Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1892-07-21

An Interesting Letter Prom Miss Belle
Kearney

FROM Chattanooga 10 ASneVilie. the
scenery is continuation of beauty
and grandeur. The country is in a
high state of cultivation. In some
districts corn, oats aud wheat, grow
in abundance up to the very top of
the mountains. Now the corn and
oats are living green. The time for
harvesting the wheat has come. 1t is
tied up in sheavcs, graceful and yell
low. The red earth CLEANS out be-
tween the green and yellow like
flashes of fire.
The Allegheny mountains are never
lost sight of; they loom mp stupendOus
and shadOwy in every direction. The
Tennessee river and minor streams
are crossed, and recrOssed, in the sim
nous bend of the railroad. For many
miles the French Broad, rushing down
from supreme heights, or dashing over
rocky beds, or gently flowing in un-
broken rhythm, was our travelling
companion. At noon far-famed Ashe-
vile was reached; Asheville, resting
like jewel in the heart of the ever
lasting hills that reach upward to the
bending sky; Asheville, the home of
the Nanderbilts and noted Bill Nye.s
Electric cars carry one swiftly from
valley to mountain top and back again.
The shrill whistle of the dummy
breaks the solemn silence that reigns
in the upper regions. After ride of
ten minutes | found myself at an ele-
Walton of hundreds of feet, with
mountains upon mountains, stretching
around me, below, the beautiful little
city with its elegant summer homes,
its handsome hotels, and picturesque
churches, lying calm in the dim dis
lance. The scenery of Waynesville
is more beautiful than that of Ashe
vile. The town is not SO large, but
it promises to become quite as famous
Il resort. 1t is from 500 to 700 feet
higher.
White Sulphur Springs gush out
from the rocky sides of the mountains,
whose tops are nearly always above
the clouds.
At this enchanting spot the w. c.
T. L. Southern Assembly and School
of Methods has been planted. The
foundation, which is granite, has al
ready been laid, and it is hoped that
within the next year, the beautiful
Temple, with fourteen rooms, n mag
nificent auditorium, and handsome
domes will be finished.
The Assembly holds its meetings in
the Court House which has been made
attractive 10y the hands of woman.
Rhododendroms, dahlias, roses, field
daisies, ferns, our National and State
notices in cypress and spruce pine,
banners and pictures, smile upon us
from every hand.
The Assembly opened last Thurs
day. Mrs. Wells, of Tennessee Mrs.
Chaplin. of South Carolina Mrs. Baer,
of Louisiana Mrs. Bateham, Nation
al Supt. of Sabbath Observance,
and other workers and speakers are
present, and are carrying on every
thing admirably.
Miss Yeargin, OF South Carolina, will
teach elocution an hour each day !;
Miss Baer, who, by the way, is Prof.
of Physical Culture in the Sophie New
comb College in New Orleans, land
one of the most advanced and pro-
gressive young women in the SOutli)
will drill class in physical work
daily. Other specialists will carry on
their departments.
We owe this idea of Southern AS
scmbly and School of Methods to Mrs.
NJ. l.. Wells, of Tennessee.
1t is one of the finest conceptions
that has ever come to the brain of the
women of the South. Here we will
gain ideas that will be of inestimable
value to the workers throughout our
country. We need to be drilled, we
need an exchange of plans and meth
DDS. We need to be taught how to
do Gods work more acceptably.
Through the day there are the diff
ferent classes have mentioned, Bible
Readings, short addresses, etc. At
night delightful exercises, singing and
addresses.
To-day the ceremonies preceding
the laying of the corner stone were
held. An immense audience was
present. One hundred and fifty child
rem marched in to the beating of
drums, carrying banners. Mrs. Wal
tiers conducted the devotional exer-
cises; after which Mrs. Wells gave a
history of the origin of the Assembly;
then Gov. Anderson was introduced,
and delivered a finished address. pay
ing high tribute to woman.
Mrs. Chaplin represented South Car
DINA, also the National and Worlds
w. G.. Il. u. in one of her character
istic speeches. Miss Baer, represent
ed Louisiana, and the undersigned,
dear old Mississippi.
DR.. Carlisle, President of Spartans-
burg College, has been present, with
his daughter, at every meeting, and
has been very helpful in all ways.
A lovelier spot than Waynesville,
could not have been chosen. The
beauty of the scenery is unsurpassed
anywhere on the continent. The air
is cool, and bracing, too cool for some
of us at first. We have to wear our
warmest clothes and have fire night
and day, as we do in Mississippi in
October and November.
The People are kind and thoroughly
in sympathy with our enterprise. This,
however, has been demonstrated by,
their having donated acres of ground
and large sums of money to the As
sembly. The South should feel proud
of this undertaking, put on foot by a
Southern woman, and from which so
much can be accomplished for the ed
ucation, in moral, physical, intellect
ual and spiritual lines, of our people.
We trust that every Union in all
our Southland, and every individual,