The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-08-21

Retreat Nesting Under Rainbow
Mountain In the Shadow of Mt.
Mitchell, the Highest Point East Of
the Rocky Mountains.
MONTREAL. N. c.. Aug. -. '02.
EDITOR GOLD LEAF:-Perhaps your
editorial ears will be sharp enough
to hear cry from this far distant
point in the mountains. We have
been here four days and each new
day we congratulate ourselves afresh
on our wisdom in coming. On our
way out we spent day with friends
in Durham, where the infowing tide
Of prosperity and the outgoing odor
of tobacco abide in their strength.
We were privileged to ride on the
new Durham street cars. Therefore
we can now recognize the latent sar-
casm OF recent paragraph in the
GOLD LEAF to the effect that the
Durham electric cars were expected
soon to begin TO run. That explains
our experience in consuming fifty
minutes to travel two miles upon
one OF them. They are learning to
walk now. In the course Of time. as
this infant industry grows older. aud
the people also learns to keep off the
track, the street railway will be
great ornament and convenience tc
Durham. In the meantime those who
are pressed for time can always walk.
The trains. especially those for the
West, are crowded these days, large
ly, no doubt, with mountain-b bound
travellers seeking rest and recreation.
That is a splendid stretch OF country
through which one passes in going
from Eastern North Carolina to the
mountains. In travelling this full
length OF the Old North State there is
a vast deal of agricultural and miner
al wealth to see-from the truck and
cotton and tobacco through the cot
ton and tobacco ard corn and wheat
and hay fields into the mountains
silent, grand, magnificent keepers OF
Natures stores, with their pasture
lands and apple orchards and fields Of
grain, and underneath the soil their
exhaustless magazines OF coal and
iron. Horace Greedy said, "Go West.
young man." because, among other
things, he was ignorant OF North Car
Olina.
Montreal is in the finest part OF the
celebrated mountains OF Western
North Carolina. 1t is a pleasant three
hours drive along the picturesque
Swananoa to Asheville on the West,
and only two miles from Black Noun
tain station on the Southern Railway.
1t is a beautiful retreat Nesting
under Rainbow Mt. and fianked by
hills of varying height. The Swana-
noa traverses the full length OF the
reservation and along its banks are
numerous hooks and walks, cool, Sc
questered, inviting. On every side
are great masses OF rhododendron
and mountain ivy. and all about
among the trees and bushes and
clumps of evergreens one espies pref
ty little cottages, peeping shyly out.
There is one hotel, besides numerous
cottages, for the accommodation OF
guests, and just now everything is
pretty we'll filled and people are being
daily turned away. Including few
who reside here all the year there are
about five hundred now present.
Montreal is the headquarters OF
the Mountain Retreat Association for
Bible Study and Evangelistic Work,
and has been styled the Mortified OF
the South. Under the direction OF
Mr.. Weston K. Gales the Association
is prospering and extending its IN,
fuence far and wide for good. 1t is
strictly non-sectarian and confer
ences for Bible study aud Evangelis
tic training are conducted during the
summer, though q great many. nc
doubt the majority, OF the visitors
come purely for rest and recupera
ton. For the latter it is an ideal re-
sort. Reaching here, one finds an ap
petite awaiting him. and Morphsu
comes without wooing. There arr
numbers OF fine springs. some miner
al in character; the air il delightful
the elevation here being 2,75O feet. o.
more than 500 feet higher than Ashe
Vile. Many lofty peaks surroune
Montreal. BY a climb OF four mile
one reaches the summit OF Brushy Mt.
six mile ascent is that Of Gray
beard, which we did yesterday an'
obtained the grandest view that w
ever saw, and are too stiff and tire'
today in consequence to walk farths
than the dinner table. Fifteen mile
away is Mt. Mitchell. the highes
point East OF the Rockies. Brusby
400 feet, Graybeard 800. Mitchell
600. We hope to climb Mt. Mitch
ell after we have recovered from th
effects OF Gray aybeard.
Thes religious attractions here ar
in keeping with the natural. III
genial, alert and well beloved mans
ger OF the Association, MIR. Gale:
keeps something at once interestin
and profitable on the programme .
summer. Last week he extended tn
hospitality OF the place to the BaPti'
J, State Sunday-school Convention
. which for a week occupied the churc
j, building daily. under the directio
), of Secretary johnson. OF Raleigl
d Among those contributing to tt
r. pleasure and profit Of the meeting
'e were Prof Cobb. Of the State Unive
II sity, with his most interesting lectu'
!" and stereoscopic views OF Yello'
: stone Park, and Miss Burton, OF 10
isville, who lectured on Sunday-scho
kindergarten Work.
This week and next Is the COME
e ence for Bible Study. 1t is the fe
Is turc OF the summer programme al
10 q number OF ministers and othe
'e have come in specially to attend
- DIR. Sternes. OF Germantown, Pa.
re conducting the Conference to t