The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1901-08-30
SOMETHING ABOUT THE
LAND OF THE SKY.

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that is death TO malaria, encircIed
by forest-clad mountains, yelled in
misty clouds, gladdened by rush
ing rivers and noisy cataracts,
having native flora unmatched
for variety and a luxury of ma
tive fruits and nuts; glimpses every
where of emerald valleys, glo-
rious in the golden sunlights; ex-
hilating airs that expand ones
verv soul. Here health seekers re
joice in renewed vitality; here
artists find a feast for the senses
and here delight to gather. Is it
any wonder that wealthy tourists,
after seeking a utopia" among
the climes of two hemispheres,
have found in this charmed re-
treat the alpha and omega of
their dreamsand have pitched their
tents to abide!
As if to vie with the reckless
beauty of Mother Nature, her
worshipful children have spent
their aesthetic tastes in. .adorning
these mountains and valleys with
picturesque homes, magnificent
inns, princely chateaus, artistic
public buildings, handsome edu-
cational and benevolent institu-
tions and fine golf links that are
the delight of every pleasure. seek
ing visitor.
Next to the citizens pride in
natures lavish gifts is his pride in
the Biltmore estate and mansion.
Mr.. Vanderbilt's philanthrophy
has endeared him to the people, and
every citizen feels a personal de-
light in his lordly domain. The
late Richard M. Hunt was archi-
tect of the magnificent chateau,
which cost three million five hun
dred thousand. The chateau is
built of Bedlow granite with
Italian marble trimmings, in the
French Renaissance style, and
Frederic Law Olmstead, to whose
genius New York City owes her
Central Park, directed the corps
Of engineers and landscape garden
ers that converted ten thousand
acres of mountain land into an
Eden of loveIiness. Through this
earthly paradise fifteen miles of
solid white roadway wind under
avenues of rhododendron, azalia,
laurel and other native shrubs;
up and down majestic fern-clad
slopes and flower decked glens,
spanning with arches Of solid
masonry the limpid streams.
Through the poultry farms it
leads, where -blooded feather
ed folks from all lands have been
gathered into dainty poultry
houses and generous greensward
beftting blood royal. Through
the dairy it leads us where cattle
Of nobility arch their proud necks
to stare at the passerby, and by
the dairy, where ONE may refresh
himself with q glass of ioe-cold
milk, BY the hog pen, the sta
bIes, the deer parks, the green
houses, each replete with delight
ful interest.
From every point can be seen in
the distance stately old Mt. Pts
gah with the rat on his shoulders,
and the driver will tell one that
eighty six thousand acres Of the
Pisgah forest constitute MIR. Van
derbilt's hunting preserves.
Visitors may enter the estate on
every "Wednesday and Saturday
by getting a pass from the audi
tors office at Fillmore.
This is, however, only one of the
many Intoxicating drives about
Asheyille. Among the most popular
may be mentioned: Sunset
Mountain drive, Beau Catcher,
Gouche's Peak, Elk Mountain,
Fernihurst, Richmond Hill, Con
ley's View, Swannanoa River, A.
Tabkeeestee Farm each Of which
offers a charm Of its own-wild,
pastoral, rugged or peaceful seem
ery-as the mood may demand,
and as usual In a resort, where
hundred thousand people go in
year, the drivers are melted to
rivalry informing themselvesabout