, 1872-10-20

aasav office and stamped for market. The quick
silver is solid and condesed, and fulfls again its
destiny Of .dacoy to the unsuspecting metal, and
SO On for an indefinite period, as it seems to sur
viye the repeated fiery proeesa unharmed.
The pride OF Georgetown, in an aesthetic way,
ia
aRAy's PEAK.
Like pretty much al the peaks of any note in
Colorado, it has claimed to BE- the highest until
quite recently; but tho palm OF altitude has
now, BY very general consent been given to
Mount tinroln, and Grays Peak falls into the
second place. ranging from II, ,251 to Il, 466 feet
according to your authority, Having ACQUIRED
that taste for elevations which is usually said to
grow upon people, our first excurson from
Georgetown was to the summit Of this peak.
The distance is fifteen miles. and the
road winds up Clear Greek, through the centre
found forestssoli}udea is taken away by busy lit
tie mining towns, mills in all stages Of progress,
dark tunnels opening back into the heart Of the
nountains and the miners cabins perclled aloft,
like eyrics, in the most impossible giches and at
afternoon, and drove eight miles, to tile little
town OF
nAKEnsyILLE.
where, for the moderate sum OF "a q day, we
had the privilege Of sitting upon wooden
benches, gazing at wooden walls. treading
thing considerably harder than the ground and
tie luxurious buiialo-robe. The only noticeable
thing about the place was the hlsckened ruins OF
soma valuable reduction-works which wero
burned down last season, and with which, no
doubt, the glory Of the town departed. :.
Our early morning drive is through the widest
OF mountainrsoepery, and over the toughest Of
mountain-roads. As VIC ascend from the forest
Of stunted eyergreens, au immeneo wall OF eolld
rock, some thousands of feet in height,
},e ~ 1F,i.
circle, aud ahuts in the road in trout and on the
left. Midway to the top Of this vast granite
ledge, which they call
MOUNT MCCLELLAN.
is small cabin. rorched upon a shelving rock,
at the entrance Of one OF the best~devcloped
to this aerial abode by ropes, aud work without
much danger Of intrusion from the outside
World. It ought to be d hernit's paradise, for it
looks as inaccessible as an eagles eJrie.
.aanss b this gray Tn ths h hs
season, and the briniant1y-ti flowers grow
to the very verge of the snow-felds Ono OF our
party finds handful Of wild straw-berries,
small, but fnely-1ayorcd. We leave the carriage
about three miles from the summit, and, mount
roomy slopes, over the dazzling snow-banks;
past the gay fower-beds; past the source Of
Clear Creek, where the crystal wnter seems to
well out from the dark-glay rocks; past the
Gnf10T6 p1Qh HuQN -uI4t5, hllICA p0t W 4AEAb I'LL
our preeonceived notions on the subject of SHOWS
mp steep, rocky ascents, where mia-step would
send rs hundreds Of feet, eFer sharp, jagged
points, to the yawning chaem below; OCCASIONAL
II leaving titnid one to toll upward on foot,
after fastening the tired pony to 4 loose stone;
until, at last We reach the small plateau
IT THE SUMMIT,
and, disInounting, wrap ourselves IN heavy
e1aw1a, and sit down shiyering in the shelter OF
a kindly rock. The view Is quite similar to that
-. *1o.7F Tft1an
ing that here ne look down into the sunny
ueado1Ts and wooded hills OF Middle Park,
and the 1i1nitleas blue Plaina on the east seem
Just at our feet. Everywhere else stretches the
tain, fascinating in its suggestion Of power,
but oppressive in its strange loneliness and
grandeur. Just opposite, few hundred or {.
few Thousand feet away, rises the twin point,
which, after many changea, settled down under
the name Of
TonnEr's PEAK.
It looks az if We might walk there in 8 few
moments; but appearances are very deceptive
in this clear atmosphere. The sparkling waters
Of Colfax Lake gEsten in a rocky basin far be-
low uB.
For the first time in our experience Of peaks,
We escaped snow-etorm, although the soft
white cloud-wreaths rolled down threateniEgly
near, and occasionally drifted across the higher
sum1nits. Bnt mountain-topB ara
BLEAK PLACES 1t BEST,
ard We we're glad to Tetrace cur steps down tha
dizzy heights, and find shelter from the piercing
winds. Stopping for an hour In the grassy Tal-
ley where ne left the carriage, We disposed OF
our lunch, and gathered large bouquets of the
purple and white co1umbine, which grows IS lux
uriantly here Us tropical flower. But they
lost their freshness, and looked wited and droop-
ing, long before re reached Georgetown, in the
early twilight, with very red faces, and general
Indifference to mountains, especially peaks:
Fatigue is q powerful disenchanter Z; but good
nights rest euficad to reconcile us with the
world, and even to another excursion We found
a large number Of well-known Chicago people at
the Phelpa House, where tourists and inyalids
will always find a ploaEent home. 4. r. G.