The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-09-09

bic basin of the little stream flowing
fast by the front door, aud break
fast ON bread, coffee and roasting
ears boiled, we began the toilsome
ascent OF Pisgah. From the jump
the climb was precipitous, over a
pathway full OF water-worn rocks
for mile and a half, then from the
Gambler lodge over Vanderbilt's
graded trail to his hunting lodge on
LittleP Pisgah another mile and
half. At the Lodge we bought dim
ner, which was we'll served by Mrs.
Kelly, the Lodge keepers wife. The
last mile and half was up the rug
ged side of Pisgah proper, from
whose tall summit one could we'll
nigh see all the Kidgdoms of the
earth. It was about p. M. The
mountain top is bare and barren,
with the exception of few buckle
berry bushes and stunted shrubs,
none of which afforded the least
shelter from the burning sun that
beat down upon us without mercy.
After sunset, fires would have been
necessary, but before that time, we
needed only shade and ice water.
We were $3.50 feet above the level of
the sea, far away towards the. ceru-
lean blue-higher than we can easily
climb again during our brief sojourn
on these shifting shores Of time.
Our stay on Pisgah was brief; the
san was too torrid, and we decided
to retrace our steps to meaner alti-
tudes. At the Lodge We asked for
food and lodging, but were refused.
Mr.. Vanderbilt does,not allow camp
ing parties on his grounds, and We
had 20 retrace our steps TO the three
room Warren mansion.
Our party reached home after
three days, and we can all say truth
fully that we have scaled Pisgah.
We mutually agreed that we would
not take $50 for our experience, nor
would we repeat our experience for
like sum. We are like the father
to whom SON was born, who said,
81 would not take ten thousand dol
lars for shat boy, nor would | give
copper cent for another one.''
The. trip was full OF experiences.
Besides the confused method Of
sleeping, the men and women mixed
in hopeless confusion on the same
pallet, we had women riding astride
on mules without saddles, women
bruised from falls on the rocks, wo-
men submitting to do surgical opera
tions as we opened blisters on their
feet, women making their neagre
toilet on the roadside by a spring
branch in the open light of day, the
only promise exalted from the men
being Shaesthey should keep their
eyes shut, or not tell what they saw.
Friend Cathey complained that one
of his eyes was diseased and could
not shut entirely, but that his good
eye obeyed the order and renamed
fast closed. I had reason to say to
Cashey, on several occasions, that
he paid poor tribute TO truthfulness,
and Z think this was true on the oc-
casion named above.
Other things occur to me which
might be Of interest to your readers,
but must forbear alter mentioning
our bride and groom who now have
the contract for furnishing anluse-
ment to our guests at the boarding
house. He is tall and lean-look-
ing brother, of more than sixty
years she sister Of possible
forty. They sit about the grounds
in vital iaxta-proxinity, she with
one arm about his neck. AS soon as
they enter the privacy Of their room
the iocund sound of the resoundIng
oscu.atory smack can be heard IN
all the adjacent rooms, while she re-
peass such mild terms of endear-
ment as, 'sYou sweet old darling!!'
or Ny precious loven' The old fell
low seems to bear up under all this
with remarkable power Of endurance
but a far-away, watery look in his
eyes seems to say, 80, give me a
restn Unless she does it, have all
idea that the fellow will have to go
into the dry dock for repairs before
the honeymoon has half waned.
have received orders from the
chief executive Of my wardrobe and
bureau TO accompany her to the
spring-hence the necessity is forced
upon me to discontinue this mean
dering epistle suddenly at this juno
ture. But for this mandatory order,
NO one can tell to what extremes
this letter might have gone.
With kindest memories Of all
things past that are worth renenl-
bering, and with best regards to
your numerous and pious constitu-
ants..including yourself and John
Buckner of fame unperishable, [ re-
main yours to count on when your
demands are not too heavy.
c. G. Brown,
Skyland, n. c., Aug. q.
Colombia to Negotiate a New Ca
nal Treafv