Middletown transcript., 1897-04-17

fell to the right, left and in front of US,
| many feet deep, light powder of 1t,
which scarcely concealed the grass, was
our portion here in Asheville. But q
heavy sleet, just before snow, had COW
cred everything with icicles, and the
i trees on the nearest mountain side
| glitteFing with these natural prisms,
seemed to give out a thousand spark
ling rainbow effects as the SIN rose
over the mountain and touch them with
his shafts of light. A few hours dis
| sipated all this however, and SO changed
the ssmblance of winter that it did not
seem out of place to be greeted with
the balmy breath at spring in the shape
of sweet violets. as we passed along
the streets.
There is good d al of up-hill-and-
down-daleness about the Asheville
streets. and owing to the conformation
Of the plateau, to the stranger they seem
laid out after the plan of those in that
wonderful fairy story, Through the
Looking Glass" so that when one
wishes to reach given point he makes
a start in quite the opposite direction.
This is somewhat discouraging to those
whose strength is not equal to their am
bitiou ,as having started for wall, they
will find themselves far, far away from
their starting point, with. no short cuts
by which the return distance can be re-
duced. However, the ascents and de-
scents are so grad nal that walking is
less fatiguing than niigtll be supposed
and street car lines running In four di-
rections, and carriages to be hired at
quite moderate rates, enable one to
visit all the points of interest within if
ty miles. A fine carriage road leadsover
the top-of Beaumont, at whose foot the
city lies, and many handsome private
carriages may be seen ON it every bright
afternoon. Also may be met on it
many uncouth, primitive farm vehicles,
as its the main road leading to this mar-
ket for seventy miles around, and the
mountain farmers wagon, called a
SCHOONER, ''is most remarkable speci.
men of carriage architecture. With
It's boat shaped bed, tth5 top hOnped over
with light poles, sometimes support ing
the muslin cover, but as often without |
it. its team of sorry little mules or oxen
and its load of chickens or apples, as
well rs weather beaten family of |
children, 1t offers most decided con-
trast to the fancy carts and high-step-
ping teams which it meets on the road
The mountain farmer is fit accom-
paniment, tall, gaunt fellow, and |
himself and his family seem to have
been whipped by the mountain winds
into such state of ruggedness of fea-
ture and leatheryness of complexion
that one wagonload is the counterpart /
and typical of them all.
On this same road near the top of the
mountain, is the standpipe holding the
filtered river water. which is the sup
ply for the city. This is dawn from
the SWannanoa, "Dymph Of beauty", a
pellucid stream which empties into the
French Broad, which is the western
boundary of the plateau, almost at the
city limits. This latter river had an
Indian name also, Takooster meaning
tracing waters" and is one of the
most romantic streams to be found any
where. 1T glides along demurely and
plaeidly, or hides itself under the over
hanging boughs of the trees which
fringe its banks. 1t has tiny rapids aud
miniature waterfalls in its stretches.
and the beautiful riverside road affords
delightful drives of fifty miles in ex-
tent, with constant change Of view. as
the windings of the river are follow ed
aronnd the mountains. The Swannoa
provides drives of sixteen miles of
equally beautiful scenery, and there
are forty Or more different, mountain
drives. the dlktances anywhere from
one mile to forty, with their sweeping
views overlooking large stretches of
country. Probably the Vanderbilt
Park is the most freQuented of any, as
the distance to it is only five miles,
and with its sixty miles of macadamized
boalevards. it affords such changes of
natural scenery and evidences of arti-
fetal skill as is not to be found any
where else in this country. /,