The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-08-07
Description of the Scenery Of Western
North Carolina.
THE RIDE TO BLOWING ROCK
This Place Is Becoming a Noted Re
SORT : overcoa,s. shawss and
Fires in August Guests
from Many Cities.
tFrom a STAFF Correspondent

that the thermometer here has not been
ABOVE ~ degrees this summer, and at hisht
1t registers often 81 degrees, sometimes as
low as Ok aad occasionally craw.s down Tie
tube 10 me 4Stn mark.
BloEias Rock mas long been known as a
famous summer resort. 1t is a picturesque
pace. There IS variety, grandeur, raNish-
ing beauty. and Nature in wi.d, "Tifo
rsvel. Nobody who has attempted 10 make
himself inteiiigibie through rs pen need
dare describe the scenery for miles around.
1t must be seen to be appreciated. From
The time The west-bound passenger tram
over the Southern, with lis burden Of hu-
man freight, rolls into Hickory until il ar
riTes at ASneviile. there are numbeT!ess
views that charm any one with an eye tor
The beautiful. Great gray mountain sides
Seem To lean heavily one upon another.
Peak after peak are pied upon each other
IN a wild grandeur. while as far as the eye
can reach a soft, deep, pure blue seems 10
hover tenderly over the vast expanse tnai
appeals 10 the good in man or woman,
and constantly suggests the noble handi-
work of the Great Creator. Artists come
here from ali parts of the country Some
OF them have regulations as broad as the
continent: but after drinking in the view
from half dUzen points they seldom at
tempt 10 pant it. There is no Use. Talent,
genius cannot initiate Gods workmanship.
a PRETTY VILLAGE.
Blowing Rock is the highest incorporated
village east OF the Rocky Mountains. i is
a quiet. pretty little village ihat puts one in
mind OF Gc-dsmith's dreamy picture. a
dozen or TWO clean and unpretentious cot
iaSeS, d drug store and half a dozen gene
raj merchandise stores, small hotel and
the village wei, with The moss-coyered
bucket registering IL degrees on reaching
The top. all set off by shady naples and
mountain produce wagon here and there
aPpeai to the aesthetic side of ones nature
and give the sentiment a playground in
which to romp.
From this picturesque village, nesting in
d peaceful nook 400 feet above the sea
level, the views are beautiful beyond even
q vived mas ination. There is beauty every
where. May View and Horseshoe Bend
afford the lover of nature hours OF pleas
ure On all sides new views reach the eye,
and as one strol.s up gently-sloping Mill
side, half a mile away towards the Blow
ing Rock Hotel, Ocean View, which forms
a delightful picture Of deep blue through a
wealth Of trees and shrubbery, touches the
2lobest faculties in ones mind, and sug-
gests the question: How can one doubt
The existence of great and ali-wise God?''
Blowing Rock Hotel is built upon ridge
that commands a panorama unsurpassed
in grandeur. Grandfatiler's Mountain
looms up in noble proportions $50 feet
above the sea level. The face OF the old
man leaves no doubt that ature INDUCES
sometimes in freaks. The profile is per-
feet; His face is often half hidden with
clouds. bur to appreciate the view from that
lofty po.nt one must see q typical sunset
in August. All the most delicate t.nts
seem 10 blend into vision OF beauty, daz-
zling, ever varying from dark purple to
pink, pale blue, wonderful deep red. and
rich golden, with pure silvery streams of
!. ght setting off the picture. Grandfather
commands a view of bewilder:ns beauty.
One standing on the top and looking down
for thousands of feet cannot help feeling
ones ins!gnfcance and helplessness in
comparison.
TRIP UP THE MOUNTAIN.
But word about the trip up the noun
tain. Leaving the Southern Railway at
Hickory, twenty-mile run is made to
lenoir via a narrow-gauge road, which
makes close connection with the west
bound Southern train en- route TO Ashe-
Vile. a drive in the carriage or buggy is
made for some ten miles over pretty
rolling country, with clear streams steal
ing beneath the rhododendron branches.
and then the foot OF the mountain is
reached. And what ride it is! The fire.
quent summer showers have kept the
grass and foliage a bright emerald hue,
but the golden rod or cardinal flower along
the roadside and the vari-hued foliage of
a great forest tree here and there, or the
graceful festoonS of the favorite Virginia
creeper, remind the pilgrim that autumn
comes earlier n these heights. a cool, !
bubbling spring affords refreshment TO the
traveller, and the scenery grows n rugged
ness as the horses climb along the hills.
Denser grows the tangle of underground !
Until one almost wonders how a squirrel |
darts IN emf, in, he hnrcaS struggle |
up the ascent. and turning a sharp curve
in the ever-wind.ng road the whole world |
seems to lie under you. You look hun
dreds OF feet down into the tree-tops which |
skirt the beautiful Johns River, and then |
far out into the sweeping lines OF the Blue
Ridge as they rise high into the clouds
and seem to melt away softly III the DIS
tant haze.
How about the top, driver?" some one
asks.
This here amt nothin' vet comes the
answer with a Knowing smile Eve got to |
climb long ways mo- befo' we git thar.
Ana 50 YOU toll on and on up this Wind-
ing staircase OF Nature. Occasionally d
Is seen filling the soil on ms |
farm slcping at an angle of foTty-tVe oe-
grees. and this suggests TWO stories-one
that perpendicular farmer in Eoeing corn |
fell off his farm and broke his neck; ana
the other that the seed Is shot into the
ground with musket, and when the gram |
Is gathered it is decidedly one-sided IN |
form. ! have not been able to verify these
stories for publication, but give them lof |
what they may be worth.
WHERE COATS ARE NEEDED
Continuing the trip one looks with Won
der upon Table Rock. Hawks B!ll, KING
and historic AIitcheli's Peak, ana
then the air grows cool and search Is
made among the luggage for overcoats ana
shawls. AS day declines the sun seems 10
almost pause on distant peak, nooolnS
all the surrounding mountains with a Tlcn'
deep purple light. and then sinks slowly 10
ms rest. Darkness is soon on YOU You
fai! asleep IN this cool. pure air, but an |
exclamation OF wonder at some new view |
arouses You. You awake TO lind the world |
HOODED with moonlight. II is a sad, sweet
hight that kndeS a sleeping sentiment, |
ana makes one line In vision ones past |
NE IN all its memories. its joys. its sor- |
rows. Your eye wanders far in the dis
lance. Every fern. every balsam-bouSh, |
every orphan little cloudet is tipped with |
silver There Is a soft dreamy glow over |
an. and this noble handiwork of Nature /
IS asleep.
On you climb until you hear the music |
OF busy little crystal brook. II IS scarce
~ a foot wide and ,.af II iS 3ha haad,yate- /