Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-10-06
On Ton OF Mount Blanc.

The day was fully established when we
halted for our second breakfast a. the only
rocks that are met with above the Grands
Nj ulets. A great part OF the way f,Om this
point to the summit required steadiness of
head. AT times You have TO mount the
angles OF very steep 0getes OF snow, feeling
that below you are abysses unfathomable 70
the eye, and that light and left there is moth
ing nearer than the nearest planet; some
times you have TO traverse the more level
ridges OF these dretes, with little more sp zee
along the ridge than enough TO set your foot
on, and with rapid inclines on either side
going down 10 you cannot guess where.
These situations, as is the case, suppose
with every form of danger, calm and steady
some minds, while on others they have the
opposite effect. AT all events, they keep out
or your mind the thought OF time, and SO we
were surprised, as we had been by the
advent OF day, at finding that our object was
attained, and that We We're standing on the
summit of our continent. 1t was now 80 4
M, and we had been climbing seven hours
and half To disengage ourselves from
the rope was our trst act. AS 1 stepped
out OF the loop a sense of liberty and
relief thrilled through me. My first thought
Was OF the panorama OF the Alps now spread
out bens ath me; sight / tad often thou yht
about, aud should never again behold. Tne
actual summit Is narrow level topped
snow rib about 2O0 va rds in length. On ITS
northern side Is a rapid snow descent; on its
southern some or 10 feet below the sUclmit
Is a parallel, almost level, couch o. snow
after which is a parallel descent which Is
soon lost TO sight In precipces. stood for
some time on The summit rib to re ,eive on
my memory the photographs of the many
ranges and groups OF Tie Alpine world al
around. They were SO far below thai the
whole scene mad The appearance OF al en-
bossed map. That III S was the aspsct OF the
Alpine world brou gbt home 10 me the mean
ing OF being three miles up in the air. Hav
Ing taken not my I'LL, but as IL were a Tirst
deep draught, ofthe grand panorama. break
faSt-lt was our thlrd-was annOuucei. On
The couch, sheltered by the tOpmOst rio from
the current OF air which On this Iii prning
came up 10 the north side, my shawl,
which porter had brought 40 hal b.eo
spread for me on the snow to lie upon
The sunshine was delicious. II was a subtle
ether pervading with invigorating warmth
my mind rs well as my body. hy mus cles
my bones, my very brain had an Unsuitable
affinity for 1t. Its absorption, aid I'd by the
other adjuncts OF the situation, constituted
for The time their Stlm0,um GOaa,n, leaving
nothing TO be desired or thai could be thought
OF, as wanting or better. No thought ABOUT
the difficulty some feel In breathing rAritied
air, any more than about the cold usually
felt at these heights, red to me during
the day; In fact these matters were never at
all In my mind, till In the evening, on my
return To ChamOunf, was as ked how man
aged with respect to them. As to my cloth
ing, did not wear on the summit, nor at any
time during the night or day, anything more
than wore throughout my whole excursion.
NY outer garo was suit OF light and rather
fimsy cheviOt, and my inner of rather flne
] found amply sufficient In ascending, and
again In descending, 1 changed both socks
and boots at the Grands Aulets.-( Yrossr's
AoOQS,ae.