The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1897-04-23
BLOWING ROCK,
The Gem OF the Blue Ridge Mountains
Of North Carolina.

The Gem OF the biue h1uRe mountains
OF North Carolins.
High up among the Blue Ridge
mountains of North Crrolina, five thou
sand feet above sea level. is the summer
resort of Blowing Rock. And thlther
come the health seeker from the North,
and the inhabitant OF many q heat
stricken Southern city, to drink the
pure, sparkling water and breathe an
air that stimulates like wine.
The only mode of reaching this Sky
Land from the T. asst is by twenty mile
stage ride from Lenoir TLis town it.
self has an altitude of one thousand two
hundred feet, and the traveller from
New Orleans or Charleston buttons his
coat against the cool morning breeze as
he steps from the hotel veranda into the
waiting wagonette. And what ride it
isl The frequent summer rains have
kept the grass and leaves the hue of
emerald, but the golden rod and
cardinal flower by the roadside, and the
scarlet foliage of q gum tree or the
graceful festoons of Virginia creeper,
admonish the traveller that autumn
comes early in these heights.
The road winds among the hills for
six or seven miles and then strikes the
Yadkin river, and follows it to the cool,
bubbling spring which is it's source:
The scenery grows more wild and
| rugged as we climb; SO dense Is the
undergrowth which springs from the
black mould that we wonder how the
| squirrels, which are frisking about,
have the temerity to venture into such
| o tangle. The horses struggle up the
| ascent, and. turning q sharp angle in
the road, the whole world, as it were,
lies below US. We look sheer down
into the tree tops which skirt the Johns
river and then out into the sweeping
lines of the Blue Ridge as they rise
, range upon range and seem to melt
sos the o Ss: Of Ms. ths 't .n .ss naha the
befo' we git thar" And SO we toll up
the winding way.
OF to the South and West rise Table
Rock, Hawks Bill, Kings Mountain,
Mitchells II eak, and, towering above
them all, The Grand Father, it's top the
profile Of an old mans face. # the
start from Lonoir has been made in the
afternoon, the air grows chilly before
the summit is reached, and search ia
made amoug the baggage for shawls
and rugs. AS day declines, the sun
seems TO pause moment on distant
peak, flooding all tho surrounding
mountains with violet light, and then
sinks to rest The darkness falls quick.
ly. You are tired now and close your
eyes o moment, but some one breaks in
upon your revery with an exclamation
of wonder. You look up to find the
woll Id flooded with moonlight 1t rests
like halo over the mountains, and tip,
every fern and balsam- -bough with sill
yer. We climb OH, mile perhaps
amid this glory, when the tired horses
admonished by voice and whip, break
into brisk run, and the Hotel, nj
aglow with the light of open wood fires
stands Hospitality before us, and oul
journey is ended.
The days of dreamy laziness which
follow are indescribably luxurious. On,
may go to bed at night and sleel
around the clock with the deep, health
full slumber of baby The jaded appe
ga is uuickened i'll that clear air unit
ing OF soup, anu tn6n- g0esn8a dGSs dGSslD
through the bill of fare to the very las
Item with never vision of indigestion
bloWlng Rock is preeminently cos
mopolitan. There the summer Girl ma,
dress and dance and ride and fiirt to tn,
very fulness of her hearts desire. Or
she may let her tinery lay hidden in tn,
depths of her trunk and so trampins
about In thick shoes and short skirt,
from sunrise until dark 1t is beauti
ful to watch the invalid's color com,
stealing back, and the poor little sickl,
children grow round limbed and browr
IN the braclng atmosphere Verify
TINS ls Natures great Sanitarium, where
that good old mother takes her children
into her lap and soothes their isngled
nerves, where the doctors are never in
evidence and the medicines delightful.
.. L. FENDER, q. p. A.. Lenoir. n. G..