The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-30
HAPPENINGS OF PAST
 WEEK AT AsHEVILLE


 ASHEVILLE, N. C., Dec. 2s.--A series of Yuletide celebrations in the Land of the Sky this past week at- tracted visitors and residents alike, while the warmth of the Christmas season permeated beyond AsheVilie into the neighboring mountains, in vading the United States public health service hospital at Oteen and the vocational school at Waynesville. At Oteen 800 former service men enjoyed remembrances from we'll wishers in 19 states from Canada to the Gulf or Mexico. Several hundred boxes Of gifts were received by the North Carolina Baraca Philathea Union for distribution. The doughboys were nuts. soX, scarfs books and other useful gifts. Each inmate at Queen received a towering potted plant Christmas afternoon a musical pro- gram was arranged at Oteen under the direction of Mrs. Herbert Schacts, Several hundred gift boxes were hauled to the hospital In government trucks.
 The week was filled with dances and other social affairs, which were much enjoyed by the young college set as well as by other resort vls- itors. Commencing these events was the American Legion dance Monday evening at Wentworth Inn, Tuesday afternoon a Christmas tea was ar ranged at the Asheville Country club. Private dances were in order each night at both country clubs. The annual Christmas dinner dance wound up a week of gaiety at the Biltmore Forest Country club, preceded on Thursday evening by a fancy dress H. Allen. Last evening MT. and Mrs. Herbert Miles planned dance at Biltmore Forest for their daughter.
 The government road through Pis- gah National Forest was closed dur ing the week for the winter after successful nine months open season. Approximately 5000 motor cars used the highway to the summit of Mount Pisgah during the summer and au- tumn, carrying at least 13,000 people, with nearly three times that numDer admitted to all parts of the reserVa- tion.
 A landing station at Dillingham; Field was opened to aerial navigation early in the week almost on the very day marking the twentieth anniver- sary of the first flight of heavier than air machine by Wilbur Wright, at Kitty Hawk, N. c,
 Miss Marjorie Gammlll of Gulfport, Miss, who is attending the Natlonal Park seminary at Washington, D. ." is the house guest of Mss Adrlah Jackson, in Asheville, during the holi- day season.
 Miss Blanche Reed, who has been spending several months with her aunt, Mrs. Jane Wick, in Asheville, has returned to Little Rock, Ark. S C. Ramsey has arrived from Little Rock, Ark, to spend a month Miss Nell Jones left Asheville on Wednesday for Birmingham to pass fortnight with her cousin, MISS Olivia SWann.
 Mir and Mrs. Hugh Comes of Bir- mingham have been enjoying an eNs tended sojourn at Grove Park mn where there are number or Ala bamians registered.
 James w. Moore of Birmingham has joined friends at Wentworth Inn Tor a period of several weeks.
 W. c. Edwards of Birmingham Is spending a fortnight with friends in the Land of the Sky.
 Late arrivals in the Land of the Sky include C. A. Parsons of Hot Springs, Ark; James T. Hammond of Dallas, Tex: George J. Walchter or Louisville; Miss Annie Mae Galhue or Augusta, Ga.; Lonnie Jordan of Mem phis Tenn: Joseph E. Butler or fort Thomas, Ky, and Walter H. Mc- Guire of Greenville.
 B1rmlnR NlsllOIS ol etlo in Asheville are W. c. Edwards, K. B. Wasson, William F. Murphy, l.. P. Foy. IT,, E. $. Shell and George F. Clarke.
 MT. and Mrs. W. F. Boswell arrived at the Margo Terrace early In the week from Decatur, for an extendeo sejourn.
 Western North Carolina Is especial ly rich in historical associations. Be- fore white men had ever set root upon it's eastern shores, Europeans had crossed it's mountains. In 1859 Her nando De Soto, discoverer of the Ms sissippi landed from Tampa Bay on the western Florida coast. ana marched inland through Georgia and South Carolina, finally turning west ward into the mountains. probably through the picturesque Hickory Nut Gap to the French Broad river. pass ing the present site of Asheville on his quest of an inland empire. It IS well known that Indian trinkets or gold found by the. Spaniards in Flor ida had come from the North Caro- tai