New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-06
THE CAROLINA HIGHLANDS.
NOTES OF AN AUTUMN TRIP.

testified that 1t was past midday. The morning had
slipped away while we had been climbing over the Ridge
through Black Gum Gap 1--WE In one OF the south
counties CT North Carolina, tina Georgia
ne and the nOtched post the wagon road which we
had lust reached youchsafed the Information that was
eleven miles to somewhere 1t Is not the habit Of nile
posts here TO bear plec legend Eleven miles to
Jonesv because there Is only one place to go to; the
others far away. single village cluster ~
half dozen houses about dngy court house. suces for
many mountain county. And the nOtches on the posts
perhaps they are not much concession to preSalen
itoracy survival from the times when paint was
abundant and tho ability TO write or read Arabic
numerals n rare accom- pllshment our mules had been
recommended good walkers" but eleven miles over
roads which forbade moro violent gait meant three
hours and therefore we drew rein at the frat farm
house IL ia gODd form 10 disnount before being
bidder, kept saddles while the proprietor OF
the clearing sauutered down TO the fence, when In
response to delicate suggestion rs TO dinner he spoke
up with prompt hospitality: Light strangers nght
and hitch" And we 4" lit"
The house, like most OF those occuT led by forehanded
farmers from the original CABIN
through an intermediate form known a. the Cherokee
cottage" The primitive cabin Is square structure
with an outside chimney. low door and no windows
ventilation heing assured by cracks between the logs
through which spry and not overfed hound can leap
with ease The next sepIs to place two cabins side by
side with sx.foOt alleyway between them ana
continuous roof both. or course the lyway Is
shut In after q time aud becomes an entry before
which a porch is evolved to complete the Cherokee
cabin of most ambitious style. The addition OF second
story follows HABITS OF luxury begin to prevail and
single shopping considered insult Client for large
FAIRLY and casual guess and when the roof lne OF snch
house broken by central gable over the porch ana
tho porch Itself has second floor accessible from inc
upper story It without OF solid comfort
The history OF the rise and progress OF this mountain
architecture told and again by examples OF
every type along roads aud trails, and not nre-
quenty the original cabin now used "a an out mousse
sti stands ny dwelling OF the most advanced type TO
witness tho enterprise and advanced prosperity
OF tho owner In the cabin OF the early settler was low
dark loft under the roof The ground floor therefore
the place OF preference and precoicuce. an he who
llmbed the ladder went TO more lowly quariers We
were Interested Ia observing how this sentiment that the
ground door Is the place OF honor has survived even
where ladders have given place 10 sarcases and dark
lofts to cheerful Upper The landlord OF conSid
cradle hote once apooszod for being compelled to send
us to bright aud airy apartments his second hoor Us II
! he offering ndisniiy.
This particular with which our hopes OF dinner
werc now Identified hal reached the stage
but its porch had wiiened out into An inviting Vcranda
which extended its entire front while behind 1t
for most effective background tine dark heulOoks
OF q steep mountain slope Tho ground fell away on
either hand To where rll gllstensi down and the two
strcnmets met not many rolls below % fern brook
which hnstcncd on between banks OF rholcdcndron.
L
TO vernnd, and looked down tue course OF the stream
the valley was full the brn oi pearly autumn haze
which every line AMI mellow ct every tint ~ the
landscape aud purpeI the mountain tops beyond untu
the skyline faded into shimmrrng mist. On this
side OF the stream aul on that roso tho molntain'-
always the Mountains and the mountains always drnped
with forcst-while on slope above tho drciluou-
trees rose scntn. pin while pnrs-a> much ~ 'ne
"a in colder air of the North, nnG nngn ont Their
giant m characteristic gestures Of regal strength
and grace. Perhaps Il tho atmosphere 81 hearty
welcome about IL NAV have been the hum ~ the bsc-
. they were STORM, nectar from gol1rurol he the row Of
gums by tEc gate or was % tile aroma or coring
diuner i.omctning there that Invested that an
tanned Landscape with the charm ~ peace inrnAhie The
mountains wrre Wild but not inho'p'tablc. There was
strength and every outline. but u" suggestion "I
cruelty eye It VISA wilderness mat lay before
a. with nothing but single column ~ i"aiV curing
smoke from unseen chimney 70 Indicate human
habitaton And yet every suggestion was home'Ae ~
Of land IA hah noushcd generations OF men VINO h'
TILED AMI loved ~.
Tho ,,, r.t man OF the party wa. nror.cd from these
sentimental musiux, 10y gimp-e OF something mt au1
ripe aud yellow attached 20 clcurbit ic'"f vine 'ha'
wandered over the fence auI ho mnrmnrcd Lo"eiuHy;
We've struck the pumpkin ~" belt This cheerful
fith va. iuatnsI ~ Ned into tho hon.c al the
announcement ~ dinner and founi a p1airant of the
en. Article by each plate. The pie something OF
a aurpr.s. after a fortnishts ride among the noun
tam. tn slvory steam from good ho dinne- no longer
-url ri-ed ~ We han been warned against the leAay
irving pan o, the south. grease sliicn food and %
monotony Of hog aud h,miuy; bat or experience NJ
,,.,l t,me wns absolutely narrowing only on rare
orcasIons Perhaps the food superior to IL repuia
ton: perhaps the feeders we've not In CONDITION 10
pronounce expert opinions AptrtitcH stimulated by The
tonc ar Of altitude not critical ani Indication
IA. no terr1rs which eight hours the ridgeolr q
mpIo cannot rut 70 rout Upon mi table chicken
frrd OF course hat young and t-n1er Ham, also fried
and eggs ditto but fro.h aad faNorons we're thee Win
bread of the variety known light" but of consider
ale specific gravity after ALL ani corn cake as matter
Of course The butter not OF such golden grain ana
delicate aroma ~ Darlington fancy print but II was
te genuine product of the AID not an oco counter
felt Potatoes. sweet AM Irish. boiled nee, sliced
Tomatoes soclled coffee. milk. honey, sorghum syrup
AM the browning pumpkin pie completed The a-Sort-
men which host and hs good wife kept urfing ~ to
demoilsh The attack made seemed to rs reasonably
energetic and successful although the good woman
remarked with much concern that We dldn seem 10
keer much about eatin'."
Whom the reckoning was called for oar host sal Dash
fuly that he hat been hg<eriR on tIc dinner ana
thought It nj gt be with 10 cents piece and 10 cents
head for The stock" Crhero were ave Of n, with our
mounts besides pack mule. and the heISS had
becn treated 10 all the they could ea') But
then" he continued slowly though without any pause
thatIl bout foot up dollarn ten cents n dohrh
ten cent. = heap money; n II you think that's too
hefty III drop OF th odd Ton cents eil II o'oh
dollar fur the hall Ouiht."
,haryes We ,.lI not nnd invariably Us low as this nor
the quality Of ths fool high. Indeed there we're
occasions were driven back IL confusion RON
some dish OF unknown companion whlch VIC hh'
attacked in sIlrit OF reckless adventure E'c'lth Ut
two or three tables however found something ana
enough of II that could be eaten with relish sun
aet OF grea or variety and higher nutritye value WonId
be- easily achieved tho delightful inpovilenco OF
the PEOPLE Here magnificent grazing IahdN p"t
cutting hay is business and II Is easier TO turn
the cattle Out into the WOODS autumn AMI to cnt down
basswooi or black locust tree. occasionally IN the
winter for them to gnaw uIon. Spring hnds mnch OF
the stock 80 cared the mt, that Is. 50 lean
AMI exhausted that they need to be boosted mp Wheh
tbev lic dawn An energetic wolf from the Big Smokes