The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-09-09
VANDERBILT'S PALACE,
Or a Brief Witt TO Asheville.
Christian Observer.

Christian Observer.
To one born and reared among the
mountains, loving them from child
hood, and when absent from them
pining for their presence as for friends,
the transition from the low tide-water
region of Virginia to the great heights
of the North Carolina mountains is
almost overwhelming There is one
glory of the sea and another glory of
the mountains, but to my mind the
latter is incomparably greater.
The sea is wonderful and awful and
beautiful in its changes, but there
is sorrow upon the sea, it cannot be
quiet, and it's waves are driven and
tossed by the wind. But the noun
tains are as unchargeable as God S
truth, and calm the troubled spirit by
their very immovability. All through
the Bible what wonderful reference we
have to them. Upon the mountains
of Ararat the human race found their
first habitation after the fierce sea
ceased from raging. And when the
Lord first revealed himself to Moses
by his awful name Of "Jah' or II
am that 1 am" it was upon his own
mount, even Horeb.
Again, amid the fire and smoke of
Sinai, "the mount quaking greatly >
upon the top of Hor where Aaron died,
and then upon lofty Pisgah where he
lifted up his eyes and beheld the land
of promise which he could not enter,
was this servant of God called to COM
mune with his Maker. And what a
glorious sepulchre was his at last,
followed out by Gods own hand in
the valley over against the mountains.
Of our Saviour we are told that he
went up into high mountain apart,
to pray. These secret places seem
nearer heaven. So frequent are the
references to mountains, that their
sacred history would fill book.
It seems to be fact little known
that our Southern ranges exceed in
height any this side: of the Rockies.
our railroad guide quoting Prof.
Holmes as stating that in Western
North Carolina there are forty-three
mountains higher than Mount Wash
ington. Mt. Mitchell (named in honor
of Prof. Mitchell, who lost his life
while exploring it, which is the high
est peak, reaches an altitude OF 6,7l7
feet.
Asheville is very beautiful for situa-
tion, but so much has been written
about it in guide-tooks, that it is
useless to attempt description.
But one can gain correct idea OF
The elevated plateau upon which it is
located by comparison with another
well-known Southern city and noun
tain. Asheville itself is 2l4 feet
higher than the top of Lookout Noun
tain, at Chattanooga, and when you
sit upon the veranda Of the Battery
Park Hotel, you view the beautiful
panorama around you, from an eleva-
tion 339 feet above the Lookout Noun
tain Inn.
A dummy line conveys tourists to
Beaumont, which is 700 feet above
Asheville. From this peak is obtain
ed the loveliest view of the city, and
spread out below is the most magnii-
cent mountain scenery that human
sight can desire, peak rising above
peak, until in the distance the eye
refuses to discern between mountains
and clouds. But here again a COM
parison is noted between this view and
the one from Lookout Mountain. So
far as the mountain ranges are con-
cerned, the North Carolina vista sur
passes the Tennessee view, but the
former lacks the noble Tennessee
river, with it's unusually beautiful
banks and graceful curves, which adds
so much to our Southern landscape.
True, Asheville has the lovely
Swannanoa and the picturesque French
Broad, but they are much smaller,
and so overhung with trees that, at
this season at least, they can scarcely
be seen from this point of view.
One Of the main objects of our visit
was to see Biltmore House, the mag
ni6cent estate of Mr.. George Wander
bilt, which is four miles from Ashe-
vile. We have so often been asked,
and have often wondered what was
the origin of this singular name. Our
driver, who was model of discretion
| and information, told us that it is the
combination of part of Mr.. Wander
bilt's name, and of his mother s mai
den name. After learning this, we
had more respect fer an appellation
| which is not attractive of itself. Time
and space forbid detailed description
| of this modern palace, but the reader
! will be interested in few general
notes. Having never been abroad, |
could not compare it with the landed
| estates of England, but friends who
have been, say that for extent of
grounds, and for the modern conven-
| fences in building, it far surpasses
them.
The whole estate now consists OF
12O, 1000 acres, embracing vast game
preserves, private park, landscape
gardens, and various departments of
culture, every one Of which is superin-
tended by an expert. Visitors are
allowed to drive through the grounds
on Mondays, Wednesdays and Satur-
days, after obtaining permit, but the
carriages are not permitted to approach
near the main building.
The Chateau, as is called on
souvenir plates, is built Of beautiful
white Indiana sandstone, with a mas
sive foundation of granite. The ar
chitecture is Gothic Renaissance.
The granite was taken from the
grounds, leaving an excavation 125
feet deep, which has been converted
into a lake.
The stables are in line with the
main front, which gives an unbroken
extent of 700 feet, while the width is
1872 feet. A very good view can be
obtained, and the building appears
very solid, there being little ornamen-
tation it is not symmetrical but the
effect is rather pleasing. There is
one main tower in front, and about
seven others on various parts of the
building, each of which is surmounted
by curious ornament resembling a
turnstile.
IL