, 1880-10-03

scarcely less curiosity than the place where
photographer hmself scareelg knew whether tne
the picture represented party Of tourists at all
or number Of imps incnsed In white cloud,
Or tne witches themselves mixing the vile broth
THE VIEW FROM THE DEVILS PULPIT
1t was relief to US all when We had finally
elea1ed the cahon. and found ourselves resting
rock known IS the Des,l's Pulpit. We were :e snea
1,85o feet above the level Of the distant Pacific,
and good no feet above the hotel. 1t Was
burst upon us from this wild and deserted point,
and We fingered long In ndmIra lion of the mighty
prospect which opened out beyond. Overhead
noated nag upon which wus painted the de-
tnou-lkc form OF the patron saint OF the Ger
sers; and. as T. waved to and fro In the
breeze, weird-uke sensation had possession
OF the spectators underneath. On our right
vas branch OF the canon We had just left and
dreary and deserted it continued upward In
chaotic spiend.r until it was blended with the
hills beyond. On our left. sloping away from
the base OF the rock upon which we stood, was
another caHon,-a cahon through which cool
rocks asd whese sa was n
strnnge contrast nth the desolation we had Just
escaped Alder, pine. pepporwood, willow, and
each other in endless profnsion, and the ferns
and maidenhair fairly reyeled IN their. surprising
beauty e a.Iy, and enormous % gIowth. It was CANON
the one side; It WIS canon OF JOY, peace,
health. and life, OF the the other. Behind
US On every side were mountains, towering.
nl0tt until sky aud earth seemed to join, and
presenting background OF such ethernl soft
ness as TO remind us OF some fairy Landscape OF
ancient story, something tender and sublime
beyond genius OF description IN ftont, Ia fua
length and perspective. was the Devils Canon.
falling OF to Piuton River In wild and majestic.
grandeur,-its sides bedecked With salts and
rocks OF every conceivable coior, and its hum
dred springs or more sending pclopds Of steam
like banks of fog rolling In from the distant sea,
The elements ragged. The roar was terrific The
earth frnmh1A6 Fvarythf1p ofas Il uha St1v.
natural, Internal. It WAS us II the crater OF
vesuvius, With its painted sides. and scorching
heat and auiphurous gnses. bud been transferred
from italy to the Golden State, and Nature
was then preparing for another,of those mighty
nutburgts which should overwhelm the sur-
rounding world. We tarried and listened.
Sounds Ike the rumbltug Of grist-mills, the hiss-
RrowltnE OF animals. the roaring Of thunder,
and the bubblinx Of caldrons rolled up from the
depths in strange and dtscordaut harmony; and
the chorus OF the elements Was Ike the music
of some mighty underground orchestra never
ceastug and unearthlv, and wild and mournlul
to the soul. Our guide buried US onward as the
mountains began 70 appear through the steam
left the scene. Us the morning sun was passing
beyond the eastern horizon. when knoll after
il knoll was marking the earlier day In bands Of
shifting c0l0rs On their Weil-rounded etdes and
tops, when the shadows werr disappearing from
Pluton Cat1on, and the splendor OF the rising
rays was penetrating the solid substance OF the
mountains themselves, then it was TINT the view
est productions in the great picture-gullery Of
Nature, and took unto itself q meaning Of whose
Bublimtty We had not before drenmed-
4. H. WWTEHuL~