The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1898-09-08
Grand Mountain Scenery.
IN THE CLOUD-CAPPED REGIONS
OF WESTERN CAROLINA.
Views Around Paint
Rock, Asheyiile, Gombroon and
Other Places Noted-the Rainbows
in and out of the Clouds and Cloud
Effects-an Enchanted Land Surely,

tWhi,ehead kluttz, in the Charlotte Oh
server)
Salisbury. Aug. 1.-THE seeker
after health or pleasure will find no
more delightful region in the world
than western North Carolina.
Tourists who have travelled the world
over and looked upon its grandest
and most beautiful mountain scenery
say that in natural beauty and
grandeur the mountains of Western
North Carolina are not only unsur-
passed but that they are unequaled
in the world. In the balmy. bal
samic hreeZeS there is life and
health and strength for the feeble
and the dying. In the grand old
mountains where lofty SUBMITS are
now wrapped in the clouds, now
kissed bv Gods sweet sunlight. and
ever famed by cooling breezes and
lulled by the silverv music of rip
pling rills, there is inspiration for all
mankind. The mountains are the
sucking breasts "of our good old
mother State from which all may
draw this life and inspiration" so
every one that thirsteth, come We
hither.
During the past week the writer
enjoyed seeing much of the unsur-
passed scenery OF the Western
portion OF the State. | had heard
much, had read much, but the half
had not been told me. OF the scenes
on the Western North Carolina Rail
road, where by triumph of human
ingenuity and engineering skill over
seemingly insuperable difficulties it
surmounts the Blue Ridge; where
one winds along the forest-clad
sides of the mountains whose domcs
mingle with the sky. where is re-
vealed in the happy valleys beneath,
arrayed in garments of green,
traversed by the limpid waters ofthe
mountains streams, and in the grand
sentiments of the ages above, as
perfect works as God ever made for
His these scenes, which
beggar description, it is unnecessary
to speak, for the fame Of them has
gone over the world. Scarcely less
well known is the scenery between
Asheville and Paint Rock, where the
rushing, foaming French Broad is
followed in its sinuouS course by the
railroad train.
The scenery on the railroad from
Asheville to Murphy. in Cherokee
county, comparatively unknown and
unappreciated. The trip must be
taken to be appreciated. The length
of railroad. which is owned by the
Southern, is 124 miles, and there is
scarcely a mile which does not pre-
sent some new and interesting aspect
of mountain scenery. Many think
the scenery Of this country fan
superior to that between Asheville
and Paint Rock, and certainly it does
not lose by comparison.
In this region the rolling Swan
nanoa, foaming in its rocky channel
and the majestic mountains alike
combine to make the beauty of the
scene. Here are deep gorges and
lofty trcstles over tiny shining
streams in the valley far beneath;
here are fertile and well-cultivated
fields, large orchards where the trees
bent under the weight Of the ripe
fruit, and people, who, though
simple and unlcarned, are happy and
contented. A great future is surely
in store for this section, for here
nature has been prodigal with her
blessings.