National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-03-13
AMONG THE CLOUDS.
A Sketch OF Life in the silver State
New Life for the Sick.

A Sketch OF Life in the silver State
New Life for the Sick.
Some two miles above the capstone of
the Washington monument lies that new
world which we call Colorado. In this
strange land Of bottomless holes fortunes
are made and lost more rapidly than in
Wall street. Here the college graduate
sings pick with the dukes younger son,
the escaped convict, and the boy In his
teens from Skowhegan, Maine.
Twenty years agotherewere no railroads,
women, or homo comfortsin this state, and
every pioneer was engaged in a grand
tussle with old Mother Nature. To-day
Colorado as a bullion producer leads the
world, with California second aud Montana
third among the states and territories. Her
mineral product for each OF the last two
years has been over $26, 900, 900. Sheis also
destined to become queen OF the world as
regards climate and grandeur OF scenery.
People given up 10 die, en- route for Col
orado, have been helped from the cars only
to develop into blooming and rugged
men and women. There is no human sys-
tenn, which, worked down to low tone, Is
not built up by sojourn In the light, dry,
pure air, Astounding with electricity and
adise, over the snow.cnppcd Rockies. Sun
shine is.like wine. 10 makes the blood go
bounding through tho veins, the chest ex-
pand, and the cheeks glow Physicians
affirm that an eastern chest will expand at
least two inches In circumference
during the first years residence
in Colorado, at an altitude above 5000
feet. However, this rate OF extension does
not continue indefinitely. Neither will said
enlargement apply TO ocean chests, Sara
toga trunks, SC. The Rocky mountain
region is one Of almost perpetual sunshine.
Rainy and cloudy days and mud arc here
almost unknown. Fevers and malarial
vapors belong to the world below, and sleep,
''nature's sweet restorer," is here within
reach Of all. In other words, the air Of
Colorado induces sleep when all else falls.
| When the undauuted western bound
train laborously rolls onward and upward
| over the undulating prairies Of Kansas, the
| invalid first inhales TINT heaven-born breeze
which blows straight across the plains from
| Colorado. He begins to revive. New life
| stirs withinhim. He Is nearing the Rockies.
| The cars mount higher and higher. Nothing
can be seen but brown, rolling sea OF
| prairie land. In winterit is frozen region
OF ice and snow. Every writhe OF the mon
ster serpent train carries the invalid nearer
that new world among the clouds where the
| air Is very clear, and the dulcet notes OF the
burro, or mountain mule, reecho from peak
| 10 peak as he feaBts, In careless grace, upon
| ambitious crop Of tin cans and hoop skirts
For heart disease ahigh altitude is unfavor-
able on account, OF quickened action
| Asthma can hardly exist In Colorado
Chronic bronchitis and that scourge Of the
east, nasal catarrh, are also benefited and
cured. Consumption above the altitude OF
5000 feet is exceedingly rare. The OK.
pansion Of the chest, caused by deep.
ened respiration, is very marked, II
bringing into use portion Of the lungs
before virtually idle. The eastern base Of
the Rocky mountains is preferable for In
valids Here the winters are mild. Snow
is seen but few days at time, and In the
hottest weather the nights are sufficiently
cool to require blankets. The low, humid
health resorts Of Florida, Texas, and thu
Carolinas are decidedly enervating com
pared with the Rocky mountain region
The latter invigorates and qulcken
the circulation, and is about the onl,
stimulant which gives no baneful reaction
Time forbids more than mention OF thu
mineral and thermal springs Of Colorado
which rank second to none In the world
Hero the invalid can battle, like young
savage, In hot, steam-fllled caverns, wher,
springs boil forth as though by magic, o
luxuriantly loll through series Of battle
and sweating machines, in the hands Of al
attendant, at the hotels, Above timbe
line, which Ia generally at an altitude o
not exist for want Of oxygen In the air, an,
old Mother Earth wears little besides
smile and is decidedly bald-headed, one
obliged to live upon the fine climate an
the hope Of eventually getting into a lowe
altitude. Meanwhile he can kill time b
,, observing the ways and means Of the artlei
', little creature called burro, {
| / tn,,la 1ul,ich infacta ha lnnal
peaks OF the Rockies. This burr
has large, fan-like ears, pathetic eyes, an
an appetite for old shoes and bustles. Whe
he raises his voice to heaven, which {
this altitude must be quite near, there
! such yearning and unsatisded, soul-stlrrin
pathos In the notes Of his carol that II he
, been known to frighten mountain lilo
|. cept when the dogs are behind, is onl
,, equaled by his exalted ideas on the subiet
Of Christian patience. You may owe
load, pound him, twist his tail, au
speak freely Of that white hi
eternity which awaits all burros, and
J will simply gaze upon you in motionlei
wonder, with large, sad eyes, perchant
!, missed yesterday. From where write, {
Murphy mountain, beside the famous MAJ
/. Murphy mine, the scene is one OF wi
beauty, The transparency OF the atmo
: phere Is marvellous. We gaze enrapturt
4 upon objects $50 miles away, thin
ing them but an hours walk hence. +
= as the eye can reach, continuous mounta
> peaks stretch In solemn grandeur iowa
= the north, this south, the east and u
y west. Their rocky heads lie pillowed In 7
. clouds and the air is very clear, that all I
world may behold their majesty. Go
sparkles within their deep, dark veins,
. the black pines which guard their rugg
: sides tell no secrets. and the pick re-echo
. to the trtll ofthe wild bird, while men Sc
a for the hidden gates of gold.
y Los ANGELES.