The daily state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 188?-1891, 1890-12-13
IN THE CLOUDS.
SENATOR vANCE's HOME ABOVE
THE MIST.

NlSEt Camp---Ihe GIOries of the |
Sunrise.
During thr past summer there was a
happy party Of young people visiting at
Senator Vance'S mountain home. Some !
of these visitors are among the most pop
ular young ladies in the State. One of
the events Of the visit was a trip to the
top of Mount Mitchell, and the follow
ing is an account Of it By one of the
party a young lady Of Louisville, Ky.
A mighty mountain is the OLD |
Black in Western North Carolina, on
| whose slender summit known as Mitch
| ellis Peak-les the solitary grave Of lis
| disCoverer. Prof. Elisha Mitchell lost
his life in the scientific exploration OF
this mountain, the highest east OF the
Rockies, and the people of the State
have erected monument to his memory
on t. g most fitting spot this lonely eyrie
above the clouds The perfect isolation
and silence OF this place can not be
imagined. Here and there among the bal
sans one may hear the twitter of a tiny
snOWbird, and perhaps now and then
the stiffness is intensified by the muffl I'd
tread Of bear. During the summer,
however, pleasure parties scale these
heich:s TO sae the grave anJ
enjoy the extensive view, and
perhaps the very nerriest Of
these was one that left GOmbroou, the
beautiful mountain home Senator
Vance, the toast Of North Carolina, with
the intention Of camping on Black
Mountain
Our horsas and mules went single
file up the narrow path, ten miles to the
top, and q picturesque sight was pre-
sentad to the foremost riders, who, at the
1r0F of cliff, turaed to see the caval-
cad7 winding by two or three turns up
its face, their gay colored costumes
cleaning among the trees. On each
saddle was strapped blankets or bags of
provisions From one pommel hung a pill
low; from another two tin c0ffee-pots
jugled nerTily. Halfway up, on a
, level spot, we dism0unted and ate a
Gypsy dinner. Then We fastened onward
, in order to reach our destination before
sunset. About q hundred feet from the
top q huge overhanging rock forms q
kind Of cave, in which we took up our
) abode. spreading the tender balsam
; broughs as thick, soft couch OF fra
GRANGE for cur nights repose. Before
j, the cave fire was kindled, and all night
|, our guides heapei on the logs that he
| ruddy flames might not only warm, but
u = protect Us from any wandering Bruin
i Here, with many q merry jest, our coffee
: and tea were prepared and our mea
brOiled. Never was a more delicious
!" supper eaten, never one more enjoyed
- Half the night we sat about the fire
81 making the woods ring and the grea
e rocks Cclo with o1r merry songs, laugh
y ing and joking, or unconsciously DRAWN!
8 nearer together about the glowing log
II as some one told in aWe-struck tones
gruesome ghost story.
In this sepulchral amusement tn
chaperon led the van, for she delighte'
). to shudder, and was never SO happy a
when whisper Of some superna ura
visitor chilled the marrow in her bone
90 and made cold ehlls creep down he
a, back The two men who acted as guide
A. amused Us by their droll remarks. The
are the typical mountaineers Of whol
10 Christian Reid writes. One of thei
lg characteristics is an utter dislike to col
ly Tossing lack Of anything. With praise
- worthy patriotism they consider every
thing that pertains to their mountain
far superior to anything else. AS "
= sat before the cave in that lonely spc
I'd "aWay among the misty mountains" W
te were surprised to see two unmiStakabl
ly theological students stroll by as calml
od as though going to recitation at tt
ed inquired aside of Jesse, our mountai
ho
er Jesse did not intend that they shoulC
ng but he grew facetious in the refusal.
re NV hotels done filed" he explaine
Vn soberly; "an' youuns II hev ter roo
down uher hill som'ers" Then with tt
III true spirit of his race he added Not
"n we AIM got no more rooms. Plenty
ay room in this yer hotel, but | amt pr
Ter pared for no more-soap an towels
ne out"
ne Indeed it was only by g hash-like cor
bination that our chaperon managed
pacn US all in nnder the rock-each 70
ed in q blanket like an Egyptia mumm
and protesting vigorously again
being used as either .a" or ms
~ .re5s One young man W.T. u4iortuna'
his " snuggled down at the feet OF sever
>rs' rnaiGens was heard during The we su
DOR hours to remark feeblg that he b
two square inches OF side still u
kv. occupied if any one desired toe
70 stool Another dsnsel, ia her troI
led dream, transferred her head 70
,rs adjacent par of nuse top BOOTS a "a W
.av kicked yiol entity down the mountain
an inspiration Of nightmare As t
air grew colder Bill demanded sol
mountain dew of bis comTade and, WI
Jesse confessed to have emptiod the b
tie for his own ediicasioa, started tr(
kis' his post oy the ire with vengeance
Nc, his eye.
era "Why, Bill, "remonstratedJess benz
olently, "oidn't you never hear some
'onr song what says the Lord will provide
ara At last accounts Bill was still living
lid faith.
and Our slumbers were early disturbed
mo- Ajax, the bow-legged flea with the
Rcx let head WHO lies III wait for tourists
Law the peak, so We rose to see the sun
10 likewise. La great, f7ecy, DRIFT
masses below US lay the clouds,
above US the blue sky was unlocked,
a cloud intervening between Us
ore. heaven. For miles about US, aro'
her: and below, stretched the mountains
I,l... D;I~o bo plocE ord tho Ora ct