The Asheville citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1885-1889, 1886-09-11
lFor the Asheville CITIZEN.
AYIsIT TO CEsAR'S HEAD-Aue. 81.

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How cold, how dark, how undefned
the world looks IN the mysterious silence
! loftWilight that precedes the coming of
day, stand on thegreat jutting rock of
C@Sar,s Head that FrearS its massive yis-
age 5000 feet above the meadows and
plains, like some Titar king viewing
with grim stoliditY the immensity of all
his undispnted possessions; the streng
wind like a breath from hismighty lungs
almost lift me from my feet, causing me
to crouch hat upon the rock, and clutch
my Hutferfng shawl more tightly around
me. All is vague. indistinct as yet to the
eye. Cloud and sky, mist, mountain,
and valley, are a chaotic mass thatiin
their shifting motion puzzles me as to
whether they are gazing upon earth or
sky. No twitter ofbirds. no clarion of
cocks, give token of approaching day.
There are no clouds ON the Eastern hor-
izon, no mantles of glory to shield the
brightness of the day king, and saYe a
1umirous blush he bursts forth unher-
aided upon the grey bleak world, work
ing transformations as marvellous as that
in the creation NlIeRRGed said, ,-sLet
there be Light :. oh, it is wonderful
what artist could paint, what pen des-
cribe the magical leffect :. Far out beyond
the soft undulation of plains, extending
until the rotundity of our sphere hides
them from vision, throbs the restless
bosom of the broad Atlantic. Yonder
distant peak like a blue patch on the
Southern sky is Kings Mountain 13O
miles distant, and opposite to this is
Stone Mountain near Atlanta, Ca, 170
miles away, these two being 300 miles
apart. Whitesides with its dazzling pre-
cipice glittering in the sun can be seen
distinctly. Mitchell and Craggy scarce
show their frowning faces, through the
angry breath of storm clouds thatenYiron
them. Pisgah like some gracious queen
smiles in unclouded beauty on the tran
gull hills that lie around her. Scarcely
more than stones throw is Table Rock
a darksome, unapproachable looking
mountain, with precipitous sides. Like
tiny white doves'that have nestled for
lest amid the weary waste of mountain
and plain, lie the towns. of Greenville,
Spartanburg, Laurens, uendersonville,
and Walhalla. How hard it is to realize
that those white specks are not the abode
of quiet and solitude, but bustling towns,
filed with hustling, jostling, feverish
humanity. A peculiar illusion is to look
down Immediately below. the dizzy
height of the precipice, on what appar-
emily is a perfectly level plain, thickIy
covered with most luxurious verdre.
The largest forest trees look no taller
than shrubs couple of feet high, an
the lower earth would regard as clearing
the sky, appears no larger than a spar
row in the great depth below; but the
wonder of all, is to be told that this
seemingly level land, are the wooded
TONS of faIr &haf ~ Iiooor,,o
BILE when looked at from the immense
precipice above. How musical is the
sound of rushing waters that have lept
down 800 feet of rock at RaVenscliff, to
madlY race through the impenetrable
gorge lying black in the gloomy depths.
Our fancy pictures the course of the
stream; from its birth in soft little mossy
cradle on the mountain top, gurgling in
-babyhood at the first peep of sunshine;
laughing in happy childhood as it plays
with pebbles and sand; then dashing in
tempestuous youth over dark rocks and
cliffs that beset its pathway, until it
reaches the monotony of middle life to
glide into the passionless peace ofage, and
be swallowed in the ocean--the emblem
of eternity. In spirit of adventure l
scramble down a creVice in the solid
granite, and after some perilous descents,
l find myself in the DEVILS drawing
room, more appropriate title thought
would have been his charnel house. 1
was told that clergyman had addressed
Sundays ago telling them this rock was
riYen iasunder at the moment Rof The
Crucifxion. What a relief to discover a
small aperture opening upon a romantic
path, winding among shady trees, and
frequently affording the most charming
views. tits disappointing to find C@sar's
Head in no way resembling its namesake,
but more suggestive of toothless boar. 1
am pointed out group called C@sar's
family upon rock stained
by decaying lichens, it looked
to me like a funeral train upon
antique Egyptian pottery. There are
no end to the innumerable quaint fig
ures and groups the imagination can
discern upon these weather-stained
rocks, but to me the distant views are
much more attractive. About 2 p. m.
DR.. Miles called our attention to the phe
nomenal aspect of the atmosphere such
as he had never witnessed during his
fifteen years residence. The country
that had been SO clearly visible in the
morning was entirely hidden by a dark
smoke-colored haze, we felt as five were
stranded on desert Island isolated from
the world, the sun shining enclouded
above. We saw no sunset, the horizon
was colorless with haze. At night
gale of wind was blowing, we went upon
the piazza to view the stars that were
shining with supernatural bTilliancy,
but the biting blast drove US shivering,
and chattering back to the comfort of
glowing FIRE in the parlor. The wind
Increased, and shortly before 10 p m,
even amid-th din of rattling windows.
and roaring tempest, we could hear the
ominous growl of the earthquake, and
feel vibrations that caused the noun
tains to tremble. It was not sufficient
however to cause alarm, and indeed was
not noticed by some. cannot close
without expressing my admiration ofthe1
hotel so serupuouslY clean and comforta-
bic, and with most delightful host in
~. A NRs = = 80