Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1885-01-14

enveloped in q cloud. and the effect was
like heavy fog. We were politely ad-
mitted to the wonderful weather labora-
tory, and patiently instructed in the
workings of all the strange machinery.
An observatory, an omnibus Office, and
stable, complete the number of buildings
in this city among the clouds. Having
made the circuit. we returned to the
bright warm parlors, where an impromp-
tn ent ertainment was about to begin,
and it was after midnight before the
songs were all sung, the selections recit-
ed, and the stories told.
Going to bed in the presence of such
unexplored wonders seemed a common
place thing to do, but the high water mark
at which we had been living for the last
twelve hours began to tell on mind and
body. and we were glad to snatch what
rest We could in the three hours allotted
US before the ringing of the sunrise bell.
At half past three, the call came, and
sleepy though eager throDg, hurried out
to catch the first light of the rising sun.
The rocks and steps were white with
frost, and the air was cold and wintry.
SUNRISE.
Scene first, was cloudy effect, more
wonderful than anything ever saw be-
fore. The valleys were all filled with the
feeciest white clouds. while over head
the sky was clear, and stars were shining
brightly. We seemed to be standing on
an island, IN the midst of foaming sea
which stretched away in every direction
as far as the ey could reach. The peaks
Of neighboring mountains rose above the
clouds like other islands in this vast cloud
ocean. When we made ourselves feel
that we were really above the clouds, it
seemed as though the little peak upon
which we stood was the whole world,
and that if we went few steps we could
come to the edge from which we might
fall down, down, down.
Presently tinge of red in the east gave
sign that scene second in the great spec
tacular drama was about to begin. The
tinge deepened into deep red, across
which we're bars Of dark clouds making a
most magnificent drop curtain before the
scene we were so eagerly waiting to see.
We had not long to wait. Out of the
white foam, like ball of fire, slowly and
majestically arose the sun. As it assembled
higher and higher. it was now partly hid
den by the gray clouds. and now hung
unobstructed above the horizon.
And now the transformation scene be-
gan. The white clouds that had lain so
peacefully in the valleys began to toss
and dash against the distant island peaks.
As the sun arose, he seemed to draw them
up to himself, and they lifted from the
valleys, like rising curtain gradually
revealing the world beneath US. Nor did
the clouds always rise straight up. Some
times they parted, and gave glimpses of
clustering houses, winding roads and
sparkling waters. Only for a moment
would this view last perhaps, then the
parted clouds would close again, and
open IN some other place, showing some
other beauty. So the work of lifting and
parting went on like al ever changing
panorama, till the clouds were all cleared
away, and a circuit of thousand miles
Law stretched around US.
| If moonlight on Mt. Washington had
been weird and mystical, sunrise was
grand and sublime.
! Having satisfied ourselves that the sun
was playing no prank for our entertain.
ment, but was really doing his accus~
toned morning work, and would soberly
go on his way across the heavens regard
less of our surprise. we gradually with
| drew our attention from distant objects,
| till finally we were ready to explore the
mountain itself. The summit has rug
ged uneven area of about an acre, thick
ly strewed with great rocks, honeycomb'
ed and grey by the action of the elements.
Everywhere, except on the tops of the
DHTcSL TOChS. ~ d tAACA SIO""A Va IAuy
Alpine flowers, and many varieties of
moss and coarse grass. With benumbed
fingers we were soon gathering handfuls
of the dearest little Alpine daisies, whose
white faces peeped up to us from beneath
q thick covering of frost
ToDo THE MOUNTAIN
IS mighty labor. but small party of US
were adventurous enough to undertake
any thing that promised a revelation of
wonders So after breakfast, we went
by the first train half mile or more
down the mountain side to The Gulf, an
immense chasm enclosed between almost
perpendicular walls over five thousand
feet high, from which dizzy height we
looked down into it's awe-inspiring
depths, and across to the splendid peaks
of Jefferson, Adams and Madison. We
returned to the summit on foot, toillng
slowly up over the frost-splintered rocks,
gathering abundant supplies of moss,
grass, flowers aud mineral specimens to
keep US mementoes of our first experience
IN Notwithstanding.
No sooner did we reach the top than a
visit to ''Tuckerman's Ravine," on the
opposite side of the mountain, was pro-
posed, and equipped with STATS and q
guide, we began descent of about mile
and half down the steepest most barren
dido IF Mt WASHINGTON. There ia no