The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-09-27

I'll
were 50 enthusiastic that fellow
passenger who was an interested
listener TO the tale of mountain drives,
hunting, trout fishing, long rambles a,
sunrise, comfortable hotel quarters and
tables loaded with fried chicken, and
all the other good substantial Southern
dishes, at last as my friend announced
that the guests were served with all the
real cream they could use, said :. Ny
friend, excuse me, but don't you think
you have located the Garden of Eden?
I've wife and Ave children and il
you will kindly give me the name and
address of the fellow who keeps that
place III be there next summer if |
live"
There are numerous other places
equally as entlcing, such as Linville
Highlands, Oloudland, Green Park,
all of which have the chief charm and
characteristics to be found at ideal
mountain resorts.
THE VANDERBILT ESTATE.
Asheville, in Buncomb county, is OF
course the leading resort for Northern
and Western visitors after health and
recreation, and now it is famous as a
winter resort. The temperature is
mild and even, the splendors of scenery
are unsurpassed, hotel Accommodations
are ample and magnificent, the Battery
Park Hotel, the kenilwor,h Inn and
the Swannanoa Hotel being the lead
ing ones. The city has about IL, ,ooc
inhabitants but this number is largel,
augmented by visitors from all parts
of the world. There are electric rail
ways traversing the streets and climb
ing the mountains, water-works, i'm.
proved sewerage and streets, electric
lights, telephone exchange and all the
ConvenienCes Of city
About five miles from Asheyllle i
the famous Vanderbilt estate. | had
the pleasure OF inspecting the palace
which is being erected thereon tor
"poor George" as he is humorousl,
called by the natives. | would like to
tell you about it, I'd also like to draw
my check for as many millions as i,
has already cost but | can't. Let me
simply say that it is big, beautiful, and
bewildering. A tennis court that cosl
thousands of dollars with wall around
it like fort, flower garden and hot
house that would have enabled Solomon
to have presented each o: his many
hundred wives with corsage boque'
every ten minutes in the day, stable
which in magnificence already riva
the Jefferson Hotel, and a pile o
marble, Indiana sand stone, steel, iron
terra Gotta and copper shaped into
towers, turrets, gables, courts, winter
gardens, banquet hall and ball room
library, art gallery, living rooms, wine
cellers, roof garden and hundred
other devices for utilizing space.
HUGE STRUCTURE.
1t seems as if there are miles O.
verandas and hall ways The thought
flashes through my mind that there
would have to be system of guide
boards or corps of s buttons" or bell
boys to guide the inmates safely
through the intricate mazes of winding
stairs and numberless apartments. The
view from the back-stoop" of the
mansion which surmounts high but
gently sloping hill, overlooks land
scape that thrills the lover of nature.
Valleys, and mountains, rivers and
mountain streams, beautiful lawns,
and cultivated fields of grain, the whole
intersected here and there by magnifi-
cent miles OF Macadamized roadwavs,
crossing the rivers and streams on stone
bridges covered with creeping ivy. 1t
is a material realization of the fairy
story of Alladln and bis magic lamp.
BILL IN A SWALLOW TAIL.
Bill Nye has "farm' at Arden
Park which is about nine miles from
Asheville, and may be seen at almost
any time in full dress suit digging
strawberries" and moving water
melons Bill said he was glad to
see newspaper man, it put him in
mind of the time when he too used to
write for the news paper. He is a
familiar figure at the Battery Park at
Asheville where he goes regularly to
read the copy Of the Times which is
kept there on file.
Taken altogether, North Carolina is,
as have said before a most delightful
section to visit. The air seems charged
with signs OF coming prosperity. You
hear merchants and farmers on the
trains and in the hotels talking about
the crops and better business. Northern
capital is being attracted by the
natural advantages offered in climate
and native accommodations.
The wealth Of fertile farming lands,
mgnificen, mining products and
climate all tend to allure the i'm
migrant, and the searcher for invest
ments.
There is no difference between the
North Carolinian and the Virginian in
the matter Of hospitality, they are both
experts in that line and as a subject !
was no exception to the general rule.
| went cor a good time and | got it.
The HUSTLER.
1t Nav Do as Much for You.