The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-06-15
OLD SMOKYS HEAD.

In the range OF mountains. the Great
Smokes. along the state line between
North Carolina and Tennessee there rises
a peak far above any kindred he1ghts'
locally known to the inhabitants around
II as White Rock. but generally know as
OLD Smoky's Head. Many times on the
trails leading around it have stopped III
nv missionary labors, pushed my hat
from off my forehead, and admired Old
white Rock. and each time increased
a desire TO climb to its summit.
few mornings since my desire TO
visit Old Smoky's Head was gratihed
when a companion suggested that We
scale the heights We started from inc
Tennessee side about o'clock ana
neither Of us knew the trail that ledu 10
the top. We hoped to find it. but never
did and all the way We were slpphs'
crawling on our knees and trying to walk
but the thick growth Of small bushes
prevented US making much progress. we
continued this for an hour or more, and
when we could get a place TO look for
our goal We were dismayed to see Wmte
Rock as far away as ever. We had borne
too much to the right. We started new
course this time, and the forest was full
of ground squirrels and our trampIinG on
the leaves woke them all up. | almost
gave up sometimes but my companion
was hopeful Of success and ii encouraged
me 1t is like making a successful lie;
you will have mountains before you, but
YOU must keep climbing to reach the top
the faint-hearted will either give up In
despair OF turn down the hill. We toiied
on under disadvantages until near L
clock in the evening and my com
panion cheerfuny yelled out. There's
White Rock Just few rods farther.
We were shortly on the pinnacle. and
what a magnificent scene, We were be-
tween four and five thousand feet above
the troublesome world. Here Old Smoky
has raised his head like an Atlas since the
world was resting on the shoulders Of
poor Ulysses. We could look down and
see the forest that had grown up around
him but none OF any size touched his
head And he must be Of old age, for
as his name suggests, We found his head
white We could see the Pigeon river
clearly and the little valley Of Cosby.
We saw the Tennessee and North Caro-
lima railroad. and it locked like peaVine
as ii followed the eastern bank of Pig
con river. The little riverside town OF
Newport. situated on the Southern rail
road between Ashevilie and Morristown,
MD itself hcHlOG q niue cluster OIL lItt9.
The day was smoky, but on a clear day,
with Il field glass, it is SAID You can see
Knoxville. Is miles away. And we stood
in two states. for the state line passes
over the highest peak, and it is not over
feet wide up there mean the rock.
not the state line.
We saw the Balsam mountains on the
North Carolina side. The waters of Big
creek came chattering out of the bosom
of Balsam, and ON the pleasant spring air
seemed to have more of q silver tone in
Ito song. The beautiful tizwood trees,
hemlock laurel and oaks dressed up the
hills. We saw bear paths over the
peak where we were standing. and evil
IDENTIFY ne has q claim stalled on this spot
when Uncle Sam makes It a park. And on
the peak We found a little basin about :
feet deep in the rock, and full Of clear
rain water Truly Gods loving Kindness
is on the mountain tops, as well as down
in the valleys and we can say with
David In twenty-third Psalms, 'The Lord
is cur shepherd. we shall now want.
The COWS run at large on the noun
tains. and the tinkling OF cow bells were
waited on the air across the little valleys
and ravines. And in the evening twilight