Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1913-07-19


M IA gions in the United States is
M the southern Appalachians. 1t
Va ~ is a land of giants and patri-
archal families and Of isolated
.AimpIiCities in life which have deep
etuman interest One can explore on
horseback this fascinating region.
ssraveiing through the western part OF
Virginia and North Carolina and the
1f.aster0 districts OF Tennessee and
kentucky. You can stop off any
where you happen to get tired and
lloard, indefinitely and sumptuously,
sa1F $24O week These mountain
FOLK are rich in the material things II
g,oor in the gimcrack luxuries the out
or world esteems needful They are
stiH shut in their Businesses; but con-
iitious are changing now from the Alb
pDIute isolation that existed before the
civil war
I'm following one of the mountain
trails the traveller is we'll paid.
throughout these ranges are bride
.aaths. where notches are cut in the
rock on the steep mountainside for
.he horse or mule TO secure good foot
fHg 4 traveller can find nowhere such
a vszfety Of scenery. He starts at
Rhq, foothills. along the banks OF some
stream The cliffs are completely
covered with moss and ferns. watered
ny innumerable springs, which in sum-
Hter form a hanging garden OF fol
age
Following one of these cataracts be-
r,,nuptoino Opa all M
y sst,iSien that the trail he is in comes
80 NV end. Looking to the left he dis
covers path leading off up the noun
zaiu by modified climb. placing
SRc foot above the other, one can
-easr high cliff and stop for rest.
Only a few feet below is the trail.
swifchback. and to gain one-fourth Of
"a mile you climb a whole one.
in the Evergreens.
Wsrely could one find so fascinating
g. picture Of mountain grandeur. all IN
contrast with the endcing charms OF
he valley below. where hundreds of
cattle are peacefully grazing on vast
f5e{cs % blue grass. You are on the
,.dgs of the evergreen timber, called
tne hemlock belt.
Once in the evergreen timber, the
giew is entirely shut off. except now
snd then where the trail leads over
ss0ne cliff; then the glimpse is just for
an tusGant There are forests Of laurel
sss thick in places that one cannot see
,1vso feet away The laurel trees are
row 10 TO % feet high, some measur-
eng eight inches in diameter
Yuu rest again and hear sounds that
t.4.D az .eNgle habitation. Listen! Yes
suss can hear dogs bark. You resume
cke Journey. and through open places
~ Che timber you can now see fields.
Soon you come TO a log fence, and
aFterward the trail leads off into a
cove.
a cabin appears. built Of logs. fire.
place on the outside and split-oak
roof A short distance away is the
spring Just back of the cabin lies
the peach orchard. and alongside the
oath leading to the barn are the
Ga-ape vines and ounces and other
fruits, such as apples. pears and paw
paw
This is the land Of milk and honey.
TOu can count over go hives of bees,
~ gums hollow tree sawed in
SSu. then set on end on hewn timber
sx1td covered with slab split from a
6og Away in the distant woodland
ONO hears the ting, ting" of the cow
be3.
man about six fet four inches in
hight energies from the door.
Wow d'you do. stranger" is his
grCefing.
Won give him the usuad handshake
which Is the custom OF the country
aud commence to tell your story. But
Ss.gore IL is finished he says. step in
sab. brother"
wn@ enter the door before your host
which is customary among mountain
folk. and are told to have a seat. In
one end OF the room is fireplace
with the old-fashioned mantel shelf
nHEr supper the fiddle comes down
and the whole cabin thrills to the old
fffue airs--My Old Kentucky Home
neEnsze Gray and Barbara Allen and all
r -s~e G7Tpes that make home of a viii
ieruess
close to Nature.
Thw head OF the house asks 10 you
rxeuts like to lie down. You are ready
t, -mcsegh, and you are shown a ladder
,Tu one corner OF the room. II leads
NzG a bsl, In the floor above. where