The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-08-22

the Atlantic to the Alleghanies, none
is more beautifully situated. Undu-
lating, the country presents variety of
hill and dale III great loveliness, and
the hill-sides grow in abundant pro-
fusion luxuriant wheat and corn. The
forest is gay with fox and bird and
fowl, and visions of mountain fern,
and the rhododendron delight the
eye. The blackberry here reaches a
high state of perfection, and the apple
tree groans meath its burden of de-
licious fruitage. Here is the terminus
Of the Chester & Lenoir Railway, and
22 miles distant is the now noted
Blowing Rock. With perhaps thou
sand inhabitants. Lenoir has some as
substantial business men, good schools,
and as hospitable people as can be
found. Each residence is built at
sufficient distance from its neighbor
for looks and for comfort, and many
of the dwelling places, each on knoll
or eminence, resting in luxuriant shade,
and beautifed by the climbing arbu-
tus and multiflora, the little city is
indeed attractive and picturesque.
Her people! Oh! such hospitality!
They took us into their homes and en-
tertained us well-musical entertain
ments, mountain excursions, and pic
MICS were generously provided. In
deed every effort was made by these
good people to make our stay happy
one, and they succeeded most admir-
ably.
For the size of the town the Lenoir
library already is doubtless the best
collection of books in any town in the
State. The art exhibit would do
credit to any place, and is a marvel
indeed. There are nearly a hundred
pieces of painting and drawing, repre-
senting some as striking scenic beauty
as we have seen in a tour of art studios
from Boston to Charleston.
"The Angels Whisper" pencil
drawing by Mrs. DR.. J. M. Spainhour,
done when she was quite young, at
tracted our attention, perhaps most.
1t is nearer perfect than steel en-
craving, and was done without an
erasure. There are many pieces
landscape, the sea, fruits and flowers,
historic and classical productions, all
doing credit to those who designed
and executed them. If we had space
we could talk for hours about this de-
| ightful place and people.
H1BRlTEN.
1t is five miles from Lenoir to
Hibriten.a a mountain peak overlook
ing the country around. From its
summit we gazed out upon beautiful
country. A birds eye view of Lenoir
and the adjacent hills and dells is
worth great deal. The pretty name
Hibriten has displaced the old name
Turkey Cock, SO now Turkey Hen,
lower peak, pines away in her lone
illness with never a mate to gobble
good cheer. The top of this noun
tain is offered with one hundred acres
to any one who will build $4,000
hotel on its summit. Twenty-Five
miles distant is
BLOWING ROCK.
The turnpike to this place leads
through a country that might be wei
called "God's Own Country Ir
the distance, as one approaches the
summit of the Blue Ridge, where
Blowing Rock village is built, can b<
seen the Grand Father, the Pilot, the
Black Mountains, and hundreds o
other peaks that add grandeur anC
sublimity to the scene; meanderine
through the valleys, serpentine river
aparkle and vary the picture. Herr
the weather is never too warm, th'
water icy cold, and the scenery unsur
passed any where. Glenburnle an(
Boone, the remains of Daniel Boone
old home still can be seen, are point
of interest. Then there's the famou
Blowing Rock, where from a gorge o
thousands of feet the wind is contantl
blowing so that hat or handkerchie
thrown over the deadly precipice will
return to the hand of the sender. Oftel
f when the weather is murky, the valley
below are filled with cloud and look
ing over the scene these valleys AM
5 mountain peaks with dark cloud hov
ering around them, when the sun
5 setting is like vast ocean of molte
r silver gilded with gold, while at othe
/ times the storm with its lightning an
t thunder RACES below. Here above tn
5 clouds the editors were given the hos
} pitality of the city and a ball at even
, ing. Thursday closed the stay of tn
, Press Association. Nearly all the per
a pushers have returned to their home
with pleasantiest recollections of Wes
ern Carolina.
+ There is to be great farmers ma
y meeting at Raleigh during the Sta
Fair. We commend every movemel
n which has for its object the improv
ment Of the condition of agricultur