326 THE CAROLINA MOUNTAINS 
to those who have enjoyed the hospitaHty of the 
friends once living there, and from whose home as a 
centre this whole beautiful country lay open. 
Ledger was as remote as any place in the moun- 
tains when one first went there, but now the new 
railroad, that has performed the feat of crossing 
the mountains by ascending the wild Toe Valley 
and descending the Blue Ridge, has a station on the 
river a few miles from Ledger. 
Ledger will long be remembered as the home of 
Professor Charles Hallet Wing, who, after many 
years of notable service as professor of chemistry 
in the Boston Institute of Technology, came here 
before there had been any change in the customs of 
the country, to escape the turmoil of the outer world. 
Professor Wing vehemently disclaimed any share in 
changing — he would not call it "improving" — 
the life of the people, but he made his charming log 
house, his barn and outbuildings, also his fences 
with their help. In his carpenter and blacksmith 
shops the youth of the neighborhood learned the 
use of tools, and how to make many things. They 
also laid pipes to carry water to the house, and be- 
came familiar with the electric motor that lighted 
the place. 
Professor Wing, with no thought of course of 
benefiting the people, built a school-house and lib- 
rary building, the school-rooms seating one hun- 
dred and twenty-five pupils, provided two teachers, 
and himself conducted a manual training depart- 
ment which he fitted up in the basement. At the 
