South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-11-01
''In the Southern Highlands"
Tour Over Dixie Highway
Affords Great Adventure

human beings in this region written
history is scanty History OF our own
times is being made and recorded in
unusual manner. This whole sec
ton is one OF the richest spots the
nation has in actual and potential
resources. They are being rapidly
developed
For instance, the town Of Stearns.
KY, is one OF the most curious COM
munities in the United States IL is
q mining and timber town. All towns
elsewhere engaged in the same in
dus,ries are apparently lad out af-
ter the same general unattractive
pattern
Stearns is about Is years old. In
atmosphere IL offers a bit Of the
Latin Quarter. in that it is the re-
sort OF artists OF national promi-
hence. They make their headqUar-
ters in Stearns while painting the
mountain types and scenery. Chicago
PEOPLE can view these paintings in
the Art Museum. UgHness and work
are separated in this remarkable
town. Service is there. but il is made
less crude by preservation of the
beauty spots. The homes are not
arranged in disorderly rows, but are
scattered about in the forest, and
painted 20 blend with the varying
natural tints surrounding them.
There are no social distinctions so
long as men and women conduct
themselves somewhere near the
standards imposed by society for its
own preservation.
Follow Laws of Suggestion.
Stearns is. perhaps. the only town
in the United States founded and
maintained upon the 3Oth chapter
of Genesis. When the town was
founded the labor Of the mountains
was primitive and inefficient. Native
independence prevented any applica-
ton Of the doctrine Of do" and
Don't" Suggestion remained as the
only course in the training of eff
cient labor for the mines and woods,
and the laws of suggestion have
been followed until they have made
Of the town a center Of social scien-
tific experimentation.
Near jamestown, Tenn, the tour
ist can trail, il he likes, the ghost Of
"Old Squire Hawkins" returned, we
can imagine, and wandering happily
among the very things he predicted
would come 10 pass upon his 20, 900
acres" as detailed by Mark Twain in
the opening chapters Of The Gilded
age The most striking about
such a ramble is the contrast
between reputation and character
The scene Of that first chapter Of
The Gilded Age" is laid in the
Tennessee Lands" which belonged
TO the father of Mark Twain. OF
them ne said they had a reputation
like Nazareth. as far as turning out
anything good was concerned"
These lands are turning out many a
good thing, apples, for one. superior
TO those OF any other section OF the
United States.
In any part of this region making
mp the heart OF the irregular enclo-
sure. the tourist is bound TO come
| across the folklore OF the hills, de-
| Cidedly parallel 10 that Of the old
Scottish Highlands, AMI find that all
/ romance is not canned in the movie
/ drama.
II offers unusual sport to the fish
/ erman; a rare field 10 the photog-
/ rapher; and for the delight OF the
material minded, fiocks Of billy goats
/ and their families are clearing the
| underground for the coming OF cattle.
The goats are a welcome sight They
mean the saving TO this country Of
something like $25,O0O,OOO annually
/ sent abroad for goat skins. besides
/ the help the flesh OF the goats af-
] fords in relieving a rather tense
| meat shortage.
Road building is going on with
! that intensity which follows a long
/ period Of inactivity Until recently
! the mountaineers have been content
20 follow mere trails. and mus paths
! at times. but the wave Of develop
| ment which has come among them
from the outside has stimulated them
10 btild roads that compare with
a9y.-OCtober Dixie Highway.