The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-07-31
GLIMPSES AMONG THE ROCKIES.
BY BELLE i. GORTON.
(Chicago.)

(Chicago.)
How much of the joy and richness of
life is due to the aspect of nature to-
ward US whether fearful or smiling
we scarce realize, until there comes to
us day when we breathe an air almost
Intoxicating in its purity, and behold
grandeur of landscape never before
more than dreamed of.
The leaden sky and heavy atmu&bere
are a rarity among these glorious nd
Rockies, that have lifted toward the
stars for ages past their sublime peaks,
mantled with eternal snowssN We find,
indeed, in Colorado that for which most
of us, at some time of life, strongly
yearn- sunny land where the eye
loses none of It's sparkle and The nerves
and muscles none Of their fine vigor.
Colorado's sunny days and equablescli-
mate have. long been the boast both Of
residents and temporary sojourners in
that grand State, but allshese raptur-
GUS tales have their foundation in fact.
Visiting the United States signal ser
vice station at Denver, gathered the
following facts, obtained officially by
the superintendent from thirteen
years careful observation of the wealth
Ter, from 1872 to 1884 inclusive. During
this period the average of sunny days
in January was %; February, 81; March,
2S; April, 25; May, 2s; June, 20; July,
80; August, 80; September, 20; Octo-
ber, 30; November, 2S; December, 20.
This seems TO the Illinoisan quite in
credible, but will appear less so when
he learns that showers in Denver and
vicinity are almost never of more than
few hours' duration-rarely that
and they then give place to the most
radiant sunshine; for fair day in that
clear mountain air is an inexpressible
sdelightst oAeA-wi1o has braathed, only
the thick, almost Opaque, air of the
lower levels.
One cannot, indeed, realize what
mountain life is until he has expe-
rienced it. And even then it's varied
phases are rarely taken in by any one
individual. In city like Denver,
mountain life includes all the pleasures
of social communion and all the luxu-
Fies incident to metropolis, for the
proximity of millionaires here and
there, in your own immediate neigh
borhood or some other, necessarily ele-
Yates the standard of refined life to a
high pitch, considering the very moder-
ate population of 10000 souls. Men
who make their wealth in cattle and
large mining interests necessarily give
occupation to large numbers of under
workers, who assist them in their vast
enterprises or help them to the indul-
gence of their elegant foibles. And yet
Denver is also remarkable for the very
marked social freedom which it con-
cedes to the middle classes, who may
honorably economic in all sorts of un-
heard of ways that they, too, may one
day own stocks, cattle or mining inter
ests.
Again, there is life at the mountain
resort, which, particularly in the Rock
les, is like to none other in the world.
Go to Idaho Springs for summer, and
you spend season as unique as you
choose to make it. You may enter into
the whirl of gay society, you may enjoy
an elegant and quiet leisure, or spend
the days as fancy dictates, in the most
unconventional manner, la Izaak
Walton. With all the comforts and |
luxuries of life at your elbow, you have
the most perfect personal freedom, and |
are in no wise accountable to your |
neighbor for the sensible duties you |
perform, the freaks you indulge in, or
for your long jaunts over the mount
aims, taken as time Or nature may prove
fitting.
Then there is a third variety of
mountain life, which consists in living
in once populous and thrifty mining
center. Nothing in the civilized world
could be more marked or peculiar than
such town or city. With all the evil
dences of wealth about it, yet does it
strongly suggest GOldsmith's Deserted
Village" only that, unlike Auburn, it
contains with the relics of past great
ness the signs of present animation. In
such a village you will note, perhaps, a
magnificent hotel of mammoth proper
tions indefinitely closed, fine theater
or opera house in which no entertain
ments are held, or even, mayhap, a
splendid school building with pitiful-
ly scanty supply of occupants. And yet
even in such a village money is often
easily made by the discerning. There
are still large money interests here, ly-
ing dormant as it were, yet awaiting
only an awakening by those who can
turn to personal advantage the present
depression, or infuse new confidence |