Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-01-19

| ed In the CONFUSION tnat opened tHlS
chasm. 1t was along through this OBJ
scure dell that the road, with which
my reader Is acquainted, found place
between the margin Of the stream and
the foot Of the rocks. The general as
pect Of the country was diversified by
high knolls and broken masses Of
mountain land and the Dove Cote it
self occupied a station sufficiently
above the surrounding district to give
| 1t a prospect, eastward, Of several
miles in extent. From this point the
eye might trace the valley Of the Rock
fish, by the abrupt hillsides that hem
med 1t in, and by the growth Of SOM
bre pines that coated the sleeps where
nothing else could find a foothold. Not
far below, in this direction, was to be
seen the Fawn's tower, a singular
pinnacle of rock, which had acquired
its name from the protection 1t was
said to have afforded to a young deer
against the assault Of the hounds; the
hard pressed ANIMAL, as the tradition
| relates, having gained this insulated
point by a bound that baffled the most
adventurous of his pursuers, and ad-
miration of the successful boldness of
the leap having won from the hunts
man the favor that spared his life.
With the exception Of large chest
nut near the edge of the cliff, and some
venerable oaks, that had counted GEN.
turies before the white man rested his
limbs beneath their shade, the native
growth Of the forest had been remov-
ed by Lindsay from the summit have
described, and he had substituted for
the wild garniture of nature few of
the choicest trees Of the neighboring
woods. Here he had planted the elms,
the holly and the linden tree, the cedar
and the arborvitae. This platform was
mi-circular, ard was bounded by
terrace or walk of gravel that swept
around its circumference. The space
| enclosed was covered with a natural
grass, which the frequent use Of the
scythe had brought to the resemblance
Of velvet; and the lower side Of the
terrace was guarded by a hedgeway OF
cedar. Over this green wall, as the
spectator walked forth in fair summer
time, might he look out upon the dis
tant woods and meadows; and there
he might behold the highroad showing
itself, at distant intervals, upon the
hil.sides; and in the bottom lands, that
lay open to the sun through the forest
bou-d valleys, might he see herds Of
grazing cattle, or fields of yellow grain
or, perchance, the slow moving vain,
burdened with hay, or slower moving
dough.
| The mansion itself partook Of the
character Of the place. 1t was perch
ed-to use a phrase peculiarly appli-
cable to its position-almost imme-
diately at that point where the terrace
made an angle with the cliff, being de-
Tended by a stone parapet, through
which an iron wicket opened upon a
| flight of rough-hewn steps. that ter
minated in a pathway leading down to
the river.
The main building was Of stone,
consisting of one lofty story, and cap
ped with a steep roof, which curved so
far over the front as to furnish broad
rustic porch that rested almost upon
the ground. The slim pillars Of this
porch were concealed by lattice work,
which was overgrown with creeping
vines: and the windows Of the contig-
uous rooms on either side of spa
cious hall, opened to the floor, and
looked out upon the lawn and quiet
landscape far beyond. One Of these
apartments was also accessible through
the eastern gable, by a private door
way shaded by light veranda, and
was appropriated by Lindsay to his IL
brary. This portal seemed almost to
hang over the rock, having but the
breadth of the terrace between 1t and
the declivity, and showing no other
ground than the parapet, which
was here a necessary defence against
the cliff, and from which the roman
tic dell Of the river was seen In all its
wilderness.
There were other portions Of the
mansion constructed in the same style
Of architecture, united to this In such
manner as to afford an uninterrupted
communication, and to furnish range
Of chambers for the use Of the family.
A rustic effect was everywhere pre-
served. Stacks of chimneys shot up In
~rotesque array, and heavy, old-fash-
ioned windows looked quantity down
| from the peaked roof. Choice exotics
planted in boxes were tastefully ar
ranged upon the lawn; cages with
singing birds were suspended against
the wall and the whole mass Of build
| ing extending along the verge Of the
cliff, so as to occupy the entire diam
eter of the semicircle, perhaps one
hundred and fifty feet, sorted by Its
simplicity of costume, II I may so
speak, and by it's tidy beauty, with the
close-shaven grassplot and its trim
shades.
Above the whole flinging their broad
and gnarled arms amongst the CHM
ney tops, and forming a pleasing con-
trast with the artificial embellishments
Of this spot, some ancient oaks, In
primeval magnificence, reared their
time -honored trunks, and no less shell
tered the habitation from the noon-tide
heats, than they afforded an asylum to
the ringdove and his mate, or to the
countless travellers Of the air that here
stopped for rest or food.
Such was the general aspect of the
Dove Cote; spot where philosopher
might glide through life in unbroken
contemplation: where wearied states
man might betake himself to reassem-
BILE the scattered forces of intellect for
new enterprises: where the artist might
repair to study with advantage the
living graces Of Gods own painting;
and where young beauty might bud
and bloom amongst the most delicate
and graceful forms on earth.
The interior Of the dwelling ca
pacious and comfortable. It's furni-
ture, suitable to the estate of the own
er. was plain, and adapted to a NUM-
L AEAN NNNNT