The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1898-03-03
A TRIBUTE TO EAST TENNESSEE.
BY BESSIE LOU BURGESS.

valleys over which the sunlight fingers
like benediction, East Tennessee is a
country that can not be rivalled.
The mountains rising in the distance
dim and blue, the balmy splendOr of its
matchless climate, its never ending
possibilities and advantages that gradu
ally unfold, like the petals of flower,
to the gaze of man, place Tennessee in
the foremost ks as one of the grand
est, if not the grandest, state in the
Union.
While East Tennessee is compara-
lively in an undeveloped state, Nature
has lavishly bestowed upon her many
advantages that predict for her glor-
ious future.
Her climate rivals that of Italy, the
winters being mild and invigorating,
and the heat of the summers tempered
by the prefumed breezes waited fren
the mountainous. The summer
nights have all the voluptuous beauty
and mystery of those of sunny Spain.
With the Father of Waters bounding
the west and the Tennessee winding its
shimmering course almost twice across
the state, rare facilities of commerce
are offered.
The rugged Allegheny and Cumber-
land mountains enclose the valley of
East Tennessee, the scenery of which
is sublime.
It is a privilege to stand on Tennes-
see soil, and behold the stately noun
tains, dimly outlined against the blue
sky, which seems to meet them as they
stand solemn and silent in the clear
sunlight of God, to breathe the balmy
breath Of pure atmosphere, and to
feel joyous thrill of gladness and the
impetuous life current bounding
through the veins at the unsurpassed
beauty and grandeur of ''our ain coun-
tree"
The pure crystal water gushing from
mountain sources over rock and fell
and spriDging from the earth, forming
numerous rivers, creeks and wayside
brooklets, furnish the land with great
water power.
Wells are abundant; one does not
have to search long are deeply to dis
cover the fountain beneath the surface
of the earth.
The numerous mineral springs scat
tered over the country need only to be
known to afford relief to many thou.
sands Of invalids now in search of the
healing waters.
In the future, when East Tennessee
is completely developed, these minera,
springs will be classed among the ia
nous resorts to which those in quest o.
health sojourn.
From the mountain sides, as we'll as
from the woody hollows," come end
less stores of timber, but the "march o.
civilization" has not proved to be all
sweeping, and the timber of East Ten
nessee is not used to the best advant
age. We revel in the wild beauty o
unhewn forests, interspersed will
brilliant flowers, blossoming shrubber!
and twining vines, and the tall pine
that, stately and slender, rise in cluster
on the knolls and hills-with all tn
Joy of home-loving, kindly-hearte'
mountain race.
The great treasurers lying embedded
in the mountains in inexhaustible qnan
titles coal, iron, copper constitute
East, ,Tennessee's greatest advantages.
The wonderful variety of it's beauti
full marbles is source of unfailing de
light to the world.
The Upper Tennessee Valley, whicI
as an agricultural and stock-raisin
district is unsurpassed, has climat
which permits the grape, the fig an
the pome-granate to flourish in tn
open air.
Like child of the forest, Tennessee
in all her wild grandeur, is as yet un
cultivated, in the true sense of tn
word. What is needed to bring Ten
nessee to her highest point of greatness
Men, men with iron sinews, fearles
hearts and answering integrity-me
who, in truth rule the nation, with n
invested power save the GOd-given vii
tues of purity and uprightness.
Tennessee, our beautiful, untame
glorious state We roam through tn
smiling valleys and stand on thy mour
tain tops entranced.
Nature has made of Tennessee a pre-
tege, and bestowed upon her the brigh'
est of her gifts.
Shall we not endeavor to improve th
: countless advantages that Tennessee
, affords?
But without men who are pure i
4 heart and clear in brain, with Hnfailin
0 trust in God, we shall never see tn
wilderness blossom as a rose.''
2 For strong, fearless, unsullied me
2 are the power that leads nation, as we
e as a state, unto pinnacle Of gloriou
!, projection.
d A word of praisefrom a man concerl