The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1884-04-02
COLORADO.
MANlT0U SPRINGS, THE SARATOGA or
THE FAR WEST.
Precious stones and Wonderful Minerals Points
Of Interest Pixies Peak and the Grand
Mountain Scenery Highest
Point In the United states.


fContluuCd From Yesterday
The romance of standing ON the |
highest spot in the United States is
only cooled down by the weary toiling |
on over rocks and cliffs TO get there. |
Owing to the extreme lightness Of the
air we are compelled to rest every few
rods the last few miles. At this
altitude every pulsation Is heard,
the heart beats audibly, and ordinary
conversation can be heard one or two
miles. There Is only one house on the
summit--that of the United States Sig
nal service, used as station, and is the
highest inhabited house on the globe.
All over the top, and for thousands of
feet down the side, is nothing but mass
of broken stones. Near the station Is
the large crater, and the lawful
abyss of desolation." From here is an
unrestricted view of the whole country.
On the east the long sea beloved plains
roll away for hundreds of miles till at
last fade away in the deep blur mist that
Yields it TO the sky. The sun shines
without cloud to dim its light. Chaotic
confusion Is everywhere, vegetation Is
not seen, man realizes his inferiority,
and gaZes silently on that which nature
by one bold stroke has created far above
the clouds. There are no more heights
to climb. Colorado reveals her topo-
graphical uneaveness westward, thrown
together in long array giant against
giant pressing their granite shoulders
together. standing stately rs though
frozen there centuries ago, extending as
far as the eye can see, are the LOFTY
mountains Pixies Peak captains
and oyershadows. We look upon
an ocean, but that has no life; all sound
of the busy life going on below is all
hushed. Away from the world imam is
alone with nature, and only hears her
voice IA the winds howl around the up
turned rocks.n The towers far away
rise up from the earth like play houses
and the sky bends down until 1t seems
our finger tips would touch 1t. Forget
ting how high we are we fain would
speak the awe that fills our soul, but
stern nature puts her panthirstic finger
on our lips, bids us hush and not break
the silence of Gods solitude, and we
obey. We We're as near 1.-THE better
world" as we could get on this trip, and
breathing the precious divine law OF
these heights. Enough for this time, we
descend to lower altitude only to realize
again the divinity that so crowds upon
uj in this wonderful region. We would
like to tell you of the Garden of the
Gods. - but how can we when even the
gift of the most enthusiastic language
could never fifty portray or describe 1t.
The pictured gateways seem to laugh at
you in grotesque grandeur,t the variegated
portals swing open at your advance, and
nature strews her fevered dreams about
IN monuments of imperishable stone.
| The brook murmurs, the cliff scowls.
| Red masses of stone and clay confront
you and from the earth leaps wild forms
| we would not dare dream OF haunting
MS when our eyes were closed in sleep.
| Red walls give way TO winding vistas
| where the eve only rests on tortuous
courses of peak piled grandly on peak.
The foot hills clasp their arms around in
grand embrace and the blue vaulted sky
closes in upon the scene Of stupendOus
infinitude about us. Over all the snow
crown of Pixies Peak bends like an I'M
yielding willow, diamonded with snow
where Gods own hand touched it as he
arose to enter heaven when his noble
handiwork was finished. Silence
enobles us. We tremble and are voice
less. Turning to look back the foot hills
and mountains seem to press upon us,
peak after peak bathing their lusty sides
In the storm clouds that float among
them, Pixies Peak, the Emperor, domi-
neering with the silence of its snow
watching down through rifted cloud,
sunlit beyond the dark grey shadows.
All, where is the soul that could digest
the universe as nature has left in be-
meath Colorado's skies?
As we awake at early morn and looked
out in the very heart of nature by moon
light, not a star to be seen in heaven, the
full moon was regnant and the world
swooned before her glory. The universe
and silence slept together locked in each
tied onto the invisible entity OF its
storm-cloud mother. 1t seemed as if the
invisible were peering out OF the drifting
mist and that word would have river
therocky mountains 80 harsh is the gent
lest human speech in this region wher,
the very air seems divine. The brool
alone could bubble the silver moonlight
Transforming its bright crystal spray II
the rainbow's colors while the smile o
God slept on the heart of his handiwork
Sadly we watched the day break II
gray and the mellow moonlight bleed Il
death on the "breast of Gods great ros
! of dawn" at length the sun arose ant
the dripping waters which were spark
ling diamonds grew pale and our hear
full and bursting with the burden of 1t
thought sought In sleep a dream such Il
f; our eyes had feasted on. You
rubies and diamonds are dros
! compared to scenes like this
= The Colorado crystal, whose light flashe
j as from unseen fire, Is not SO pure 8
. Colorado air. The smoky topaz, love
Hest of all gems, does not compare wit
r the changing shadows as they thro'
dark silhouettes on the sunny slopes {
r foot-hill and plain. "Men dwindle, II
@ situations are Insignificant, human pre-
gress is naught." God reigns and tn
= Rocky mountains are his uttered words
D Nature has indeed smiled on this r.
Ii gion, basking in her pleasure midst i
o wealth of scenery, romance, pure a
4 and sunlight, together with its gems al
4, precious minerals. Colorado, Il
" 'Switzerland of America" captivat
n all who see it, and is it enough to S;
she outdoes them all. But let it pas
@. when we contemplate the mighty wor
ir strewn out before us we are siler
in speachless, our pen is uncultured al