The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-03-13
LOCAL SKETCHES.
II.
T8Fn the tap"

I n.
torinsand olteu CT deeper Characteristics,
are the rocky battlements OF the valley.
Hawthorue,s fapcies about the "Great
Stone Face" are not something peculiar
to the White Hills. In all places and
times men have lifted sup their eyes to
the hills" drawn by the power OF some
deep-rooted yet mysterious sympathy
The beauty loving eye of the Greek in
vested many wooded slope and graceful
peak with human personality.
Make careful observations and let the
fancy play around the two branches of
the Stone Range as they slope off rapidly
to the Gap, and see if it be not easy to
imagine them two PROSTATE giants, Titan
monarchs Of the earth,. stretching out
toward each other, in their imprisonment,
silent hands of perpetual greeting. The
simie. will grow upon you, if you will walk,
as the evening shadows draw down over
the caves of the hills, out across the
broad plateau which stretches between
the river and the mouth of the Gap.
There is something so stcrnly graceful!
so quietly regal and majestic about these
two abuttng slopes, that in their power
and silent beauty they seem to speak to
each other in nobler language than our
own.
But they should lie smitten by the morn
ing rays when one approaches with view
to penetrating within their hidden do
mains. Then thcy fifty seem the portals
to some, promised Land beyond which
the Eldorado of all youthful fancics must
be hidden. There is 4 large rectangular
rock standing out midway up the eastern
slope. which might we'll form the lid OF Z
vast sarcophagus, the solitary tomb OF
some primpval CrWsus, sepulchrcd amid
his storied myriads. Indeed the figure Is
not without significance when one thinks
Of those other jewels, of pure though
black carbon which the mountain en-
tombs.
This same eastern slope presents,
along the road bed of the South Atlantic
4 Ohio, curious and interesting series
of strata formation and inclination. 10
the eyes Of the skilled observed there
are here many 'semons in stone. The
extreme angle at which the strata are
tilted, as we'll as the large number cx-
posed, indicates the operation of tremcnd-
Gus forces The mightiest powers which
human energy can direct and human
genius can evoke are but as the surface
ripple to the swelling of the ocean tides,
compared with the primal upheaving
forces which so shattered and distorted
the cartii's solid crust.
There are two projecting rockclits on
the last slope, through each of which &
charmingly picturesque little tunnel has
been completed. Around the more re-
mote. Bee Rock there fingers tradition
so characteristic Of the mountain imagln-
alton. that it would seem worthy of being
preserved among the local archives. Bee
Rock, so they say, derived its name from
the fact that its crcyiccs and crannies
used once upon time to he repletc with
honey and the honcy-comh. Thither at
/
bears Of all the mountain side frequently
assemble. The willy mountaincers, noting
this fact, mingled the poisonously pleasant
"m0onshine" with the honey. As Il nat
ural result, the bears became dcvotecs OF
Tcrpsichorc, and many an impromptu
dance with other amusing autIcs, soon
testified to the commences and yirlity OF
the "moonshinc. - After their spree the
bears were said to gather about the rock
for snoozc, often making line around
lis edge. Then came the thoughtful
mountainccr and carefully selecting out
those that seemed richest and latest.
would proceed to dispatch each OF them
by q single wcll-directcd blow. The 9th
ers were allowed to depart, being sure 10
return later in more eligible condition 70
satisfy tie fine susccptibilitics of these
mountain epicuros Whether this pleni-
tude OF bears existed in the siirran or
palcozoic period, neither history or tradi-
ton bcarcth any clear testimony.
As YOU advance into the Gap, the
scenery becomes more wildly picturesque
and beautiful, either slope presenting a
delightful view While the gorge at no
spot touches the grandeur Of O. Rocky
Mountain canon, it's safe to affirm that
nowhere East Of them can be found a
more unique and impressive mountain
pass. Nor will the traveller from Norfolk TO
Louisville lie carried bya more striking c3-
ample Of natures handiwork The noun
tain s,iesarc variegatcd by bold, jutt!ng
cliffs and deep cut ruynes, through which
hidden water courses writhc and tumble
down to the main stream. The course OF
the river is, throughout, most romantic
and irregular. Near The center OF the
main Cap. the water dasheS among the bout
ders With demonic fury and at several turns
boils ard Gibbs like vertable witches,
cauldron. There is no fall OF large reach,
but many small cascades Of great beauty.
The finest suggestions come from the con-
trast between the ever shifting whirling
stream, and the sharply cut edges and
massive forms OF the rocks. There is
something tragic, too, and gloomy, about
the fierce stream and its stern environment.
1t has no pleasant holiday inns;c, such as
river makes in the lowlands. but through
the gureling monody Of the water, one can
hear the shrieks OF the powcrlcss victim
abandoned to the fury CT the merclless
torrent. When the great spring and fall
freshets come dashing through the Gap,
few more impressive spectaclcs OF vast,
rcsstlcss power could be imagined. Yet
the same stream in the summer tor the
most part glidcs quietly enough, with its
fierce turbulence mellowed to a gentle
murmur in serene accord with the Ian
uuid air and the luxurant vegetation.
80 Aeoiian harp could respond to more
varied impulses Of passion and rcpose,
than are found within the gamut Of the
mountain stream.
L. :. ,ot liz rrnr;nno of Iii. vi icln 70