Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-05-06

different shapes aud tlnts,-wood OF ma
tnre's own carving; the greatest variety
beautiful green MOSS ferns, lichens. prest
little pebbles, and large odd-shaped rock
around which the green laurel and junipe
bushes grew. After many pauses f9
breath, and much toiling, we st last reach
ed the top of the range; here the view
though still partially obscured, was to u
most novel and interesting; deep and ia
below at our right was "The Kettle" wit
its mountain walls; behind US, across tn
gap, arose, side by side. two very simila
triangular sh aped points; Looking ver
much like representations seen of the pyra
mids; these points had often been see
seen from the valley and hills, but viewe
from this elevation they were SO muc
more beautiful and changed in appearance
as not to be recognized; And with all c
this there was magnificent panorama il
the east-A shifting play of clouds, sun
shine, and shadow, against the Blue Ridge
Our destination, the summit of the Peak
was visible only from one poiut along th
route; which is very unususl, ss there ar
not many places for miles around that
can be obscured except by clouds. Our as.
cent now became more gradual; in SOM
places it was almost level, and in others VI
would descend little; but what strang'
route it was,-a lonely rock path on I
mountain topl In some places the noun
| tain wonld recede on each side of the patti
like the roof of a house, and only leave vi
room to walk; but still we kept upon th,
rocks on top, for il we went below w
would be caught in briers. Then there
would be break, and we would have tt
climb down off of hinge rocks to q narrow
passway, like foot bridge of stone, over 8
deep chasm, and ascend on the opposite
side; and there would be very narrow pas
sages between wide thin rocks set perpen-
dioularly upon their edges. As we neared
the summit the pathway grew wider, and
the Jagged, storm. swept, lightning-scath-
ed rocks were thrown In more awful con-
fusion;-how suggestive they were of thai
convulsive, fiery age, that gave them birth
But hark! there is glad exclamation from
the foremost one of the now wearied little
party. Several voices exclaim, "There is
the peak" Looking up we beheld, above
the tree tops, bare, gray, bleak, aud lone
ly knob; and feeling of awe crept over us
IS we realized where we were, and gazed
'face to face" upon that which had hither-
to been yelled in blue, or wrapped in clouds.
Our ascent now, again, became steep,
toilsOme, and indeed perilous; our path led
very near the edges of frightful precipices
hanging over dark yawning chasms proba-
bly, hundreds of feet in depth. Have we
not in dreams often been in just such places?
We tremble now to think how when pass.
ing very near the edge of one great shelly
ing rock, we became dizzy and near falling.
The summit is at last gained. Here the
view is indeed ublime:-plantations, villa
ges, towns, cities, rivers-aye, mountains
and clouds are at our feet. We never saw
Virginia before. Beyond the dense pine
woods that encircle the peak we see around
in all directions the beautiful Valley of Vir-
ginia-a vast country completely checkered
with houses, fields, timber-the Shenando-
ah winding through it like thread of sill
yer. and the whole encircled by a blue wall
of distant mountain. Over in the direc-
tion of Staunton, indistinct in the far dis
tance, were strange pointed peaks-moun-
tains we had never seen before.
The whole day was spent rambling over
this mountain top, and oh tis strange
sights we saw-sights that amply paid us
for our long and toilsome journey; for be-
sides the magnificent outlook, there were
bear and fox-dens, and great rccks under
which the whole party could cit and be
sheltered from rain and sun. We found
AAoeiO oPiibE WhAShS oSAotSo w ooJS W 40
very near the very highest poi t of the
mountain. 1t only had small basin On
the edge of large rock, over which it drip
ped, but then there was enough clear pure
water for US to drink. This was a warm
and sunny spot, being protected from the
wind by cliffs on the north and west; 30 We
assembled here to rest and eat the dinner
which we all relished very much. Dariug
the evening we left the party in their pleas.
ant retreat, and again seated ourselves up
on the very summit. How wild, bleak,
and lonely, was the spot to be right in the
midst of civilzationl The tin roofs of the
mansions in the far distance glitter in the
sun like stars. Far below us we hear the
cries, and catch glimpse of the raven in
his flight. There is movement on the
mountain side, and a fox creeps froa un-
der rock, and leaps stealthily along. 1t
is winter, but looking down we behold a
sea of living green with white cloud ships
sailing over it. Is this fairy landP How
often in childhood with many imaginings
have we gazed up at the white clouds
against the heavenly blue; now with kin.
dred feeling we look down upon them set
off in bold relief by the dark green pine
tree tops. We hear music toO-music as
soft and gentle as the sailing of those cloud
ships, and in strange harmony with our feel
ings, and the grand and awful solitude Of
the place. Then came reoolleotions of the
tales and traditions we had heard, Where
now are those gay and happy young people
who have visited this grand mountain top
from time immemorial? Where now are
those bold and fearless huntsmen who seal
ed these rocks and started the bear, foxes,
and wolves, in terror from their hiding
placesp Where now is the Indian whose
barefoot is still seen imprinted upon the
great rocka There is no reply-only a
swelling of the gentle, plaintive. music
again-the requiem answer of wind among
the pines.
But they are calling us. As we bade
farewell to this noted spot, We glanced
westward, where the sky looked blue over
the distant mountain-tops and thought of
home; and that it would not be long before
we would, altogether, leave this beautiful
land of the pine tree and the laughing wa
ter-this land of poetry, dreams, and re-
trospection, to battle again with life-the
real, earnest, progressive, life Of the brave
West. MARIE.
THE MCKINLEY BILL RUINS OCEAN
TRAFFIC. April 21.-It is an.