Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1882-07-15
AN EXCURSION TO THE FOOT HILLS.

EDITOR INTELLIGENCER - From
among the Foot Hills of the Rockies
send YOU line. Am now on the
divide between the head waters of
the Platte and the Arkansas rivers.
Left Denver City this morning and
came at lightning speed across the
plains to the Foot Hills; among which
we left the train. and jolted up
Brooks Canyon fortwo miles in what
the boys called dulnp-wagons. don't
know exactly what dump wagon is,
but after using one rs means of
transportation [ think can con-
scientiously detiue tho word dump"
as jolt or shake-up, for | certnimly
never had such shaking up III all my
llte, and have to-day laughed at the
appearance of other people (not my
selD packed away like sardinrs in the
wagons and holding on for dear life
until laughing has become chronic.
Our wagon train met us at the
station, a mere stop off in the wilds
will, not even a platform. The
horses were patriuticaily decorated
with flags where ever one could be
fastened into the harness. These
rough looking horses scorn to take
gait slower than q trOt. and usually
gallop most OF the way up the steep
slope of the canon. There are four
car loads of humanity to be frcighted
out among tie rocks beside the lunch
baskets which are necessary con-
fort after such vigorous exercise;
and as speed ls the PASSION of the age
and the west the fastest part of the
country. the average western horse
is fully up to the demand. i had the
gooI fortune to be sandw iched away
i'll one of the wagons of the first trip.
aud 80 had time for making observa-
tions. We were taken as far up the
canyon as the wagons could 90 and
then allowed 10 sit under a large telit
aud rest, or 10 climb the rocky stecps
like mountain goats. Being what
these western people Call a tender
foot, ! chose to climb and see all that
is to be seen. Tue Foot Hills, which
look like genuine mountains to me,
are terrared, and when you have
climbed by natures rugged stair
ways from one terrace to another you
are rev wardcd by the sight of n great
plain = like natural garden. where
lovely flowers in every tint and shade
grow in the Widest luxuriancc.
Everybody carries away loads of
flowers, but wo cannot miss them. A
great variety Of cactus plants bloom
ing in masses uf satim-hke flowers of
various cOlors are found clinsinr to
the almost bare rocks. The krnicka-
nick OF the Indian smokers fustens it's
roofs in the crevices OF the rocks and
sends out long sprays Of mystIe-like e
leaves. As these vines are evergreems
and bear quantity of scarlet berries
their testoons will brighten many a
grey crag in winter. Below us n hot
June day, but our thick shawls and
cloaks are necessary to our comfort
iii The bracing mountain air and
among the spicy breathed pines
thu ough Whose branches the wind
signs and lnOans in mournful music
th't is unlike All, thing else.
Suggestive hampers have climbed
the heights some how and the crow d
separa'es into companies, every com
pany eating when il suits the fancy.
We choose great rock, and 1 never
ate better dinner than l tiud here
among the Rocky Mountains. Cling.
ing TO the pine bough. just over our
heads and so low that can tin toe
and touch it is hummimg birds nest
covered with Iichens until it loohs
like knot nnthe branch. Thelcharm.
lag little builder si,s As quietly ur
tae nest III IL no enemy Was near. A
handful of sand ehowered upun he,
only Causes her liny bright head to b,