Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-07-04
OUR WESTERN WONDER
Mammoth Hot Springs.
TBy Professor j. d. Butler, IL. Z

Curioslties in our National Park are
more varied and concentrated than in
any known region. Grander forests of
pine cannot easily be found, and, as wood
men will not spare trees, are daily be-
coming more scarce. The cascades are
not numerous, but are match for those
IN the Alps or Sandwich Islands The
mountains are not high above the general
level, yet they seem so, for they are pre-
clpltous. show many ranges rising like a
jacobs ladder, and are always hecked or
tipped with Stow The lakelets are clear
and symmetrical, and the grand lake bears
singular resemblance to the Bay of Ma
piles. In both scenes the sky line Of the
volcanic mountains is analogously wrink-
led and laggel. Capri also has its coun-
terpart in Franks Island. In size, color,
clearness, depth, and contour the two
watersheds are similar. The Obsidian
cliff shows range of basaltic pillars
equal to the Giants Causeway, but
raised on high pedestal, aud the obsi-
dian, resembling the glass in Junk bot
ties, shows masses that weigh many tons,
and which. cropping out in numbers
without number, warrant the popular
name of "Glass Mountains. But neith-
er forest, cascades, lakes OF mountains
though my untraveled companions pro-
nounce them the finest they ever saw
are the crowning charm of our Central
Park. None of them would bring into
the wilderness to see them, the Europeans
l see around me, and the legions of which
they are the van. What then went they
out into the wilderness to see?
In one word, the canon, the SpriiagS,
the pOolS, and the gcySCrS. The canon
reminds NE of the Yosemite, the Crater
Ol kllanea and the gorge of Egyptian
JheDes. Its sides are not SO sheerly pre-
clpltous as the Yosemite are, yet Almost
everywhere impossible to climb Their
colorlng is more strange, intense and di-
verstied than that of the African. Cali
1ornlan and Pacific marvels altogether.
linen countless pinnacles, fantastic as the
Alhambra or as frost work, effloresce
from the grand rocks--varying with
every change of light, and rousing ever
new surprise and bewilderment. One
impression made on me is that of n Goth
lc nave, miles long, ten times as high ae
cologne cathedral, pier succeeding pier,
and stretching on and on beyond my
sight
,sln shame OF a temple decked
b. hand OF human architect"
The Mammoth Springs are the most
magnificent display Of phenomenon which
is common all over the park. Seen from
distance you would think them a snow
covered hill, or chalk cliff on the Eng.
llsh Channel. When close at hand Won
find the white plain Of geyserire at their
foot crystalized in all tho fairy and weird
forms which snowHashes show under n
microscope, but likewise frail and fleet
ing as snow and crumbling beneath your
tread. The hillside is by terraces, each
abont thirty feet high, all of geyserite. a
preclpltate from the mineral impregnating
the water. You mount terrace after ter,
race ten times over, and see a show every
where alike, yet everywhere unlike. Wa.
ter boiling and steaming rises everywhere
hIllng and overfowing basins, LAYERS,
baths, piscinas each in outline, coloring
ornamentation, and every grace beggar.
ing all that the Vatican treasures of Ro
man luxury. As the water passes from
pool to pool, it becomes cool enough fo,
bathing. My friend and lay more thar
half hour IN one of these natural lava
tories. We left it so refreshed that We
hold ourselves pioneers in a pool which
must become the Bethesle of beaut,
and roinyenation to mvriads. The spring,
utc everywhere brlmnlug ald overflow
llE- sometimes III cascadcs-but Jftenel
in mineral condnits they have formed fol
Themselves, aud trip away with feet ot
SILVER along channels Of gold. But the