The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-10-16

having made the journey. But all TINS Is 100
near home 70 be appreciated by the dcnizens OF
our county, and few would ever think Of even
going TO look at it, II 1t was situated in som c
distant State in some "paifcd up" summer re-
sort, our people would make somc effort to
"take it in" and then come and tell MS OF It's
grandeur and subimity. But these and many
other OF our wonderful attractions charm not the
people at home.
One moment you find yourself gliding by i'm.
mense fields Of waving corn, endless it would
seen as the praires themselves; then past some
massive rocks, whose rugged sides and queer
shaped tops will cause the explorer" to ex'
claim, "WelI, declare, never supposed there
was anything like this along the Fox"
Next YOU find yourself at the entrance OF some
charming little ravine, whose serpentine wind
inys may sometimes be followed for long dis
tances, and whose rocky sides and oddly shaped
formations tell OF the battle with falling waters
for ages and ages passed away. And now we
come to some shady grove whose mighty oaks
and stately elns tower aloft and spread their
Ieafy branches In grand profusion. 1t may be
that We inherit love for the woods and all that
is beautiful in nature from our first parents, and
that the sight Of an apple tree may bring up sad
thoughts and harsh feelings toward Mother Eve
for her libcrality to the "old man. yet, for all
that, it is our hope that continued love for all
that is beautiful in nature may ever remain one
OF the brightest and deepest emotions OF our
hearts There is something sacred in the asso-
citation Of groves; and especially at this season
| of the wear when wood and yale are clothed in
all the beauty and loneliness that the God of
Nature can bestow, We find ourselves more or
| less ins pircd, by something, we know not what,
as step by step through sandy groves we take
our way and as we look around and behold one
after another OF the more gigantic trees, the
more sublime and grand they appear TO us, and
too, when we consider that 'the groves were
Gods first temples,"-a time when everybody
went to church, a time when the devotions
offered conformed to no ritual, were limited to
no homes The human dwcller among their
shades, in the hush of night felt more than the
awe which the nobest church pile ever inspired.
He sang with the birds his praises to rosy and
bciewcled morn in the leafy aisles. When the
noon. tide cleaned above in the deep recesscs
of their shady arches he found thousand Oh
ccts Of contemplation which beggared the deco.
man. His pews, carpcted with flowers and cush-
toned with the velvet of MOSES Of the daintestI
hues, while his choir, the voices Of nature, the
falling waters ever anon
Aerial music in the warbing WOOD,
At distance arising by small degrees.
Nearer and nearer comes MI Ger the trees
II hangs and breahes such soul dissolvng airs
As did, alas! with soft predictions please.
Entange deep in s enchanting snares
That listening hearts forgot their duties and their cares
Dat los nla frnm
boat is at the entrance Of
1.-THE DEVILS HOLLOW"
or "Fawn Park" as it is more mildly termed,
the most charming and at the same time Won
derful spot along the Fox river. Those who
have never seen 1t can form no conception of its
picturesque beauty and mild grandeur.
II is located on the Armstrong farm, near what
Is known as lime kiln, but unless pointed out
TO you or guided to the spot you would never
dream of its existence. 1t is situated between
two hills which form glen or ravinc, with rath
or steep and rugged sides, both thnly wooded
from base to summit.
On entering you find yourself plodding along
for short distance over q soft, muddy surface,
and finally gravel bed and rocks. To the left
q small stream goes murmurng by and joins the
Fox hundred yards beyond. AS you stroll
along this apparently insignificant stream gives
no indication Of its battle among the rocks, or
the crystal pool into which 1t falls some fifty
yards further up. AS you advance the passage
grows narrow and makes gentle turn to the
right while the sides are almost perpendicular,
giving to the place more gloomy and awe
inspiring look. On the right the rocks appear
bold and somewhat rugged, at the same time
little inclined to be fantastic, or, to be poetcal
about it
Here rough rugged rocks
Do rear their hoary heass
High in the air in wild, fantastic form.
The opposite side is peculiar and differs from
anything that | ever noticed in cave or glen.
The turn is shaped so that perfect crescent is
formed OF medium proportions, the whole rock
"gouged out" rs smooth and clear from base to
summit as though the artistic ingenuity of man
had shaped its construction. The contrast in
the two walls OF the hollow is striking; one
smooth and shaped almost TO perfection, while
the other is rough, rugged and angular. 1t as.
tonishes the beholder and he asks himself what
CONFUSION of nature could have caused this?'
A few yards further on, turn to the left and
about hundred feet beyond, the entire grandeur
OF the Devils Hollow" opens TO the view.
Here is grandeur with sylvan beauty inter
mingled A stream, which at some seasons OF
the year is truly alpine, plunges in foaming tor
rents down rocky ledge, which has been worn
smooth and oval like by the waters of time dash
ing over it, at the base OF which sparkles deep
pool on each side Of which great messy lodges,
covered with deep foliage, are to be seen.
Within this rocky cavern one sees and
feels the subimlty OF nature and the grandeur
OF her handiwork; and while few passing
thoughts of the outer world and all its pecuiiari-
ties may be INDUCED in, oil that reminds you of
its characteristics is a glimpse here and there OF
"thc vauted dome" through the leafy wilderness