The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1885-07-16
Prof. Hilltard's Letter.

4 u
The Teachers Assembly adjourned on
Saturday night, 9th of June, as stated
IN my last letter, but many of the Chau-
tauquans remained at Black Mountain
till the following Monday for the final
grand excursion over the Balsam Noun
tains.
On Sunday morning Rev. DR.. James,
Greensboro Female College, preached to
the teachers yet remaining and to num-
Der of visitors from the surrounding
country. At night there was held in the
Assembly Hall teachers prayer meet
ing, conducted by Prof. Fl. l.. Smith, of
Selma.
On Monday morning, at the direction of
Mr.. E. G. Harrell, Secretary of the AS
sembly, and to whose untiring efforts is
due all the success of the founding and
progress of the Assembly, trunks and
valises were packed and checked to what
ever points the teachers wished them.
and all were ready to enjoy whole days
ride over the mountains, with no baggage
whatever, save now and then hand
satchel or shawl strap.
At 8 o'clock, with Mr.. Harrell as caps
tain of the van, we purchased for 81 our
round trip ticket from Black Mountain
to Charleston, near the Tennessee line,
and all babe sad farewell to Mt. Mitchell
Hotel, Col. Davis. the genial proprietor,
| Mr.. KoontZ, the cleverest Of hotel clerks
and boarded the cars for our grand excur.
] sion for the day.
During the three weeks session Of the
Assembly, much had been done and said
by lecturers and private converse with
each other to awaken in the teachers the
greatest enthusiasm for excellence in their
worthy profession; and now forgetting
the things past, all turn away with happy
hearts and gladstone faces in anticipation
of the pleasure of viewing the grand
scenery before US. In a few moments we
are at Asheville, and through the man
agement of Mr.. Harrell there is no in
convenience to us of changing cars,
but an uninterrupted ride for the day lies
before us.
Crossing and leaving the beautiful
French Broad, with its dashing, dancing,
laughing waters, the eragsy peaks ant
grand, picturesque scenery along its banks
we hurry away towards Waynesville
wondering if there awaits US the pleasur,
of viewing s,lch magnificent sights o
grandeur and beauty as are known to
those who have taken in the view of thi
beautiful French Broad from Ashevill
to Warm Springs.
} We rattle along with nothing special e.
claim our attention more than is commo,
to the excursionist over an ordinar,
mountain ride There is no lack of beau
tiful scenery, however. Here we fit pas
green fields of waving corn, there is
mountain side covered with golden grain
gllstenlng in the sunlight. Now over
, trestle of some deep mountain stream, s,
far above the houses along its banks that
, their roofs appear like the bird trap
!, made of sticks which we tended in tn
days OF our childhood sports.
He,e the lazy horse is grazing on tn
, mountain side and there the great ia
, COW has como down contented from the
} clover field and is resting by the meadow
brook on the rich green turf. We pas
on the slopins hill the famous church
built from the lumber of one tree alone
land scantling or two left over), and no,
we are at the depot of the mountain tow
of Waynesyille, alongside the windin
Richland Creek. Here is the home {
one Of our fine Chautauquans, and tn
, conductor waits for him to lift on boar
and place in her already reserved sea
his Jessie girl, and away we speed agai
, up towards the heights of the Balsar
, range.
Soon the queries which arose in OF
r minds as we wheeled off from the beaut
| full French Broad are hushed, and other
arise as we ascend-queries as to whetht
t the sights we now behold are not the fiji
C est our visions are to rest upon. But eli
e we end our grand excursion, scenes MOI
Y wildly beautiful still are to open up b'
s fore us. Here on either side are the hill
b of the mountains, high-piled, till the
q SUBMITS, towering toward TIE sky, seel
! lost in the floating clouds o'erhead. Ar
{ now passing mountain gorge, and look
Il ing across the carpet of green near b.
beautiful and spread out wide, for mt
ment we seem lulled into sweet visions
:, dream-land, as there rises in the far di
- lance to right and to left, peak upon pea
of mountains, till tEelr immeasurab
: SUBMITS, mingling with the canopy abov
merge into the hue of heavens own bl
O. depths, and partly grit us round with tt
n beautiful momentary arc OF the of
a broken horizon.
y Now wcare on the highest ridge Of Il
y Balsam mountains, and at the waysid
e rustic Inn we step off for dinner.
" Here rich and welcome board, lad
~ with all the toothsome dishes that c,
- tempt the hungry excursionist await u
;, With all the other good things. we S
=, =, and taste the rich mountain milk al
: butter 'that you read about" On
in curing how long we have, the answ