The Montana post., 1869-03-19
The Grandest Event OF the Age

a grand event is about to transpire at
or near Ogden City. A multitude from
the East and West are TO meet in the
center of the continent to see the last
rail laid which is to connect two oceans,
5000 miles apart. But it is not of this
scene we wish to speak. 1t is said the
train from the East will contain 900
invited guests. These invited ones will
doubtless include in their number, the
representatives of the wealth, genius,
talent, courage and beauty of the East.
When the imposing ceremonies at Og-
den are concluded, when the speeches
are all made, the toasts drank, the well
comes said and Ie Deums sang, then
many, and especially those thousand in
vited ones, will hardly without Satisfy
ing that curiosity which has been in>
creasing in intensity for years in the
minds of Eastern people to see the far
off Occident, to gaze upon that still mys-
terious land called California, and to
listen TO the Pacific and his ''everlast-
ing lamentations" What will be the
impressions of these people2 For the
sake of effect, we hope the connection
will be made by the first of April.
At that time the East will be slowly
awening from her winters sleep. AS
the train leaves Omaha, the chances are
the winds sweeping down from the lakes
and from Minnesota, will require all the
doors to be closed and a good fire kept
burning in the cars to keep passengers
comfortable. The Black Hills and
Rocky Mountains will not yet have un-
covered their swarthy visages from the
veil of snow laid upon them. The des-
ert basin will be ''sere and cold.' This
will not disappoint them, for they have
been taught to think ours a desert land.
unbearable except for the treasure hid
within its stony depths But then will
come the passage of the Sierras. We
can fancy the feeling of awe that will
possess their souls as the high eleva-
tions are reached, amid such mountains
of snow as they have read of but never
realized before, such peaks and gorges,
each height a glacier, each deep ravine
an ice foe. And the pines, those noun.
tain monarchs, beside which the trees
of the East are but as shrubs. Some
of the guests will leave home with
determination not to be surprised,
or to express enthusiasm or astonish-
ment at any of the wonders of the West.
We predict that notwithstanding this
before the train bearing them shall
| have overcome the summit and left the
| fields of snow on the western slope
that more than once there will be 81
lence in the group and an involuntary
taking off of hats, as though the pres
ence of some higher power was felt
And then the sweep across the tiowery
plains beyond until the pleasure cul
inmates as the train stops among the
| singing birds and blooming gardens in
! Sacramento, we will wager then that
men and women will leave the cars
with dropping heads and quivering
lips, exclaiming, like the Queen of old
J THE half was not told me-" Nature
has been propitious, thus far. this sea-
son; no floods, but rains just when
Californa needed them, as though the
great mother took a pride il preparing
her fairest child for her visitors Speed
then the day. Hurry up the chariots
J of fire; let the last link which Is to
bind us with our childhood homes be
riveted. Let the curious come. We
can point to the Comstock and to White
Pine as our excuses for staying here
but California will need no apologies
and the only wonder will be that men
once seeing her ever lett her.-Rene
Crescent.