32 THE CAROLINA MOUNTAINS 
country, perhaps in the world, have passed through 
the wonder stages of geological youth and moved on 
into the calm old age of mountain life. 
But the older mountains have beauties of their 
own, and our new park can offer attractions that the 
parks of the West, where nature has wrought in so 
dramatic and expansive a mood, cannot offer. For 
one thing, nowhere else is nature so friendly. The 
world is beautiful, with here and there touches of 
grandeur, and one may traverse the fragrant forests 
alone and without fear. Nor is it necessary to make 
long and extensive preparations to explore these 
ancient heights : it is enough to start out with a tiny 
knapsack and walk away, sure of a welcome wherever 
night overtakes you. There are great free spaces of 
forest, mountains, and sky, but at intervals there is 
always the clearing and the home of the settler, the 
most hospitable of created beings, and to the student 
of human nature one of the most interesting. Even 
in the widest reaches of the park, the home of the 
mountaineer will be found in some intruding cove 
or little valley, while there are no sweeter camping- 
grounds in all the world than those offered by this 
exquisite country of flowers, fragrances, cold springs, 
and cool summer nights, not only to the robust 
hunter and fisherman, but as well to frailer lovers of 
nature. 
But the new park, large as It doubtless Is destined 
to be, after all will cover but a small portion of the 
mountain region, and finally it is the people them- 
selves who must keep the country beautiful. And 
