The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-12-01


and indeed, one feels almost that within its walls
he Is standing in the great tabernacle of the Su-
premc himself The floor is level, with vast
pools of water here and there, while the rocky
walls on each side tower upward hundreds of
feet and are richly covered with masses OF cling
ing vines and crowned with lofty pines, crested
by the blue sky Of Heaven, which forms It's starry
dome. In the upper end beautiful cascade Is
made to form the choir, and, As it da'heS from
rock to rock it seems to sing continual hymns To
the mighty power that created it. Indeed ic"h'
not but agree with my friend and fellow Traveller,
Sherwood, when he SAYS II have often reflected
upon the nsigniicance of man, but never iulIy
realized what mere atom am in this incomprc-
hcnsblc universe rs now, while standing WITHIN
this vast cathedral and looking up at the tower
Ing walls" 1t seems every appcndagc necessary
for church purposes is so arranged that they all
seem to be in their proper place. The BaptS-
NAL Font" stands under the choir, at the vestry
door as it wcrc and is composed OF large, beau
tiful pool of clear crystal water As the sun
strikes it, it sparklcs until it is fairly radiant
Leaving the Cathedral with some degree Of
reverence, we followed the path which leads to
The "Triplc Cascade and Rainbow Falls" Thi.
path is rather angular and the matchless scene
which is viewed from it is one that is indcscriba-
BILE 1t consists Of deep pools lovely cascades
and winding channels secthing rapids, foliage
and sky-all combined in a conglomcracd ming
ling, and yet picturesque in the eXtrcmc-juSt
such picture or place rs one could sit in and
dream life away. We come now 10 what is
deemed the finest view Of the Glen, the "Triple
Cascade and Rainbow Falls As its name ndi.
Gates, it is composed Of three portions, one above
the other each different in form, and forming a.
beautiful combination. Just below the Triple
Cascade little brook leaps over the brow of al
high cliff down into the Glen, trickling over the
irregular surface of the rock, until it reaches
point ten or twelve feet above the pathway; here
il falls over projecting shelf the edge of which
is curved like a crescent. The water descendS IN
myriad of tiny threads and drops forming
sparkling crystal veil, behind which the pathway
passes This is known as Rainbow Falls
While standing behind the fall and looking out
through the misty curtain the effect is beautiful
beyond comparison. The novelty of the position
and the peculiar brliancy that the radiant drops
of falling water impart to all, viewed through
them, ill us with wonder. When the sun shines
and the rays fall into the gorge, one behods two
rainbows, a sight once enjoyed never can be
forgotten"
1t is impossible in this short article to cnumer-
ate 1.-THE of the beauties Of the Glen. There arc
dozens of places, each full OF new beauties in
themselves, composed of crystal pools, fantastic
water falls, wild and gorgeous passes and pic
'turesoue grottos-all Of which are wonderful to
look at.
In accordance with natures own division,
Watkins Glen has been divided by names into
sections These names are all appropriate and
Significant alpha" is the beginning. ga
thedral" is one of the Great Architects cathedral
designs, and impresses the human mind with
feelings of deep awe and reverence. Arcadia
is truly arcadian Facility" is easy and facile
Horizon" is bounded by wide horizon
" Omega" the end,
| In the language Of Grace Greenwood, ] must
conclude by saying that the word Glen gives
but faint idea of the gorge 1t is marvellous
rift in the mountain, which it seems must have
been made by some stupendous earthquake
shock. 1t is not properly glen, but prodig-
ous succession, full assortment and variety Of
glens. If one does not satisfy YOU another must
though You be the most rapacious dcyourcr OF
the sublime and beautiful, here is richness for
Iyou.' Through Yankee enterprise these wild
grandcurs and beauties, for centuries barred and
buried from the world, have been thrown open to
our gaze and hundreds daily climb its dizzy
stairways pick their way along its narrow Lodges,
dodge under its little side cascades, watch for
rainbows beside its waterfalls, gaze down into its
profound, mysterious pools and speculate on its
wonderful formation. We go leagues out of our
way in foreign travel to see things less worthy of
seeing, like Tivoli and Velino, LAHORE, Glencoe,
| the Killarney Cascades, the Vale of Avoca, the
Dargle, and the DEVILS Glen in Wicklow"
For myself, can say that have trod the soil
of many lands and roamed through nearly every
state in this Union, viewed the hills of bonnie
Scotland, and was charmed with the beauty and
grandeur of my own Emcreld Isle, and Travelled
from one end Of the Alcghanics to the other,
! spent hours within the solitude of Kentucky :
Mammoth Cave, but nowhere in all my hayward
wandcrngs have | seen anything To equal Wat
| kins' Glen And though
| Time which steals years away
| Shall take our pleasures them
The memory of all else may fade,
| But not of Watkins Glen.
!. D. II.