The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-08-02

has some pleasant drives IN Its vicinity. |
The show place, however; is the hotel, |
Eagles Nest, on the summit of JunaIuska
mountain, from which at an altitude of
five thousand feet one can see over hills
and valleys into both Tennessee and
Georgia. 1t is cold enough up there-and
the natural drinking water is said TO have
temperature of only SO degrees.
The most striking fact 1 have observed
here is the absence of winds. These is
less wind at Waynesville than at any
other point l have ever visited. There
is enough gentle breeze, although the
lightness of the air takes from their force,
but l had thought that the mountains
were the home of boisterous winds. In
another particular, also. have been un-
deceived. 1t was my impression that the
mountain trout was a myth. But
party of my household-embracing sew
eral boys-took a fishing jaunt ana
brought home eighty odd trout-some
some quite large-fine fellows. They are
beautiful fish, with lovely spots and dell-
cate hues. And certainly they justify
their reputation, for they are the most
delicately Favored of the finny tribe. In
that respect they surpass any other fish
1 have eaten. The old time connoisseurs
of the Cape Fear rated the Blue Perch
as the best fresh water fish, and the Pig
fish as the choicest morsel of the salt wa
ter. With them the criterion was firnn-
ness, iuiciness and agreeable flavor.
The Blue Perch have nearly disappeared
for 1 have heard of them lately only IN
Sampson and Robson counties. The Pig
fish can still be had on the coast. When
properly cooked with hot fire, quickly,
they are delicious. Next in juiciness and
richness of flavor is the shad-the roe
shad, in her season; and by the same
token, oysters are at their best III April
just before the spawning season, when
nature clothes them in fairness and fills
them with juices. 1t is somewhat shock
ing that men should so ruthlessly prey
upon these poor creatures when about to
deposit their eggs-and then with COM
placency claim that all other forms of
life were created for their use and pleas
ure. But man is very selfish animal at
best.
/ have been greatly interested in the
articles appearing in the News and OBJ
Writing curreante calamo-There is some
thing to be said for and against each side
of that conflict. While Tryon on the
field of battle had the better cause, and
while he seems to have been very SUI
perior man at an earlier stage OF the
trouble, he appears to great disadvantage.
The Regulators movement extended from
Granville to Arson. At Salisbury, the
local officers against whose unjust fees
the Regulators complained, met them
half way; and agreed to the selection OF
a committee to settle all differences, prom
ising to pay back all fees the committee
found to have been improperly eXacted.
That was a satisfactory settlement OF the
matter-and had the same course been
pursued elsewhere, there would have been
no battle of Alamance. But Tryon in
stead of Selling upon that method OF
uuieting the people, severely reprimanded
the local officers at Salisbury, and ex-
pressed great dissatisfaction at their ''un-
constitutional method of dealing with the
Regulators. Had Tryon been more OF a
statesman and less of martinez, the
whole movement would probably have gone
off as at Salisbury. Still, this IS to be said
of TryOn-that at first he paid attention
to their wishes, and later he sought to
escape from the predicament he found
himself in repeatedly asked to be trans
ferred to New York, and even sought
leave of absence from North Carolina;
doubtless with a view of letting others
deal with the dissatisfied element i'll the
interior of the Province. But when the
issue finally came between the constitute
ed authority and chaos; between the gov
eminent and an Instruction against gov
ernment-he knew no other way,-.with
his military training-than to crush out
dissatisfaction by force: to vindicate
government by its strength, while had
he addressed himself to the task of re-
forming abuses and of placating assuag-
ing, and converting by an appeal toi
reason, he probably would have drawn the
great bulk Of the Regulators back to their !
duties of citizenship.
| have likewise read with pleasure and
profit the admirable address OF Mr.. Pitt
man reviewing the course of John Porter
and giving prominence to the spirit OF
resistance to oppression that has ever
characterized the actions of our North
Carolina people. In recent years much
original material for the study OF our
history has become accessible and there
has been. an awakening of a desire for
original investigation. Besides, recent
writer's have been animated by purpose
to seek and present the historic truth
rather than. to advance some interested
view of popular movements. Much that
the older writer's ascribed to turbulence
and faction was manifestation of the
same bold and manly purpose to mann
tain the right which have made Pym-
and Hampden and Sidney immortal
Were our North Carolina history writ
ten out in detail, there would be no need
to turn to Greece and Rome and England
for illustrations of virtue. fortltude, cour-
age patriotism or admirable conduct IN
public affairs; and we owe it to ourselves
to make our people and posterity familiar
with what is ennobling in their history
Several novels nave recently been writ
ten on the subject of Aaron Burr, the
tnrning point in whose career Is generally
thought to have been "the murder OF
Hamilton. In Bentons Thirty Years