Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-23
WEARY DISCOVER REST
AROUND MOUNTAIN LAKE
'"reationists From Many Sections
make Annual Pilgrimage to Hill
Country Of Virginia.
CLIMBING is FAvoR1TE SPORT
arties Spend Hours Toiling Up Bald
NhoD and Sunset Hill to View
naJesty OF Scene-E1ickering Log
FIRES II Delight.

MtSpeS1ai TO The Times-Dispatch.!
LAKE. VA, September
ornnnvery mans country Is Gods
r ~ Notwithstanding that. there
iiho Re VINO Journey every year from
AZ rar North. and tho Far South.
som tho prairies of the West and the
1yy~s' OF n % Atlantic. to seek tho Vir-
Una nils. which rise to their most
a'estic height here in Giles County.
~ this' they say. is Gods country.
l.any OF these have been coming here
1aany years. for. once the smell has
i.een cast upon them. II abidcs With
5neIh ana fingers in their memory
"Iough All the winter long. Others
ONE. Tor the first time. having heard
the great hill country of Virginia
iloH those who make their annual pill
fI'mase here. and they. too, become
Yorshipers at the shrine.
4 There are those who like the waning
1eason best of all, or those who either
ome very carly. or very late, rather
3reterring the small of guests
10 the gayer throng in the height OF the
teason. There ia just such a
'ere now. and in II are represented
zen OF nearly all the professions-the
jurgeon. who in caring for the ills Of
thers has worn his own body to tho
breaking point: the lawyer. the doctor.
he architect. the mining engineer. and
slen or large anatrs-all are here. seek
eng rest. seeking the great cure for
5ody and mind. to which man at the
i-st nearly always turns. coming like
tired child to Mother Earth.
MANY 20 forth alone. across the great
Ills. or deep into woods that now are
rimson. This week has been one Of
4luc skies. iecccd with white clouds. a
fTeek without wind. SO still. indeed.
that for days not 4 ripple has stirred
The lake making II a mirrorlike ur-
from shore TO shore.
Z But II is TO the hills thai men go
ow. rather than to the placid water
ishich lies almost within the shadow
the hotel. Range after range OF
peaks stretch before one as
IT az the eye can reach, the outlines
Z the nearer mountains standing out
n bold relief, and beyond them are
ther ranges blue against the sky line,
eak after peak, melting away in the
istance until they are lost TO vision.
) Men climb to Bald Knob or Sunset
I'LL TO see this mighty spectacle. often
fhunning others that they may see II
lone and undisturbed. and. when the
eight is reached. they stand awcd at
he majesty Of the scene. Whether
t,eary in body or mind. the spell Of the
/! Ills steals upon them and enters into
heir very souls. That is why they go
way. silent and thoughtful. and that
= why they come again. There is that
"A these hills more restful to them than
ny ministration at the hands OF man.
Here the physician himself comes to be
called.
I Many OF those who Journey here year
fter year have seen the mountain
anses in every part OF this country.
hey come here from the rugged peaks
I Colorado, and from the mountains
nd valleys OF California;; from New
Iampshire's white mountains, and the
reen mountains of Vermont, and from
he A~dirondacks and Catskills OF New
through State after State and find rest
ork. They travel hundreds OF miles.
n the blue hills OF Virginia. And they
'ay. this IS Gods country"
!, At night. al the end OF these quiet,
till days Of early autumn. men draw
heir hairs around the log fire in the
rcat open fireplace. a pipe is drawn
he first smokers example Is followed
y others. There is not a great deal
~ conversation. and soon the talk
Gems TO cease altogether, and the big
clock on the mantel and tho
puttering logs have II all to them
kclves. The men have lost themselves
10 the keen enjoyment of smoking.
nd 10 gazing at the burning logs. Long
ramps have been made during the day.
nd they have not even changed their
cots, or soft shirts and ~corduroys.
hey are tired In body. for the tramp
yer mountains in his countr Is not
,ere child's play; but they are content.
Or they have in their souls the peace
( the hills.