Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1880-02-06
AIaska's Nightlesa Day.

An Alaska corresponding EltcS. AL
{ Alaska summer! day is a day without
night, for The sun at its lowest points
only Q few degrees below the horizon,
and the topmost colors of the sunset
blend with those of the sunrise, leaving
no gap Of the night darkness between
What is called the midnight of the par
tial, divided days of other countries is
here only low moon, the middle point
of the cleaning, with light enough to
read by. The thin clouds that are al
most always present are then colored
orange and red, making striking adj
vertisement of the progress of the sun
around the northern horizon. The
day opens slowly, the low arch Of light
stealing around to the northwestward
with gradual increase of height, and
span, and intensity of tone, and when
at length the sun appears, it is without
much of that stirring, impressive pomp,
that flashing, awakening, triumphant en-
ergy, so suggestive of the Bible imagery
a bridegroom coming out of his
chamber, and rejoicing like strong
with Notwithstanding edges, now van
ish as their color leaves them, and sub
side into hazy dimness, the islands,
with rufus of mist about them, cast ILL
defined shadows on the glistening wa
tiers, and the whole down bending frma-
ment becomes pale pearlgray. For
three or four hours after sunrise there
is nothing specially impressive to be
felt in the landscape. The sun, though
seemingly unclouded, may almost be
looked in the face, and the islands and
mountains, with all their wealth of
woods and snow and varied beauty OF
architecture, seem comparatively dull
and uncOmmunicative.
As the day advances toward high
noon the sun-food, streaming in full
power through the damp atmosphere,
lights the water-levels and the sky to
! glowing silver. Bright play the npples
| about the bushy edges of the islands,
| and out over the plume.shaped streaks
between them, stirred by some passing
breeze. The warm air beats now and
makes itself feel as a Gfe-giving, ener-
giving ocean embracing all the world.
Now we may contemplate the life and
motion about US. It comes to mind of
itself. The tides, the rivers, the flow
Of the light through the satiny sky, the
marvellous abundance of fishes feeding
in the lower ocean. Misty focks OF
insects in the warm air. The wild
sheep on thousand grassy ridges
among the glaciers. The beaver and
mink far back on many q rushing
stream. Indians floating and basking
along the shores. Leaves and crystals
drinking the sunlight, and the glaciers
on the mountains tracing valleys for
the rivers and making meal for every
living creature. Through the after
noon, all the way down to the sunset,
the day grows in open, appreciable
beauty. The light appears to thicken
and become yet more generously fruit
full without losing it's brightness and
transparency. Everything seems to
settle into deep, conscious repose the
winds breathing gently or wholly at
rest; the few clouds visible, downy and
luminous, and combed out fine on the
edges; white gull here and there win
moving the warm ether on easy wing
Indian hunters in their canoes, every
stroke of their psadles told by quick,
glancing flash, half as big as the moon.
No bird choirs in the grove to sing out
and stir and sweeten the deep, brood
ing stiffness; SKY, land and water meet
ing and blending in one inseparablt
scene of enchantment. Then comes
the sunset with it's colors, mingled pur-
ole and gold. Not narrow arch on the
horizon, but oftentimes filling the SIX
the glowing fountain of it all we'll roun;!
to the north.