The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1916-08-29
AGED WOMAN FOR FIRST
TIME SEES LOCOMOTIVE
Mrs. Penland, of North Carolina Noun
tains, Visits Asheville and Sees
Paved Street.

tains, Visits Ashevil1e and Sees
Paved Street.
Asheville, N. c., Aug. 25.-Sixteen
years beyond man s allotted span of
life, white haired and wrinkled, but
with clear gray eyes looking the world
unilinchingly in the face, Mrs. Harriet
Penland, who lives near the head of
Reem s Creek, sixteen miles from
Ashevilles. this week paid her first WIS.,
it to this city in forty years, and for
the first time in her life, saw a locomo-
tive, an electric fan, telephone, a
moving picture, and all the other won
ders of the twentieth century.
Mrs. Penland, who has lived the
whole of her eighty-six years in her
mountain cabin, was brought to Ashe-
vile to testify in minor case heard
before Magistrate w. A. Gaines. Her
testimony given and the case ended,
Magistrate Gaines, learning that it was
the little mountain woman s first visit
to the city in forty years, detailed
Deputy Sheriff Weaver to take her out
and show her the sights of the city.
Mrs. Penland could not understand
why the people would spend money
paving streets. It was the first time
she had seen a paved street. How
ever, she admitted that the roads were
much better than the mountain high
ways to which she was accustomed.
She was placed on a street car and
taken to the Southern station, where,
for the first time in her life, she saw
a locomotive. Abashed and somewhat
timid from the unaccustomed noise at
the station, the little woman chung
close to the deputy's side. but she
looked out through those clear gray
eyes, unafraid, for she comes of a race
that are strangers to fear. The crew
OF the big mogul, entering into the
spirit Of the trip, told Aunt Harriet
all about the power that runs the train
and what loads that mogul could pull
over the mountains. Inclined to be
slightly skeptical, Aunt Harriet bowed
politely, and at least pretended to be-
ieve, stroies that sounded like fairy
land to her.
Back from the station she was taken
to Patton avenue, the main business
street of the city, and here Deputy
Weaver had his first difficulty. With
true feminine instinct, the little WON
an made for the shop windows where
ravishing feminine garments were on
display, and refused to bulge until
she had Toasted on their beauty to her
hearts content. Clad in net black
another generation, the little woman
made wonderful contrast 20 the up-
to-the minute creations on display, but
unmoved she continued to gaze until
thoroughly satisfied.
She was aiken to Patton avenue
cafe for lunch, and the electric fans
together with the deputy's attempt "a
explain the power that propelled the
swiftly revolving blades, proved anoth-
er glimpse into fairyland. She was
permitted to telephone, and even then
could hardly believe it possible that
she was listening to the voice Of the
magistrate before whom she had tes-
tilted.
Last, and most wonderful of all, she
was taken to a moving picture thea
tire. The picture happened to be a
rural drama, and as cows, pigs and
chickens rambled around over the
screen, the little woman's countenance
was study. She refused to answer
any questions, however, or to express
any opinion on what she had seen.
Finally she was placed on the in
terurban car that would take her tc
point where blackboard, with q
one mule powerengine, was waiting
to convey her back to her mountain
home, perhaps never to leave again. A:
she was assisted on the car, she drop
ped an old-fashioned Southern cour
tesy, and many man, standing by
removed his hat unconsciously, in tri
butte to the little Southern gentlewo
man.
She is back at the head of Reem ,.
Creek today, and is probably spending
the hours trying to figure out the won
ders of a modern city in the twentieth
century, which she beheld for the frs
time this week.