Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-03-04

faat THE FROST WORK.
The extensive frost-work, he says,
which enveloped every object on the
summit of the mountain in the early
winter, lately disappeared during the
January thaw, sxid now lies in masses
around rocks, buildings and trestle work
of the railway. For month past there
have been comparatively slight forma-
tions of frost work, but in few weeks,
when more moisture is in the atmos-
phere, it is expected that 1t will again
form in abundance. We were fortunate,
however, during our visit, in witnessing
some most beautiful specimens OF this
peculiar winter decoration of our highest
mountains.
The next day after our arrival on the
summit cloud enveloped us, and during
Wednesday and Thursday nights, and
all through Thursday, the frost work
formed, SO that on Friday morning speci-
mems foot in length were seen, most
beautifully clear and artistically shaped.
There is an infinite variety in this work,
from the largest to the smallest speci-
mems, and yet it follows one universal
law, and forms to the wind, and that
wind from the southwest and northwest.
Nothing could exceed the beauty of
some OF those specimens, which is an
other evidence of the law of compensa-
ton that characterizes natures works.
Frost works need to be seen 70 be APP
preciated, and when once seen we are
more than ever convinced that thing
of beauty is a JOY forever"
TERRIFIC GALE.
We hardly expected to be favored with
heavy gale, as our visit followed so
close after the notable gale of the I'd, Sd,
and 4th instant, but as if aware of the
fact that some journalists were out in
pursuit of knowledge under difficult
ties the forces and the furies of nature
did their best for our entertainment, and
Thursday evening gale began which in
creased in force until about nine o clock
Friday evening, the wind at the last
reaching a velocity of one hundred miles
an hour, it was estimated. Such a wind
had the effect of breaking the frostwork
from most objects on the summit, and a
bombardment Of our quarters OCCASION
ally took place, which sounded very much
like hurling cart load of rocks against
the side of the building. The shaking
Of the building, and the cracking Of its
timbers, were suggestive of vessel in a
violent storm at sea, and neither situa-
ton would be comforting to persons
troubled with weak nerves. Between I
and o'clock Friday evening, we were
startled by the breaking of two panes of
glass in one window, with piece of ice
hurled by the wind, butso complete we're
the preparations made by the party for
such emergencies in the providing of
boards fitted TO the windows, and num-
bered, that in a very few minutes the
aperture was closed, and everything was
snug and safe. At ii o clock it was evi-
dent that the gale had done its best, and
from that hour until Saturday evening
the wind gradually decreased in velocity
and force, and on Sunday, at 1890
o clock, it was only 81 miles an hour.
GRAND VIEWS.
About two clock Saturday afternoon
the cloud which had enveloped US since
Wednesday began to break away, and re-
vealed to us extensive and magnificent
views; toward night the views increased
in grandeur, and language utterly fails
TO describe them. For two hundred miles
on either hand the eye took in every
mountain peak from Wachusett on the
southwest to Katabdin on the northeast,
and from the Atlantic Ocean to the ST.
Lawrence river. The ocean was dis
tinctly visible for miles below Portland,
and Sebays and .Winnipisseogee, and in
Vulnerable other lakes and ponds, seemed
near at hand. As the sun waned in the
west, the shadow Of Mount Washington
was seen TO form with great clearness on
Imp mountain, and thence extended to
MoriAh, and for a long distance out into
Maine, and then into the sky, until il
finally faded out of sight in the curtain
of the night. 1t was a sight worth a
journey TO the mountain to see, and one
never to be forgotten. How Starr King
would have revelled in such a grand ex-
hibition of mountain grandeur and sub
Unity.
AN AURoRAL DISPLAY
in the evening completed the enter
tainment Of the day. and it was one OF
rare brilliancy and beauty, a double
corona being visible about nine clock.
A MOONLIGHT VIEW
was obtained early Sunday morning, and
amply compensated for rising at an un-
seasonable hour and standing in the crisp