South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-11-01
BY Harry Barnet.

The most unique and weird ramb-
ling ground for automobile tourists
on the continent is outlined By pro-
ceeding north on the east leg Of the
Dixie highway from Chattanooga TO
the vicinity OF Lexington. KY. thence
over a sunset course 20 the west les,
and south along the latter route 20
the point OF beginning. These
boundaries enclose an irregular area
as large as a minor European prln-
cipality
Dropping deep into the heart Of
this region the tourist comes upon
curious wonderland. The scenery Is
as beautiful as any in the world. II
IS made up OF a mass OF mountains,
in places covered with dense and vir-
gin forests. carpeted with an aston
ishing flora. through which Jpeander
new country roads. and fantastic by
ways in the course OF feverish con-
struction There are cliffs beside
" hich a family Of skyscrapcrs would
appear as ambitious boulders, and
fields OF massive rocks. lying helter-
SHELTER as would the discarded blocks
OF some prehistoric giant child grown
tired at play. over them Mother
Nature has splashed her most Drill
liant colors.
Here and there are the homes Of
the mountain folk. Some are mere
cabins; others more pretentious
structures; but all are constructed
OF native materials which grow
gracefully picturesque with age.
Finds Strange Folk.
These highlanders are the people
OF more or less truthful fiction Co
ing about their everyday affairs they
present the pleasing spectacle Of
living pages from the books, back
grounded by the supreme in nature.
They are a kindly set, with OutcrOps
CT uncommon beliefs. Among them
is a high percentage of old-young
people. That is. men and women
Mo boast OF so and 80 years as their
age. yet appear 10 be just cleverly
started upon their journey into that
realm beyond the half-century
mark. These old people not only at
test the healthfulncss Of their en-
yironment, but are human docu-
ments OF an order u be found no
where else.
The tourist finds more that is new
ond inspiring in this region than in
any other section TO which ne might
turn. There comes the thrill which
the explorer feels when he views
scenes that are strange 10 ordinary
human eyes. The spell Of the I'M
known is everywhere, for the heart
of this irregular enclosure is "a cCun-
Try whose history has never been
written.
At least five ancient migraticns
came into. occupied for a while. then
raised from this section. There are
traces OF the passage of Roman le-
Eions. and of the Jews. or the Roman
conquerers OF the Jews What they
cid history does not tell US. There
are 10 be found occasional hollow
tgee-trunk Baskets enclosing mum
mied remains, warped about. IN
mattings Of strange weave. Once in
"a while a cave gives up its dead. In
one. three mummied bodies were
found They were seated I'm indi-
Nidual pyramidal baskets. placed far
hack in the cave, which was paved
with brick fashioned by ancient
workmen. The mummied carcass OF
a dog was found in another cave not
fd~ away. In life the animal re-
sembled somewhat our present shep-
herd dog. except that a heavy name
grew from base 10 tip on the under
side of its TAIL
A Varied Panorama.
There pass before the eyes OF the
tourist a panorama Il civilizations
Along the line a. the Queen and
Crescent railroad is the civilization
we view from the train windows
Farther back in succession the tour
ist passes into that of the 18th cen
fury and beyond while in few in
stances primitive people live in cave.
and beneath overhanging lodges OF
cliffs. The latter are remarkably
rare.
But in whatever state one find!