Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

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