The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-08-17
IN THE MOUNTAINS.
Mrs. Evans Writes Of the Beauty of
the Land of the Sky.-Interest-
ing Incidents.

Sky.-We doubt if a more beautiful
scene i'll the Old World can be wit
messed than the one now around us
the grand Chickasaw range, whose
high tops, covered with emerald
green, with a misty veil lifted by the
god Of day, and whose golden splen-
dor floods the high peak of Sugar
Loaf with rays that seem to line the
azure blue Of the skies with ribbons
Of gold; Bear Wallow, Old Pilot, Ball
are close in and beyond, Chickasaw,
Dck Rock, Bats Cave, and other re-
sorts in our own circle Of mountains.
We are full Of Charlestonians, who
seem to have a preference for this
ozone belt of health. Many tourists
are here from Columbia, Georgia,
Florida and Alabama but no one but
your scribe. from Newberry, in this
heart of the mountain belt. We be-
lieve the reason is the inaecessibility
Of this region. There is no railroad
nearer than Hendersonville, n. c.,
and hacks wait on trains for passen-
gers who engage board at this point,
which is ten miles from Henderson,
vile over a fine mountain road, but
serpentine and rocky in ascent.
One of the most interesting sights
to us was the service on Sunday at
St. Paul's Mission church at Edney-
vile, n. C. The mission was organ
lied thirty years ago by devout
churchman and has been maintained
by the Diocese Of North Carolina and
friends at the North have built a
nicely appointed school house with
organ and have an excellent teacher
who is doing missionary work IN this
mountain region. Sunday afternoon
several were christened in the church
and the building was crowded with
tourists and native population. Peo-
pie, irrespective of denomination,
have raised nearly four hundred dol
lars to build a new church and have
+ donated a beautiful gray granite
from near by quarry for this pur-
pose. The young lady visitors at va
rious inns in the neighborhood give
their services as organist and choir.
And the music was really fine. Every
one Joined in singing, and as the sun
sank behind the everlasting hills the
Gloria Patria was waited up among
the high peaks that hundred OF years
ago resounded with the war whoop OF
the savage Indians. The Rev. R. W.
Wilcox is the priest in charge of St.
Paul's Mission and beloved by every
mountaineer in this region.
For the worn and fagged-out man
or woman this is all ideal place for
quiet and rest, far from the maddlng
crowd. No scream of engines or call
of factory bell; no spending of money
for luxuries, for there are no stores;
no worry about cotton, for there is
none here. The only excitement IS the
mail mans arrival at the avenue. He
comes at six o'clock p. m. and drops
letters and papers into Uncle Sam s
mail box, changes your money TOR
stamps, and leaves the stamps and
change in the mail box for you It you
are not there, and we learn that no
theft has ever occurred Of money thus
left. Negroes are not seen here.
There is only one family. who wash
for the inns guests, and never come
near except for laundry. White wo-
men who own houses and mountains
are the cooks and serve the guests at
the tables. They are neat. lntelll-
cent, and travel during winter. They
raise on the farms all they need tor
the table. and so make clear goodly
sum during the tourist season.
IF there were railroad facilities.
this mountain country would be
New Arcadia for hundreds who know
nothing OF it now. Hack fare ont from
Hendersonville is $500 per head and
for more than one $50 for each per-
son and trunk. If the train arrives at
one O'Clock they reach here in day
time, but if at six o'clock then they
reach here at midnight. Take the SIX
clock train 50 you will come IN the
dav and see the mountain scenery.
NJ. A. E.