The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-08-30


house contains a store also, and in this
store almost,everything, from athrash-
ing machine to the little mammoth pill
for the tired feeling, may be obtained.
AS we started gayly away we learned
that we had fourteen miles yet ahead
of us of mountain road with which we
were not familiar. Soon after this we
began to inquire about the route and
distance. We got a great deal of in
formation, such as it was. The
psalmist said in his haste that all
men are liars. If he would travel in
the mountains here he could take all
summer for the statement and make a
typewriter copy of it also.
The road from California is said to
be very wild and beautiful. We trav-
ersed the most of it after dark and in
the midst of a terrific mountain storm,
so it struck me at the time as rather
monotonous and "hit a raining" Half
the time one would have to pause and
say, "Mr. Speaker, where was 1 at7"
Those who have never travelled by
diligence up the Jones' Gap road in the
darkness and terror incident to a
mountain tempest and with no knowl-
edge of the road, while on the left a
ending thunder from a white and angry
torrent concealed somewhere in its
bosom, will agree with me that, clothed
in outing fannels which have caught
the golden sunset covering of the red
clay and been soaked with the gum
miest of mud, searching for the right
way, yet prone to wander into by and
forbidden paths or fall over a brink or
chasm, it is a solemn moment.
We were told that in two miles we
would encounter a signboard which
would tell us the way, and there we
must turn to the right. We were also
told that the signboard was eight miles
away, and that we must turn to the
left. One kind friend said it was eleven
miles, and that the main bridge was
washed away. He would keep us,
however, if we could put up with his
humble fare and rather pronounced
views regarding the existence of a
Literary hell" Literal hell was
doubtless the term he desired to use
We afterward learned that he was not
a man of his word. The bridge was
not in bad repair. Also, there is no
bridge. The Jones' Gap road is a mar
vel of engineering. 1t was laid out
by Solomon Jones, who is still living.
His method of laying out a mountain
road was to employ a large sow in
winter time which, by driving gently
down the hill, would naturally select
through the snow the gentlest descent
and the easiest grade. AS a result of
this method, the Jones Gap road is
well planned and the descent from
Caesars Head as gradual as it is from
Queen Victoria to the Prince of Wales.
AS the thunder doomed louder and
the torrents of rain beat in upon us
and injured u costly and beautiful
clothing, a signboard of some kind
glimmered in the uncertain flash of
the lightning that split the drenched
and inky world. 1t was then that 1
duplicated the experience of Mr., Bur
dette years ago. 1 got out into the
pelting storm, and with the icy tor
rent running down my trapped spine
I climbed the post and waited for an
other flash. I had tried to light a
match, but the place where I generally
strike a match was all wet, so I gave
it up.
The lightning did not make any re
marks for a long time, but remained
where it was, looking r~oguishly down
on me as I chung tremblingly to the
budapest, wiping my spectacles on
the tail of my coat. Finally a glare of
intense light tore open the somberrobes
of night and lighted up the silent guide
post. I went on to say: Facial
blemishes, warts, eczema and super
fuous hair removed without publicity
at your homes. Also, cash paid for
hides, pelts and furs."
We have now travelled some thirty
odd miles over two or three still odder
roads and Init a-raining." My spirits
were greatly depressed and my outing
fannels were a sight to behold. Our
carriage has a fringe around a canopy
top, and even long after the rain ceased
this wet fringe, which had been full of
dust, shed mud all over us as the
vehicle jostled over the stony roads
and Jared the soiIed water in our ears
and down our spines.
Xot mo morn not cast down think