded slopes formed the lake. Certain it
Is that in heating over its placid bosom we can
see in its crystal depths the trunks OF trees still
standing that must have grown when there
was no water there Some of the StuInps are
from eight inches To one foot in diameter.
Bald Knob. one of the highest peaks of the
AlieghanieS lifts its bold crest in the rear OF the
lake to height of 5000 feet. From its sum-
init
TN increasing prospec; tires wandering eyes,
Hills peep DER hills and Alps Alps arise
ar 10 the northeast the peaks OF Otter stand
win sentlneis: range after range extends upon
every side: villages ,ii-ten in the remote VAL
legs. and in the southeast New river, working
seem To dispute its course, flows sluggishly
along To mingie its waters, after many days
with those of the far-of Gulf OF Mexico.
ABINGDON.
Il the southwestern part of Virginia lies the
town of Abingdon, beautiful in situation, rich
In historic names, and n synonym for whole
h ssrted hospitality. Here the Prestons John
onS. itobinsons and other noted families en-
iaStu gave thclr minds
to the study OF politics in its better sense. Here
Judge Hughes has his summer residence and
the Whites. Grcenways. Lichfields and Trsys
tMr. e. r. Trige is the member Of Congress from
the ninth district. give tome To- society and aid
in developing It's materi;, wealth. From the
once Friiccly home of the PIgStOns tnow the
Martha W lsiiin@;On Institute. Wade Hampton
led forth his beau, ifu bride. The old f,S
dwelling" in t!Ie n-ighoDring grove o: Venerable
tree WAS the residence al Gov. and Secretary
Floyd. Through tie on: long street uf the towl
III tnc t'it.cn time the planters from the far
south poured in almost endless succession 10 th.
Virginia springs or TO the sc:,Shure 1t clcva-
tioli being ll're Than 1000 feet above tide il is
POW "a LiEoIiie boarding place iur people from
the low countries east and south, and il also
noted Tor It's schools. Many pleasant homes
aud ian- isev. John LLOYD, has :, lovely and NJ
is..ctive place, and = doin. good work in hi
extensive field az labor, cinbr.lcin, S l. ,lua,
some Of ,he lonely and sequcsterei valleys i'm
the rec'>>eS OF the mountains. Cemetery Hill
not i>if rom the main street, commands an ex-
IcllSiEe s'Et. charming view. terminated by the
Blue Ridge Considerable capital is invested in
Tue manufacture OF tobacco, and the place has
quite business air.
EoaN MOUNTAIN.
The extreme point of our visit was to be Roam
mountain on the border between east Tenncs-
See aad North Carolina. the highest peak save
one. Mount MITCHELL east of the Rocky noun
t.tlns. IL the recen; measurements and erea; CT
accuracy do not destroy its prestige. Leaving
Abingdon we changed at bristol, Tenn
ana i;:id The peculiar sensation of setting our
Watches back one hour havIn. reached % de-
there II ii immense tanncry. we took a mar
TOW gauge railroad fcssilei from lis tp-tunuS