The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-07-25

Our own people who have the opportun-
ity to tour the west, fairly rave over
the scenery, including that of North Caro-
lima and other states.
Very few have ridden II miles to see
the beautiful country wrapped around
Shades mountain.
They thus have missed the real gem of
the country in which they live. Their
enthusiasm for this land of Ours lies DOR
mant. because they have not bit the pure
mountain air that whips in your face at
the altitude of 100 feet. High enough to
reach the beezes-to feel the purity of tho
glorious atmosphere, yet not too near to
catch the cheerful rays of the sun, or see
them cast shadows on beautiful rocky
heights and fern bordered crevices.
This is fact of our native mountain
country.
Leaving Birmingham, with its smoke,
industry and beautiful homes as an i'm
portant background with an artful franz
ing of nature, the driveway through the
valley, around the slopes that lead to
the ascents, one has an opportunity to
glance over the city, fading from view,
! and feel with sympathetic spirit my
country" 1t is of thee | am seeing
climbing your highways, and noting your
touch OF rustic beauty-it lies on your
soil, and In your mountain veins. Here
l see the birth place, at a distance, of
all the districts wealth and fame. Here
lies crouched right close to mother earth
the gravel, stone, lime rock and red ore
that has placed our Magic City in Jones'
valley. These particles of native wealth
which peep through the soil on the road
way have started the whistles to blowing
| in Jefferson county today. Up to now
we only put q commercial value on the
scenic view-just at the rate of what we
can dig out of the bowels of the earth.
| We have failed to appreciate the beau
tiful world that conceived the wealth.
When the home folks begin to peep over
their native heights they will find on the
| level of Shades mountain a strip of beau
| tiful country, with great possibilities for
health and recreation.
1t is susceptible of being as important
| to Birmingham and Alabama as Lookout
| mountain is to Chattanooga and Tennes-
see The one looks down on the battle
| field of Chickamauga over the tombs of
those who wore the blue and the grey.
The other has fought with adversely, suf-
fered with battle of cholera and cessa-
| ton of BOOM times. and her monuments
| are seen In the towering buildings of an
infant city.
There are a few year-round homes and
| farms, and several summer cottages on
| the ridge above Oxusoor, these look down
| upon the stacks with curling smoke, COM
| ing from whence the owls and hawks used
| to brood.
There are families living there today,
| whose ancestors have lived on the crest
| of the mountain for generations. They
know every bypath and every history of
the locality. and point to spots of
romance. the stories giving graver hue
| to the scene
There is Lovers Leap" and what
lover falls to leap, even though he sur
wives the pit, he has ventured
There was a leap to DEATH so tradition
says. The spot not far from the Bluff
| Park Inn.
"A huge rock. hanging over deep preci-
| ptce, holds the story of tragic deed.
| The end of a serious love affair. The
parties, two first cousins. On the face
| of the fiat rock Is inscribed the story in
pathetic verse. The words dug in deep
| lines, for IS years, lacking a few weeks
| have stood the storm and weather. To-
| day they serve their purpose and give
| the pathfinders food for thought. Beneath
the stone. deep below, are two graves,
| side by side, unmarked except on the
| native ferns, or the shelter of the fallen
| leaves, there is nothing, but the story is
| here; the names and lines are these:
august 20, 1897.
| Thomas w. Farrar
| 'Seraphine r. Farrar