3i8 THE CAROLINA MOUNTAINS 
has something of the emotional value of the conflict 
with the powers of the air on Whiteside. 
Doubtless there is a bridge over the river again, as 
this happened several years ago, pedestrians at that 
time being obliged to cross by way of a chain bridge. 
There is probably nothing worse than a chain bridge 
short of the bamboo bridges such as one sees in 
pictures of wild countries. The narrow footway is 
suspended high above the water, the floor being 
made of slats so far apart that you cannot help see- 
ing the water rushing below, which gives you the 
feeling that you are going to step through. But 
worse than this is the motion of the bridge, that, the 
moment you step upon it, billows up and down as 
though trying to shake you off, the rope hand-rail 
on either side being but one degree better than no- 
thing. These suspension bridges are used where the 
stream is too swift to allow of a "bench," and the 
people very truthfully say, "Strangers don't like 
them noway." 
One coming up the mountain now will not be 
likely to drive, as the railroad disdainfully spans the 
torrents and has a station, if you please, at Spruce 
Pine itself. In the old days upon reaching Spruce 
Pine one always stopped at English's. To enter this 
part of the country meant to stop at the large, pic- 
turesque log house set back among the trees with its 
vines and flowers, and than which no place was 
better known the mountains over. It is also near 
Spruce Pine, it will be remembered, that one finds 
the most noted of the beryl mines, whence come 
