Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-08-30

paratively speaking, and the river bet
discloses now and then huge looking
boulders upon which the suns ligh
shown with perplexing brightness
There were little cataracts and water
falls that sounded loud and angry
there were pools and eddies that looked
deliciously cool under the shadow o
some giant rock or ledge; there were
fords, broad and trying for man anc
beast, especially so when the waters
would come tumbling down, boiling
and Kissing and foaming as in the
winter season A; and there were last
but by no means least, beautiful drive:
with the loveliest shade but with also
roads ankle deep in heavy sands Of
with jolting, rocky surfaces, which
were perfectly enjoyable as you sat ir
the "baggage wagon; but which the
poor, tired bicyclist would trudge along
wearily and perhaps disconsolately as
he led his war steed or pushed hin
along whenever he became too frac
tious.
One of the most striking and pleas
ant incidents of the trip, so far, was 6
drive along the banks of the BroaG
river, where the fertile valley previous
ly spoken of converged and contracted
into a narrow gorge between two
ranges of hills of insignificant altitude
This drive extended for several miles
along a road narrow in the extreme
and in some parts dangerous. It re-
quired skilful handling of the reins tc
prevent an upset or an accident, the
nature of which would Inevitably have
resulted disastrously. Along this gorge
was encountered long string of car
avans which seemed especially numer
Gus this afternoon. Their white Gov
erings of cylindrical proportions made
a most picturesque foreground to the
background of dark and heavy foliage
and forbidding looking crags and
rocky declivities. 1t was a lovely
sight in the late afternoon to see these
North Carolina wagons lazily droning
their way, now extending in long
string, now twirling and turning, now
circling around some massive projec.
ton. The light and shade of the leafy
avenue along which they moved
heightened the picture considerably
and made it distinctively characters.
tic of a mountaineer's life and habits.
In spite of the spell cast upon US by
the extreme beauty of our surround
ings, the slow, lethargic movements OF
these primitive, if convenient, vehicles,
would force questions of mercenary,
mercantile thoughts. Time was GER
tsinly not money to these sturdy men
of the soil. These hardy mountaineers
must be perfectly content with small
profits even if their sales be quick or
otherwise. This route to the markets
they were seeking must have been a
popular one, too, for the roads, at un-
even intervals, were strewn with EN-.
bers of what had been recently mer-
ry campfire, where fiddle" and
"mouth organ" had played no incon-
spicuous part. Instinctively, or per-
haps with the idea of being in close
proximity to some mountain spring or
stream, these "halting places" by the
wayside, would be pitched upon q bend
in stream or river, which would often
command a magnificent view. One
of these "halting places" was of more
than ordinary interest, and from the
"spawn" visible hereabouts, was con.
siderably patronized. This beautiful
drive will linger long in my memory
its arcadian sweetness and freshness,
its constant change, its noisy and SON.
orous music as the waters leaped over
boulders and descended into the depths
below, its vernal and luxuriant foliage,
it's quaint pastoral aspect made a "tout
ensemble" of rare beauty and alarm.
There was a distinguishing element
hereabouts which on account of the
very subtitle influence exerted escaped
our notice entirely. That its presence
was felt was unmistakable, for the
mistakes committed were laug liable
in the extreme. We refer to the rarity
of the atmosphere. To endeavor to
Judge distance accurately, seemed
fraught with folly if we were to take
our Cicero's word for it. At dis
tance of seven miles the eastern por-
ton of Chimney Rock really appeared
as scarcely three miles off. Various
guesses were made at objects in the
distance, and always with the same
ludicrous results. There was no ques-
tioning the rarity of the atmosphere
objects stood out with boldness and
a distinctness that was truly surpris-
ing, and unless the miles of this noun
famous country are of extraordinary
lengths, our guides word was vindica-
ted from the answers received from
the muffled mouthings, and the mo-
nologic alternatives or negatives of our
fellow voyagers, whom we would often
overtake. We would often, however,
be compelled to take cum grano sails
rendered us upon points
like this.
We now approach what consider
the most glorious of all the glorious
views of our whole trip. How shall
it be described ? This exquisite val
ley; this very heart of country
teeming with evergeens, flowers, le-
gends, traditions, romantic history,
naive simplicity, of mountains and
streams, of pine sheltered lakes and
waterfalls, of sublime landscapes and
presenting some Frightening feature
peculiar to itself for the 365 days OF
the year. This region is prolific with
remarkable legends and interesting folk
lore. 1t was among these tall noun.
to;po ond fhia ravishinply haS;Itifill