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Entered according to Act of Congress, in June.lß7o. by J. W. Burkk & Cos., in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the So. District of Georgia
Vol. IV—No. 10.
Written for Burke’s Weekly.
TOCCOA FALLS.
section of the United States is
richer in beautiful landscape
than is the Northern part of
Georgia, extending from the county of
Rabun on the north-east, to Dade on
the extreme north-west, where the sum
mit of Look-out Mountain affords a
view of the glorious valley of the Ten
nessee ; and yet there are thousands of
Georgians who can tell you all about
the wonders of Niagara, and the beau
ties of the fludson, but who know no-
S' n< r * * ~- f - „ ■■ ■ 1 * * * .
*rn/r . 01 uin uniTi) roveiy sc&tieg wmcn
Nature displays in their own native
State.
We know of no more delightful sum
mer travel than can be enjoyed in a
trip from Athens to the mountains and
waterfalls of Northern Georgia. Leav
ing Athens in the morning, by private
conveyance, a pleasant journey of twen
ty-five miles will bring the traveller to
the Madison Springs, years ago one of
the favorite watering-places of the
South. The next day, another drive
of thirty-five miles, over a beautiful
road, can be made to Clarkesville, the
county site of Habersham county, and
one of the most delightful villages in
Georgia. The sojourner in this region
will enjoy fresh mountain air and icy
cold water, while the scenery around
the village is superb. For miles and
miles, as far as the eye can reach, the
Blue Ridge is spread out to view—a
magnificent panorama of mountain sce
nery.
Within easy reach of Clarkesville are
found the wonderful falls of Tallulah,
the lovely cascade of Toccoa, the far
famed valley of Nacooehee, Mount Yo
nah, and many other scenes of interest
and beauty.
The fall of Toccoa, in Habersham
county, is distant about twelve miles
from Clarkesville, and is a scene of
rare beauty.
The late Hon. Robert M. Charlton,
of Savannah, describing this famous
scene, says :
MACON, GEORGIA, SEPTEMBER 3, 1870.
TOCCOA FALLS.
“Several years have passed away
since I last stood at the beautiful Fall
of the Toccoa. It was one of the de
lightful summer days peculiar to the
climate of Habersham county. The air
had all the elasticity of the high region
that surrounded us, and the scenery
was of a character to elevate our spirits
and enliven our fancy.
“A narrow passage led us from the
road-side to the foot of the fall. Before
us appeared the perpendicular face of
rock, resembling a rugged stone wall,
and over it —
“ ‘ The brook came babbling down the moun
tain’s side.’
“The stream had lost much of its
fulness from the recent dry weather,
and as it became lashed into fury, by
its sudden fall, it resembled a silver
ribbon, hung gracefully over the face of
the rock, and waving to and fro with
the breath of the wind. It reminded
me more forcibly than any other scene
I had ever beheld, of the poetical des
criptions of fairy land. It is just such
a place—as has been often remarked by
others —where we might expect the fays
Whole No. 166.
and elves to assemble of a moonlight
night, to hold their festival on the
green bank, whilst the spray, clothed
with all the varied colors of the rain
bow, formed a halo of glory around
their heads. It is, indeed, beautiful—
surpassingly beautiful: the tall trees
reaching but half way up the mountain
height, the silver cascade foaming o’er
the brow of the hill, the troubled waves
of the mimic sea beneath, the lulling
sound of the falling water, and the call
of the mountain birds around you, each
and all come with a soothing power
upon the heart, which makes it anxious
to linger through the long hours of the
summer day.
'‘ f Teang qurselves <~vay from the
enchanti-Wn# that held us below, we
toiled our way up to the top of the fall,
using a path that wound around the
mountain. When we reached the sum
mit, we trusted ourselves to such sup
port as a small tree, which overhangs
the precipice, could give us, and looked
over into the basin beneath. Then,
growing bolder as our spirits rose with
the excitement of the scene, we di
vested ourselves of our boots and stock
ings, and waded into the stream, until
we approached within a few feet of the
cascade. This can be done with but
little danger, as the brook keeps on the
even and unruffled tenor of its way, un
til just as it takes its lofty plunge into
the abyss below.
“ The height of the fall is now 186
feet; formerly it was some feet higher,
but a portion of the rock was detached
some years ago by the attrition of the
water, and its fall has detracted from the
perpendicular descent of the stream.
Beautiful streamlet! onward glide,
In thy destined course to the ocean’s tide!
So youth, impetuous, longs to be
Tossed on the waves of manhood’s sea:
But weary soon of cloud and blast,
Sighs for the haven its bark hath past;
And though thou rushest now with glee,
By hill and plain to seek the sea—
No lovelier spot again tliou’lt find,
Than that thou leavest here behind;
Where hill and rock “rebound the call”
Os clear Toccoa’s water-fall! ’
“ There are picturesque legends con
nected with this winsome spot; one of