The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1916-08-04
THE EXCURSION TO
TALLULAH FALLS

The following interesting story
of delightful excursion to Tai
lulah Falls by four hundred stu
dents attending University of
Georgia summer school at Athens
was written by Miss Ida McMil-
Ian, one of Fitzgerald5s tai
ented young ladies, and will be
read with much interest by her
many friends here:
when four hundred newly ar
rived hungry summer school stu
dents stepped off the platform
of the train at Tallulah last Sat
urday the first impression was
not what was expected and was a
little disappointing. However,
far in the distance could be heard
the sullen roar of the falls and
guided by this fascinating sound
we wended our way through the
trees to the pebbled bank. The
large dam was closed except for
two partitions open and allowing
only one-hfth of the water power
passage way for the eager sight
seers. At first we were dlsap-
pointed at not seeing all the falls
at once but our attention was call
ed to the placid lake on one side
of the dam and on the other the
rushing, roaring and CLASSY wat
ers as they tumbled through the
dam.
We hastily crossed the bank,
entered one of the trails made by
the Indians in former days when
that fallen race predominated.
Owing to the recent rains the
trails were slippery and it was not
until we had descended with care
full steps the steep declivity of the
many chasms could we realize
and understand the profound sub
Unity of the scene that lay before
us. The inanimate lake seemed
to take the garb of living per-
sonality. 1t dashed with unbridl-
ed impetuosity against the bold
rocks that seemed to hold out
their restraining arms to check
the headlong charge of this an
gered stream. Enraged at every
resistance, it dashed over the first
cataract as if in fit of frenzy.
Breathless, we stood at the top
of the cliff and gazed with admit
ration on the enormous power OF
the falls and Our enraptured eyes
watched the water from the first
cataract foam in and out of the
sullen recesses of the rOcks-ln-
crease in violence-throw itself
madly over the second precipice
and plunge headlong. Broken by
the tall-hissing and Sizing like
an angry serpent, it rallies all its
forces to overcome this evident
defeat and with one desperate
charge leaps over the third preci-
pice down into deep chasm-
writhes in an agony of defeat.
Spent, subdued and conquered,
this reckless cataract relapses into
a calmer cascade and with few
more minor falls glides quickly
away to the smoother ledge of
granite and takes the snowy
beauty of bridal veil
Reluctant to leave SO enchant-
ing a place we climbed with ex-
hausted muscles up the RICH
side of the wild gorge until we
stood on what is miscalled, "Dev-
IFS Pulpit" Viewed by the sst-
ting sun, nothing could be more
beautiful. The falls of the wind
ling river one thousand feet below
glistening in the sunlight like
FURNISHED silver-while on its
banks myriads of trees seemed to
form an enthralted audience to
witness this laV1Shed display OF
beauty and power.
After resting awhile we contin-
ued our course until we were on
the opposite side of the Witches
Head" The forehead, nose,
mouth and chin of this super-nat-
ural wonder stood out clear and
distinct against the sky.
The return trip though long
and tiresome was almost as fas-
cinating as the first one.
The next excursion OF interest
was to the counts home about a
quarter of mile from the Cliff
House" This house, though
small and dilapidated was at
tractive and interesting. The
Irooms were small like the house
and the furniture old and musty
but the lights from the stained
windows cast Weired and faSCi-