Mariposa Democrat., 1857-07-23

so gracefully and magnllllcenuy plenued III one
harmonious whole, that the Divinity was
stirred within us when, closing our eyes for
moment upon the vast and splendid array of
Natures mightiness, we confessed our weak
ness and in mute silence acknowledged the
wonders and goodness of the One Eternal and
Supreme al Ami" Descending with eau
tious and sliding steps down from this plateau
for distance of three hundred yards, you
come to transparent sheet of water, covering
two acres Of land. 1t is hollow basin, and
lies equidstant between the Nevada Falls and
where the stream pitches off the ledge, and
makes the vernal Falls.
The Vernal and Nevada Falls are both
made by the same stream, and the distance
between the two is about one-half of mile
This Lake has been called Frances" in honor
of Mrs. Jane Frances Neal-she being the first
lady who had visited this Lake, and who speaks
of the landscape as having fully repaid her for
all the fatigue she endured in ascending to the
plateau Let no one attempt to change the
name but rather add some other record of her
courage and her love of the beautiful and
grand. -,u a
Leaving the Nevada Falls you follow the
stream as it runs first over a smooth, oval
floor Of granite, widening and spreading as it
glides along, until it reaches Lake Frances.
Here you sit down for a while, and watch for
trout but none are visible, and you continue
to follow the stream after it leaves the Lake
until it leaps over the brink and then, resting
on a baustrade of pure granite rock, you lean
over and see the water as it precipitates itself
down, away down below-making the Vernal
the most graceful of cascades. Diamond drops
flash and gleam on the surface of the descend
ing stream, and rsinbows play around its land
ing place You shudder while you bend over
the baustrade; but soon, attracted by the
beauty beneath, your fear is changed to admi-
ration, and you mount the rock, as did Mrs
Neal, and proudly exulting, can inwardly ex-
claim, that of all the piles of grace and gran
duer that check the range Of vision, there is
none so great as this 1t sa magnificent am
phitheatre, and the splendors of Natures works
are nowhere on earth manifested with such
impressive richness and profuson as are here
emblazoned in her giant aspect.
We left the Valley with regret, and as we
ascended the mountain we took one last, fond,
lingering look on the noblest and the fairest
scenery in the world-the equal Of which we
may never look upon again.
The trail leading to the Valley is free from
rocks and water, cold, pure and refreshing,
can be had at convenient distances along the
trail. The path is shaded by tapering frs and
pines of enormous size, and is almost direct
line to the Valley. By turning off to the right
hand from the trail, say about two miles be-
fore you begin to descend into the Valley, and
following path along the mountain, the visit
or can obtain fair view of three of the Falls
in the Valley, from the submits where the
streams pitch over the precipiccs, and also
enjoy beautiful view of the Yosemite Falls.
For four miles up the stream that forms Mirror
Lake, the scenery becomes awfuy vast and
terrihcally grand-the rocks running up to
sharp jagged points, and towering in the air
to fearful height.
DISTANCES FROM Prominent PoISIs MIE.