Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1915-07-07
A Visit to Montreal and Mt
Mitchell.

The Presbyterians of North Car
olina have shown their wisdom by
selecting Montreal as a place for a
settlement. In summer the tourists
number between two and three thous-
and, while in the winter only ten or
twelve people remain. These must
really love the mountains in the
time when they are covered with the
snow and when the stern wind
howls as when they are brilliant
with autumn leaves and resplendent
with the blossoms of spring time.
Thus Montreal, or the Mountain
Retreat, nestles in the shadow of
the hills curtained off from the out
side world by great green walls, and
displaying on its stage wonders
wrought by the hand of nature.
The Alba hotel is situated at the
top of sloping hill. At the foot
of the incline a highland pond re-
fleets like mirror the scenes that
daily pass its borders. Around it
a rustic fence serves two purposes,
that of protecting the passers by
from taking an unexpected plunge
into its icy depths. should they ven
ture too near, and to help to blend
the water with the land in a charm
ing rustic appearance.
The rhododendron was in itself
very interesting, being type of the
famous fora peculiar to the noun
tains. The rhododendron grows in
cone,shaped or pyramidal clusters,
pink and white. on bush similar to
that of small magnolia. Though
Montreal offered every possible bit
of beautiful scenery that the eye
could rest upon, we felt that the
trip there should be cut short in or.
der that we might see Mt. Mitchell,
the highest mountain this side OF
the Rockies.
In the early morning a group Of
inexperienced travellers started with
light hearts to the railroad on the
way to Mt. Michel. We thought
we would only have short distance
to go, which was indeed a short dis
lance to the mountaineer. Finally
finding the climbing more than We
were equal to we broke stout sticks,
and with the aid of these and a
short rest every few minutes we
reached the top. When the train
arrived it proved to be an observa,
tlon car, which was very suitable,
since it enabled US to see all of the
sublime scenery.
This seemed to be real moving
pictures, except that we ourselves
were moving instead of the scenery
1t was like a great sea of mountains
and each mountain representing a
billow. Wild flowers passed us in
flashes of color. We longed to see
and to feel them and drink in the
perfume.
Twenty-Five miles distant from
Montreal, Mt. Mitchell was await
ing the arrival Of a car of eager
tourists. The hotel had sent lunch
to strengthen the weary and enable
us to climb, as one suggested.
nearer Heaven than we ever had
been or would be again." The
road led us almost straight up the
mountain and through luxuriant
vegetation of which l had only read
in books.
The flower which seemed to suit
: the soil and climate most was the
purple rbododendron. John Fox
Jr., has written story called The
Purple Rhododendron," telling how
rare it was in the mountains oi
| Tennessee, and how one man risked
his life i'll order to get one brilliant
blossom. July seemed to be the
month in which it bloomed always.
This was the first time I had trod
path literally enamelled and car
peted with blossoms. Along the
mountain side rustic benches were
provided for those who needed rest
We looked for tho vegetation to
grow less and less as we neared the
top of the mountain, but instead OF
that the flowers were brilliantly col.
ored and were in full blossom.
There were no mountain cabins
along the mountain sides as had
been expected, on account of the
land being unsuitable for cultiva-
ton. We experienced the peculiar
feeling of knowing that we were
higher than any people in the
United States this side of the Rock
les, unless it was party in an all
ship, being six thousand seven hun
dred and eleven feet above sea level.
| The mountain received its name