218 THE FOGY DAYS AND NOW; 



SO increased my reverence for the old North State. When 

 Fulton county, Ga., was but a howling wilderness, when her 

 hills were only known to the red man and her forests the hab- 

 itations of wild beasts, when the great city of Atlanta was as 

 3^et unconceived in the realms of thought, Surrey county, N. C? 

 was already settled by an intelligent and hardy race of Caucas- 

 ians from the isles of Great Britain, whose decendants still 

 hold the fort. Some of them have grown rich in lands, tene- 

 ments and herediments, but still adhere to their original 

 simplicity of manner and dress. With these unpretending 

 people the outside fix-up of a man is not an index to his finan- 

 cial condition. I imagine if one of Sam Jones's spider-legged, 

 toothpick-toed dudes were to alight about the Pilot mountains, 

 he would be taken for some kind of a stray sea bird driven in 

 by the storms, captured and caged by a sewing machine agent, 

 and carried around for a nickel show. 



Mount Airy, the principle town of Surrey, is located on a 

 hioh ridge, in the fork made by the Arrarat river and Stew- 

 art's creek, half surrounded by the Blue Ridge mountains, pre- 

 senting a most enchanting view. It is already quite aflourish- 

 ino- town, without railroad facilities; has 1,500 inhabitants, 

 mostly white; is remarkably well built. I noticed man}'- hand- 

 some, even stylish residences; beautiful shades and flower gar- 

 dens ; large brick stores, warehouses, manufactories and tan- 

 neries ; has a capital newspaper, a brassband, hotels, 

 schools and churches. T heard modern music floating 

 out from parlor windows ; saw well dressed ladies on 

 the streets, some even with bustles, but not of the huge pro- 

 portions we often meet on the side walks of Atlanta. I met a 

 young lady resident of Mount Airy, who had triumj)hantly 

 scooped up three first honors from the different colleges, and 



