Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1905-07-14
IN THE LAND OF THE SKY,

.r,tl
Mr. Mef---AsheviIls's Wealth al
Beauty---Mr Vanderbilt Enter
lew tains at Lunche1n--A Town Bui
lay, Owned and Governed by OF
ton Man, ETC., ETC.. Etc.
lStaff Correspondence of the Spectator.
sefs The Land of The Sky''-we hav
ne all heard of jt-many of MS have rea
I'M OF 1t, but few of us perhaps have eve
ITS, visited it.
Last week while attending the join
of sessions of the Virginia and Nortl
ion Carolina Press Associations, In annus
in, session at Asheville, it was my pleas
th ure and privilege to traverse much O
this wondrOus land, now famous alik,
In verse and prose. POpularl,
VI speaking the term 'Land of the Sky
applies to the mountain section OF
western North Carolina, contiguous OF
~ adjacent to the city of AshevilIe. and
VI Is so termed because of its great alti.
tude-or height above sea level-the
n mountain ranges frequently piercing
r, Tue sky at elevations exceeding 5000
lie Feet This land of lofty peaks and deep
n valleys is traversed by the Southern
E. railway from several points of the
compass. Salisbury is regarded as the
eastern gateway, for it is there that
:, Tue traveller leaves the main line of the
southern and taking branch road of
the same system is speeded in south
+ westerly course to the distant foot
Nils that look up to the massive noun
tain heights.
AT point called Old Fort, the long
ascent is begun. and with wo engines
aIGaced the train labOriously crawls up |
tne sInuous steep grade. l had heard |
aud read a great deal of the scenery
along this ride, but must confess to a
ieeiing OF some disappointment as l
Deheld 1t. 1t was wild and rugged, but
hemmed in and narrow, with none of
tnat great scope of vision that one en-
joys when looking down upon our
own beautiful Rockfish Valley at the
east portal of Blue Ridge tunnel: nor
Is there the scenic life that the PIANO.
rama presents along the G. & O. road
between Covington and White SULPHUR
however The trip has its charms, for
nowhere else have l seen such enpi. a
neerlDg feats-tunnels, bridges and Q
HIS. connected in wondrous manner, +
while following the road, like a great e
serpent, the bright steel rails are seen. II
bending and twisting and doubling
back upon its trail until it would Seem b
The thing must tie itself into a knot. G.
AT one view the railway is seen at II
seventeen points and it appears so
oewlldering in its winding pathway 81
'nat the unaccustomed can scarcely u
Tell whether distant train is coming Ii
up or going down the mountain. All VI
along the way a cool picturesqueness d.
Is given the near scenery bv the dense LII
Verdue that covers the entire face of I'll
the cOuntry-every rock lined cut or
ragged tunnels mouth is carpeted
with ferns or yelled by streaming Vir Ell
gina creeper. At one point a chain ar
oi snort tunnels makes most inter ia
eselng picture. and beyond these com. su
ing down the mountain the track is a ct
steep descent and very sinuous in it's su
course. h,
While winding this tortuous course
1t great speed. the severe lurching and W,
founding OF the train gives spice to Bi
'he small risk of the trip that has it's TO
charms, especially for those who cling to
% the railing on swinging real. end it
platform. es
HOW THE EDITORS WE'RE ENTER. he
TANNED. an
but whatever may be said of the an
Quincy, Ashevlle itself is no disap- hi
continent. It is new and modern th
lty OF great private wealth, of hand stl
ONE homes, of princey suburban es- tw
ates, of fine hotels, and paved streets. str
Vlthall 1t is city of marked enter of
rise and acknowledged hospitality. dol
he last of these qualities the visiting pc
W. AOdoOu W dppTeCl- ny
te, and those from Virginia especial pa
lean never forget the cordial welcome. VII
ne many acts of kindness or the as
ourtesy accorded them during their pa
REF stay. th,
AT Kenilworth Inn the Virginia and ho1
arolina editors were entertained. 1t is
one OF The largest and best appointed an,
Dteis 10 Western North Carolina and ira
located picturesquely upon the sum- ma
lit OF a great wooded hill Looking wa
own from its lofty perch the city of Ep
shevltle is spread out to the north. l
'ward the south is the town of RiIt- the
ore, and beyond 1t the castle outlines the
the great Vanderbilt mansion, while RESI-
Weeping around its base in crescent per
lape are the banks of the beautiful bal
wannanoa river. 1t was amid such Bro
easant surroundings that the Vir- ant
MA and Carolina Press Associations see
I'D their annual session. the
The Editors of Asheville, the MAYOR sire
I'd representatives of the board of rOa
ade were also present and did the in
'nors at entertaining. During the tolt
term OF business sessions, the editors SIM
ere oanqueted, taken On trolley rides tho
tertained at luncheon, and given ex.' 9TH
rsiohs to near by points of interest. The
ne OF such outings was particularly and
Joyable-the Waynesville trip. The vInt
'spitallty of the people there was visi
ultless. From the station the party beg
AS driven in carriages to the summer drol
'tes and later to the summit of Eagles bea,