The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-07-13
SALT LAKE.
CAMP DOUGLASS AND ITS SPLEEN
DID VIEW.
Word Painting OF Mountain Seen
cry The Picturesque Sur
Poundlngs of Salt Lake.

SALT LAKE, July 9, lSs5.--we enjoyed
very much drive out TO Camp Doug
las. Government post, three miles
north Of the city, and which is laid out
In beautiful drives and grounds. IL has
become the Sunday resort OF many peo-
pie from Salt Lake. who come hither TO
hear the fine concerts by the Govern
mcnt band. AS the elevation ia much
higher than the city II gives splendid
view Of the latter, the fine valley beyond
the great lake In the distance, and the
mountains that oyershadow 1t. From
these commanding heights we can see
the lovely forest-like city, its fine dwel-
llngs, churches and temples, the long
straight and well shaded streets with
their busy people. We can see the
smoke rising from the smelters and fur
naoes, the farms, so richly clad In ver-
dure, the course of winding streams.
wooded hills and shady dells. While
surveying the whole region on every
side save one, the valley, seems walled
up to heaven, for mountains soar upon
mountains, peaks piled grandly above
each other and whose snowy crested
cones glitter ms they pass above
yer and lined with mellow golden
hues. The scene Is but little
changed at early morn, and az II Ia
tinged by the first gray streaks OF dawn
II Is still beautiful In the extreme. Long
lines OF mountains surround you and
scarce summit but is crowned with
everlasting SHOWS. Their dull, white
orests glow with light-like FURNISHED
silver and soon the whole eastern sky
blazes, as 1t were, in gold and crimson,
and ridge and peak catching the reful-
gence, glitter with the beams OF the
rising sun, which gradually peeping
over the crests Of distant mountains
floods Mt once the valley with its da2-
cling light, which, awakening, puts on
| its newness of life. The city has on its
robes of splendor for the day has dawned
and the merry birds are heard twitter-
| ing in the shrubs, while the little water
courses sing on in ecstacy and the flow
ers, unwet by dews that never fall, are
radiant and refreshed by night Of rest.
Neither do the morning or MONDAY re-
veal all the grandeur and sublimity
of this mountain city, for the night
brings visions the day cannot surpass.
AS the shadows Of evening were hover
ing DER, we strolled to bench or noun
| tain foOthill that overlooks the city.
| The view was beautiful and picturesque
as any In the west, and for more than an
hour our imaginative soul Toasted on the
imposing prospect. The whole llrma-
ment was ola soft azure, touched here
and there with ileecy clouds of the palest
grey. A little cloud, the tenderest vail
of mist, hangs softly DER the lovely city.
The daylight begins to fade and the
whole scene grows more charming to the
| Imagination as il assumes weird and
fantastical shapes, floating with the
| downy softness DER the great forest OF
trees that are laden with a wealth Of
| green foliage. The River of Jordan,
winding through the valley, flows on In
noiseless mirth over its sandy and
| pebbled bed, until 1t reaches the depth
of the cold, silent lake beyond. The
early dusk is creeping up from behind
the distant mountains, whose gentle
| slopes are green with their glowing
heather and the roar of the rushing
| rlvulet ms it dashes on through the very
streets OF the "lloly City," reverberating
| from among the encircling hills and
| falls "like sound OF saddest music
on the ear" The shades of night
are coming fast, and the bright
warm sun that the whole day has cast its
glowing beams upon the enchanting
scene, has now sunk behind the grand
old mountains, and the sad silence of the
COulnB HlRuA Hhb ClOheu CItullOn's eyes.
| The beautiful green sward begins ut cur
feet and stretches away, until II meets
the waters OF the lake which lie sleeping
beyond, "lulled into slumber by the tran
| quill moon Ms she comes forth from the
slow opening curtains of the clouds"
| There In silence Is the lake, calm and
placid, not ripple nor sigh comes to
disturb the serenity or mar the perfect
beauty OF the silvery sheen thrown 80
lightly upon 1t by the queen of heaven.
There 1t lies so clear and unbroken that
almost one might think 1t possible to
step upon its CLASSY surface and so walk
onward to the sky that melts into il on
the far-away horizon.
We hear n roaring noise from dis
lance and looking from whence 1t came
n bright light is seen following the
waters edge, and ere long the Denver
and Rio Grande train from Ogden files
past and the quletude OF the night is
again resumed, not sullen monOtony;
but look where you may on the clouds
that descend upon the hills, on the city
or lake, on the valley or the giant noun
tain peaks that rise and fathom the gray
and blue skies or the starry depths OF
night, and the revelation is naught but
glorious beauty and heaven born gran