The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1911-06-01
The Park That Made Henderson,
vile Famous.
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to this spot and spend here all our
days. as we pledge each other in
deepest quaf of the purest water
that ever quenched the thirst of
man.
Climbing still further up the
mountain, aided somewhat by rus
tic steps, we reach a picturesque
spot above the spring. Here a
wild gorge is revealed, gigantic
gray boulders, jagged rocks, over
hanging and moss-covered, their
cool, dim recesses suggesting
panthers, wildcats and moonshine
stills, until we have the most de-
lightful shivery imaginable. In
deed we almost see the CLEAN of
a rife barrel in the hands of a
lank and bearded mohntaineer,
and forget that we r within
sight of a car-line and but a few
minutes travel from a city of thou
sands.
By this time, ready for almost
any deed of daring, we descend
the mountain side, cross streams
Of laughing waters travelling their
musical way to rivers below, and
come to the Swiss incline railway
"a bit of modern engineering
amidst primeval surroundings.
We enter a car, are taken by a
grade of forty percent nearly half
a,thousand feet above Henderson
vile, and there from the tower-on
Echo Mountain is unfolded to our
almost startled gaze a panorama
of wild and beautiful mountain
scenery beyond compare; not the
repelling, bare magnifcence of the
Rocky Mountains, but a marvel
Gus, cleaning expanse of green
clothed peaks, stretching away
and away in the azure distance
until peaks and sky blend together
in a glamour of enchantment.
Between us and the distant noun
tain ranges rests the white city
of Hendersonville, reaching eager
ly towards Laurel Park. We see
Flat Rock and Osceola, Rhododen-
dron, Kanuga and Highland Lakes
cleaning in the sunshine, and
there are smiling valleys and
broad plains. Off yonder we see
Clingnan's Peak and Mount Nit
chell, the highest peaks this side
of the Rockies, while Mount Tox-
away, it's summit hidden now and
then by a lacy cloud, stands out
bold and defiant. In the complete
circle of giant sentinels guarding
the destiny of this country we see
Sugar Loaf, Tryon, Bear Wallow
and Pisgah, the highest peak on
Mr.. George w. Vanderbilt one
hundred and t~hirty-two thousand
acres estate, near the summit of
which is Mr.. Vanderbilt hunt
lodge. Then there's Shaking
Bald, split wide in 1878, forming
a bottomless abyss which threaten
ed to vomit fame and lava, and
scores of other peaks reaching
their handicapped heads into the
everlasting blue of the sky above.
We feast our eyes and souls
upon the marvellous picture, but
at last, reluctantly leaving the
tower, resume our seats in the in
cline railway car, and on reach
ing the station. find a street car
awaiting us. Then, over winding
stretches of track through the
Park whirls the car, past Laurel
Park Retreat and the Casino, past
Rainbow, Laurel and Ivy Lakes,
the Cascades, through thickets of
laurie | and under overhanging
silver pines to Rhododendron
Lake, rejecting on it's placid sur
face the shadow of Mount Panoro-
mas wooded sides. We observe
and marvel at the skill with which
a canal connecting Rainbow and
Rhododendron Lakes has been
built-a canal, mind you, winding
along the side of the mountain be
tween, whose solid banks glide
canoes and launches. Surely this
is unique and we are reminded of
mooulights nights spent on the
canals of Venice. Then we ma
turally think of her, of the pref
test girl in the whole world, and
wonder if he stored waterways
of old Venice could possibly be
more condui.v to romance than
a ride through this mountain
canal.
But the car travels on and soon
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