The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1880-09-09
CORRESPONDENCE.
FROM COLORADO.
MANIroU, CoLu

MANIToU. CoLOEADo, August 3lst.
Mr. EDrroR;-l would certainly be doing Colora-
do great injustice. to leave out of consider
alton the Saratoga of the west--Manirou. But 1
feel so much the need Of supply of adjectives
in this and interesting place that without ii,
fear shall be slow in establishing my reputation as
topogrspher of the West. This little village lies
at the entrance to Ute Pass, 5000 feet below the
summit of Pixies Peak, and so feet above the sea
level. Here are found the mineral springs VARYING
in temperature from ~ to So, and at which hun
ireds of tourists each day quaf the sparkling wa
tiers, fresh from beds of soda, lime magnesia iron
potassium chloride of sodium silicia and other in
gradients 80 necessary to the promotion of perfect
health Years ago. the treacherous Ute found these
springs, and ehristened them Misunderstanding the
Great Spirit. II is not in tradition that Ponce de
Leon discovered these springs in the sixteenth cen
tury, while searching for the mythical Fountain Of
Perennial Youth" though that legend is written of
almost every resort.
The Cliff House, Beebe and Manitou are the hotels
which contribute most largely to the comfort and
joyment of the tourist. At these houses board may
be obtained for fifteen to twenty dollars n week. and
all the modern accommodations of the East secured
There is constant inuct of visitors here, for vari
| ous reasons. Some drift away from duh care and
sorrow, to I'll up the gaps of life with stimulus
found in the alluring charms Of Manitou. Others
come for display of the of their last new suits
and the twirl Of their gold-headed canes So strik
ingly out Of keeping with natures grace is such az
fectation. that wonder how the admirer Of
nj worth 50 be held votary fashions shrine
Elegant equipases, full Of gayly dressed and laugh
ing parties, each hour, driving through and
around the mountain passes, in quest of the noun
tain wonders. Picnic excursions come into each
!
restful evenings suggest the merry dance which is
ndulged in to excess by many whose Soldering years
should direct them into cslmer channels of amuse-
ments and recreatons. Sweet strains of music, from
harp and guitar swell ont the sweeping outlines
| of mountains, upon which the moon touches with
poetical Indebtedness. o! how hide away in my
hearts deep well, all the impassione sweetness that
marks each scene Of my summer life here, and en-
balm its fragrance for memOry's gift.
They who come here in search of the lost song Of
their lives and to plant again the in their pale
cheeks enter at once into the romantic lie of camp
ing. Ncighborly clusters of tents adorn the pla-
teams, while HE away, and pitch their little
white homes by the hanks of the Fountain, merry
stream whose musical flow soothes the most restless
TO sleep. l find myself surrounded by that which is
great enough to fill the whole life. only stare,
child-like, and wonder. Each craggy peak seems u
beckonng spirit to whose silent and aged infu-
enec comes with religious east sketch in the
gallery Of INV soul pictures whose coIors memory
shall paint fadeless forever There are yawning
canous and auiet glens hidden away between mas
siv. uphcayals whose might and romance can be
appreciated only by n Ionc-eontinued study and
then no conclusion ia reached that can answer the
questions .IIow p and ..whyr
Williams Canon, reaching for three miles beyond
The Cliff House /. n daily resort for rxeursiousts
who lunch in the shade of its frownng sides ira
verse the dark chambers Of its caves; make geoor-
and IheraIity; then. tip-toeing to a rocky ledge
leave only n carved name as n paltry gift. But
never have vet seen so great display of the i'm
mensty of Omnipotence as while spending a day in
IN. Garden of the Gods These peculiar brick.red
s,on.s ARE nromiscuousIy arranged tbrouvhout the
Garden and, when seen at a distance take the form
of statuary with the stranyest facial expressions
that can he imagined but upon closer observation
all expression of features is lost, and we behold
most unsainly presence of which the softer strata
are being worn away, leaving here and there pro
jeeting bands of the harder structure thereby trans
forming them into the gravest figures. Upon much
of this stone, found mosses Ichens and ferns
growing without the least soil that could discern
Much higher up the rocks were many pines, growing
apparently with great thrift but eyergreens
found here in great abundance where there is any
soil They are confined to the rocky and sandy dis
triet-. crept rather cautiously by the Enhancing
,ta, -, s., d., or ms ,,,,r,.,o,