The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-04
BY n. BCCkNE En-.

n Ill. adjectives so lame and inter.
~ jections need half soling" when
the visitor to Asheville in the Blue
Ridge Mountains of western North Caro-
Tina tries to describe the picturesque
grandeur Of that most charming Southern
tourist metropolis. Any description of
the city were trite and inadequate that
pictures II merely as modern, beautiful.
healthful and iestful and famous as "A
tourist resort" These adjectves, how
ever. may De truthfully applied to Ashc-
vile, but they cannot convey to the reader
the real impression of the city and its
charming environment.
II Is modern, yet primitive quaint, yet
conventional; softly beautiful. yet rug
gedly picturesque 1t has urban facilities
with rural advantages Its environment
Is region OF sweetness and balm Of sun
shine and glory. of magniicence and
grandeur. Of sublimity and inspiration.
unsurpassed In their marvels OF combina-
ton in all the world The crisp. dry air
of the winter months makes the JOY of
living each day greater than for the day
before.
The outdoors Is particularly delightful
and enjoyable at this period of the year
and one is most eager to be outdoors
every moment of daylight the forerunner
of peace and rest at night Ashevlle Is
and has is being for its friends. The
fame Of is hospitality Is globe encirclng,
Of the United States and "a number Of the
mobility of Europe. II Is the seat Of Bun
comic county. named after COL Edward
Run, ombe. who came here from st. kits
III the Vest Indies Col. Buncombc placed
over the doorway OF his spacious mansion
the legend ITO Buncombe Hall. Welcome
ALL" and the people of Ashcvllle adopted
that legend as their motto and to its spirit
they live. Their doors swing wide open
to the visitors. whether they come FOR
pleasure. health. recreation or business.
After searching the world for a place
where grows the greatest number Of plants
In the vegetable Kingdom. George W. Van
derbilt found that particular spot To be
within four miles of the centre OF beauti-
full Asheville and proceeded at once on ac-
auaintance with that fact to buy up all
the land in sight. includin. mountains.
hills and valleys. so that he owns $4,000
acres Of field and forest. Here he has
built what is said to be the finest country
home IN America and here he spends a
great portion of his time. motoring over
his vast estate and enjoying the life Of a
gentleman farmer.
During the summer and early autumn
he lives at his lodge up near the summit
of Mount Pisgah. which is 5,1i9 feet
above the level of the sea. This lodge Is
reached over an automobile road literally
carved from the precipitous sides of the
mountain. much OF 1t from solid granite.
sixteen months to build this magnificent
mountain road which rises nearly 5000
feet within q distance of seven miles.
making many sharp curves OF switch
backs. doubling on itself like the noun
tain blacksnake. to gain the summit
where II located the lodge on the saddle
betw, en- Pisgah and Bald Knob, overlook
ing n great valley for miles and miles
across the primeval forests that have
never been despOiled by the ruthless lum-
berm,r. The road cost s5l 900 to build
and more than 600 tons Of dynamite was
used in its construction.
The lodge IL built of logs rough and Is
rugged on the outside, but the interior has
every modern convenience OF the city
home Thousands OF visitors every
month make the trip from Ashe-
willie to the lodge, twenty-six miles
hut all must get passes from the
estate offices at the model village OF Bit
more before being permitted to go on to
this road. All cars on certain day
90 together and return together In order
that no accident may occur. The scenic
beauty Of this trip Is probably not sur.
passed OH the American continent, and
the fame OF this drive Is bringing many
Inquiries for information about IT,
Ever See a "rampedOodle"? OF cours,
YOU never have unless you've been dOwi
TO Asheville and visited this Biltmore cs
tate. It's a fortificationlike structure
built of gray marble 200 yards from tn.
front OF the mansion, and ascension to III
fiat top Is made by several zgzal
stairways at alternating angles. "Rampe
doodle" 10 the term applied to the struc
ture by the accommodating jehus who
drive visitors through the estate nc
motors being permitted therein exccp
those Of the owner. and you will finall,
ascertain that what the jehu really mean'
il ''rampe- douce.' meaning OF easy as
cent.