The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1906-06-01
THE HOME CIRCLE.
LIFE IN NORTH CAROLINA.
VIEW OF THE SOUTHLAND.

LIFE IN NORTH CAROLINA.
AvIEw OF THE SOUTHLAND.
Years ago when we were small and
good and attended the little red
schoolhouse at the foot of the hill In
North Carolina was one of the Southern
states, that 1t was level in the eastern
part and mountainous in the west,
that 1t produced more pitch, tar and
turpentlne than any other state In the
Union, and that the people we're called
"tarheels." At this time this amount
Of knowledge satisfied our small and
unexpanded minds and II our teacher
had not administered goOdly portion
of birch oil it Is doubtful II we would
have learned as much. Neither would
we have learned the benefits Of turpen-
tine as lotion for the sting of the
birch rod. Years passed over our
heads, years Of struggle attending to
our numerous duties, OF keeping the
wolf from the door and educating our
when again We could take up the study
of this interesting state and it's
hospitable people. Perhaps 1t is not
generally known to oul people at the
North that North Carolina is one Of
the most healthy states of the Union
In which to reside the year round, and
that a. AZ summer resort 1t has few,
II any, equals. The great Thermal
belt ON the eastern slope Of the Blue
Ridge mountains Is considered one of
the best resorts for consumption in the
world. The Sapphire country, situated
between the Blue Ridge and the
Unikas or Great Smoky mountains, is
another very healthy country. The
il about 1000 feet while that of the
Sapphire country ranges from 22O0 to
$500, feet with many mountain peaks
reaching more than 5000 feet above sea
level, including Mount Mitchell, the
highest>point east of the Mississippi
river. For the past two months we
have been In the Sapphire country,
near the beautiful French Broad river,
which rises In the Toxamy mountains,
aud makes q circuitous route to the
northward and westward, finally max
Ing its way through the Great Smoky
nnS Gss snd SSning the
the Ohio and Mississippi, reaching
the Gulf Of Mexico. IL reach this
Sapphire country we leave the
Southern Railway at Hendersonville,
taking the Transylvania Railroad and
going to Brevard, which is really the
gateway for this sO-called Sapphire
country. From Brevard, which is
about 20 miles from Hendersonville,
We 60 on to Toxamy, making a total
ride Of about As miles. The Transyl-
vania Railroad not only controls It's
own road but also owns the different
hotels on its line, including the Frank
In az ppAuopN ~ tic AL
a anD :. and tn, 9oz sna q Hotel Ibs which Ha
Besides these there are numerous
boarding houses and many private
families where board can be had at
very reasonable rate, among this hos
pitable people. While it is our wish
to give good impression Of the coun-
TRY and 1t benefits as q health resort.
1T ls the native people that have inter-
ested US the most. Living. as they
have for generations, in this noun
famous and not over-productlve cOun-
try, they have not burdened them
cre," but they have learned how to
live and enjoy life better than any
other class of people with whom we
have ever associated. Often their
home Is only log cabin of two rooms.
but have seen more real happiness in
one Of their homes than in a city man.
sion. Their hospitality cannot be ex-
celled anywhere 50 far as friendly feel
ing goes, and their willingness to share
with you the best that they have.
Last week we took trip into the
mountains and at nightfall came to y
small log house OF only two rooms. We
woman, followed by six children, rang
ing in age from one year to nine years
OF age. Our request for lodging for
the night was met by the usual re-
Spouse from the man, Light and feed
your mules" followed by a welcome
from his wife that If we could put up
with their accommodations we could
stay. We confess that we had some
fears that our bed would have to be
shared with some of the numerous
children, but our fears were ground
less. but my friend says that he saw
just at daylight.
After seeing that our mules were
well cared for we went to the house,
and you hOusekeepers of the north
who think that you must know week
In advance when you are to have CON-
pany, would be surprised at what
progress had been made in a half hour
In the preparation for supper. AL
ready we could smell chicken frying
and in short time we we're called to
q table bOuntifully loaded with fried
chicken, corn bread, biscuit and coffee
We were forced to tell our host that
our early training forbade us to &C.
cept his treat Of 'mountain dew"
but we would,-here we were arrested
In our speech by peculiar look on our
hosts cOuntenance and we laid aside
our early training and partook of the
beverage, trying to realize that every
thing had its place in this world.
After more extended acquaint-
ance with the people in the remote
parts OF the mountains, we decided
that there were some times that it
was just as wellOtO assume ignorance.
We we're sorry to see that in Church
and educational matters they we're
behind the times, but when we
saw how devOut they were at
the church service, and how
eager the children were to learn in the
short school term of only four months
In the year, we saw in the future bet
ter churches and more advantages in
school privileges, for it is the same
here as 1t Is In every other place where
the Anglo-SaxOn race is located,
church and school go hand in hand,
and In the end will triumph over race
troubles or political ambitions.
As musical people they are very
interesting. Nearly everyone can sing
and many can play the guitar or violin,