The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-13
AMONG THE MOUNTAINS TOPS.
Where the Happy Summer Time May
Re Spent Pleasantly.

w Ac4O I00 11GppJ 0uu1AnOE ILL . A16y
Ee Spent Pleasantly.
HIGHLANDS, N. c., Sept. 9.-Up in the
clouds we certainly are. When we were
travelling by stage from Walhalla here, and
were told by our driver. Mr.. Poor, that,
"You are crossing now Stump House now
''Kellers," Pine Soap Stone" and last
but not least. "Satulah," ordinations Of
delight from all at the grandeur of the
scenery, were heard, not unmingled with
screams, and clutches at whatever was
within reach. We would have hold on to
anything even to somebody else's brother
But beauty of scenery, thumps and screams,
have all been surpassed since our arrival at
the Highlands.
Arriving here we located our trunks and
occasionally ourselves lat meal times, at
Mr.. NOrton's, q confederate veteran, and
indeed the only southerner who takes
boarders. He is an excellent host. His
father was one Of the earliest settlers on
these mountains.
The thermometer here registered 44e
when those in the cities were trying 20 keep
cool in tie nineties. Fires and buck wheat
cakes are the order of the night and morn
ing.
One'our Of first trips at mountain climbing
was up Satulah, a mile and a half from
this little village. 1t has an elevation of
nearly 5000 feet. At its base we meet "the
old man of the mountain :" as he STYLED him
self, but certainly he possesses the power of
Transforming himself into tlCO young men.
The assistance rendered in getting over
difficult places, genial manners, and inter-
esting conversation beguiled the tolsome
journey. He told with what touch of a
magic wand these grand mountains would
compare with Switzerland or Italy.
With restings by ripping spring and on
Nod
reached. A grand view Of hill and valley
lay at our feet. No pen can describe and
no brush paint its varied beauty. Words
expressive of rapture, sound cold and
trivial. yet we must try to translate the
feelings with which this scene inspires us.
In the valley near US are the farm
houses surrounded by fields Of grain,
which look, from our great hight, about
the size of small flower garden. Some
bushes, as we suppose, are the orchard. and
very small animal proves to be a horse.
Beyond that rises the Green mountain
Then, as far as the eye ran reach, stretches
an ocean OF blue mountains, one billow fol-
lowing another, and the lnists looking like
white caps" on the waves The COMPARE
son is complete when we sec the green tops
OF tho mountains rising above the clouds
like islands out of the sea.
THE CHANGING VIEWS.
You will not always have the same view.
Sometimes the mists charge into rain
clouds. 1t is very interesting to watch the
clouds form. They are below US. In few
minutes we see the rain falling in the val-
leys. and wonder if we will catch the
shower" too. Before we reached the foot of
the mountain we were obliged to SEEK the
shelter OF q tree, and remain there until the
rain ceased. There we parted with Mr.. E.
of Savannah, whom we will long
remember as our fellow climber to the sum-
NIT Of beautiful Satulah, where
The eagle sails on and is come and is gone.
Stately and still like ship at sea.
To climb a mountain on horseback to the
uninitiated is more difficult than to walk.
Going up we are afraid we will, dismount
the wrong way,sand that the horse will
reach the top before we do. Coming down
we fear the order will be reversed, and that
we may reach the base of the mountain
first, not holding our heads up, or in any
way to be described as dignified. However,
for one who likes novelty, advise him to
try it.
Half way up we stopped our horses to
gaze at one Of the loveliest bits of moun-
tain scenery ever beheld. The cleared fields
on the mountain side were bathed in the
golden light Of setting sun. Above tn is
was the pale green of the cultivated fields,
and still higher were the thick forests,
which, softened by a deep shadow looked
like velvet. But even while we gazed a
thick mist rolled betw cen US aud this lovely
picture, hiding everything from view. A
curtain Of clouds surrounded US.
Quite a party of US spent the day at
Whiteside. one of the highest mountains in
the neighborhood. We we're a gay crowd;
some went on horseback and some in hacks
1t seems that a trip to the mountains is in
complete without a series of yells, so we
were nearly deafened by the same and
when we reached the top such waving of
handkerchiefs and hallooing to those who
were still below!
What they call 1.-THE Nose" Of Whiteside
is Just beautiful. 1t is an immense gray
rock, ever so many feet high, hoary with
age, jutting out quite distance with many
seams and scars of time. 1t seems 80 indie
pendent and aspiring just like the nose of a
sculptured war-horse.
HORSEBACK RIDE IN THE CLOUDS.
One morning we arose early and took a
horseback ride. There is nothing more en-
ioyable than ride before breakfast. We
went beyond Kalallanta, and returning
were caught in a cloud. It was thick
enough to be cut with knife. IL cleared
away for a minute or two and in the valley
many hundred feet below there rested an-
other like great white sheet, not thing
else visible.
No picture could ever do justice to the