The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-11-20
ALONG THE ILLINOIS.
The Horse Shoe. The French Canyon. Turkey.
Foot Run-..And Ivy Falls Glen.

"THE IORSE-SHoE CANYON"
This /, what ia generally understood in Ottawa
as "7hc CanyonS," and perhaps ninety-hve per
OF the existence Of any others II Is considered
by the few the grandest OF the series, and person.
ally may state that while II lacks that awe. in
spring grandeur of Tie Devils Den," 1t excels
In formation and sylvan splendor. II is not near
so difficult OF access as any Of the Others; yet It
requires more trcspassing opening of gates and
forgetting to close them, knocking down fences
and never thanking Of putting them up, and
many other annoyanccs that most farmers do not
comes along, and who seems to be more copse-
quenta than some Of our aldermen when orcu-
pying the chair pro tenn.
We entered the canyon from the bluffs, aud the
first thing that attracted our attention was
clear, sparkling, stream gliding on over solid
rock bed, wore oval shape in some places and in
others rough and uneven. On each side as we
advance inward heavy timber lines the sides from
base to summit, but with nothing particularly
attractive about them FOLLOW lux on for about
II dozen rods or more, the canyon divides into
tNO httlOHes lhhIUk tue OhC tuat lHauS ~ tue
right we followed '. up some fifty rods or more,
but there Is nothing special to be seen, except
now and then some heavy timber, deep foliage
ferns and moses, and Il rock bed over which the
waters for ages presumably have rolled.
Returning TO the junction, We take the one to
the left and tramp along its winding way for two
or three hundred yards before anything attract
i've strikes the eye. But all this time we are
winding around mountain.like something in
the shape Of a horses hooi, and from which the
glen derives the name OF The "Horsc Shoe" 1t
Is the only proper adaptation that has been given
to any Of our great wonders--thc rest all being
misnamcd, and indeed IL would seem as II the
early settlers aud many OF the later ones could
think of nothing but "Park" on Gave" as
though they were running "a corner In parks
and trying to bull the market with caves
There Is not cave" 50 to speak, IN the coun-
ty, and the name park" as given to the various
places so called is absurd; and even canyons"
is "crowding the mourncrs." "Glcns" would be
the proper names. Il have in most cases through
this series of articles called them glens.)
About three hundred yards from the entrance
the rocks begin TO appcar--at first rugged, bold
and shapoless; while the foliage doGpens aud the
trees, more lofty, spread their leHfy branches in
protusion. As we advance the rocks begin to-
tower higher and higher, till At least hundred
feet above our heads, while their sides appear al
most perpendicular, and for the most part
smooth, with an occasional projecting ledge,
suspended from which are hanging vines and 70.
lage. And now we have reached what we would
Al ii
be kind o! an amphitheatre, almost surrounded
with massive rocks, irregular in shape, and on
whose summit great trees tower aloft, while fur
Their up the mountain side" all ia bare and di.
vested OF the usual bits of foliage prevalent on
the tops OF nearly all our bluffs.
To the right rather odd formation presents
itself in the way Of an entrance 10 the grand
and inspiring section of the glen. II is some
thing like wicket or gateway, opening in tho
rock, with quite an elevation on ia bed or floor,
which has rough surface, over which the water
flows in transparent and the tinest cascades i'm.
aginable. Climbing through this opening the
entire beauty and grandeur OF the "liorsc Shoe"
open TO the view. Here, indeed, il anywhere,
the inspiring sensation that crowds upon ones
mind as he stands amid much grandeur, tells
him that within its walls he is standing in one Of
the tabernaces of the gods, til II he is NO long
er upon this earth, but transported TO one al The
thunder riven gorses Of the mountains al Jupi-
ter! And in exstasy he exclams,-
On thou mighty, wOndrous gorge sublime.
Majestic creature from the hand Il me.
Who shaped your iorin-your wuntruur fsre.
When vert thou born. aud what u All thy rics7'
have seen the "Grand Cathedral" IN Wak'n-'
Glen, the Spectre Cascade" of Glen on"k" the
"Star Chamber" In Kentucky's Mammoth Cs,r
as well as the Wild and woucrOus region "i "Ams
Sable Chasin." but while all differ in pni"iS 81
grandeur, none pleased me ~ we'll - this
Standing within IL, one finds hm-elf IN II l~rg'
amphithea tre, oblong In shape and perhal. "nr
hundred ieet wide by three hund"d fee, hong.
Casting our eyes around and heholdiug IT. rna-.
sive walls as they tewer upward. onr 's i"si In
wonder and amazen ent at its construction. and
he sees that here IL OF she spots where nature