Great Falls tribune., 1886-08-07
MY SUMNER VACATION.
ysY:5eaen for the TRIBUNE.

SEsSpGCG I'LL Will Lie, ~ 9 -" -
srsass. while | point out where l spent
uzy vacation this summer? AS we
rasch the summit and look towards
85ee southeast our eyes are instantly
attracted to huge triangular noun
ss7,s. which seems to stand out boldly
xrs,m its fellows, like a gigantic sentl-
g1sl iealously guarding the repose OF
s7as comrades as they lie slumberlng,
ea.wrapped in the delicate purple and
E,Ese mist which distance lends the
vx3aw: or, in the words of ''The Pro
% sectors Gems" an unpublished work,
saashor unidentihed), The mountains
zsys 5Hst far enough away to look grand.
around their snow-clad tops heecy
eEeshs circle and hover in graceful
aaa imposing attitudes; now they
farm, feathery coronet, through
naieh the white top of some high
znt1untain appears, OF they range IN
vEsss and columns. and stand guard
agsssr those majestic natural pyramids.
Bsiow all this the mountains are veil
aEzna a purple haze, which relieves
szais softens the rough and rugged
zsszsses, and through which the forests
ssgpsar, as in dream" This trl-
zFasalar mountain is Tiger Butte; a
zu1se or So to the east Of it runs Belt
rlTer through as grand and pictur-
z.sasue a,canyon as can be found al
mast any where. That canyon was
szy last camping place before coming
home
I left Great Falls the 9th of July,
ELe morning after our wonderfully
Successful and patriotic celebration.
Nv route lay along Sand Coulee, up
mast the coal mines, and past Nat.
zazrlfiffin's out on to the broad OK
aznse of prairie beyond. As many
szssses as [ have passed through Sand
s.enlee, I always find it possessing the
.ane power Of impressing my mind
vx7sh an acute sense of its magnitude.
ssarh a broad, unbroken valley, glrt
DIV 2aills on every hand, with soil as
ys.sa as could be desired, and, ID the
rzlny season, grass, as green as can
ag found in the Emeaald Isle.
Three or four years ago this grand
valley was almost void Of human habl-
sarsen, but now comfortable, and IN
ssame instances, commodlous houses
sxve seen at almost regular intervals
wherever the eye can reach. As
r7eared the vicinity of the coal fields
4 eould see indications of the Goa
cropping out from beneath the strata
e2f rock covering it. The lmmens
GEv Of this coal field only dawns upon
a.he mind after repeated examinations
Alter passing Mr.. McGiffin's ranch
Afss coulee takes bend, and mile
az SO from tho bend [ came across the
Band Of cattle recently imported from
the States by Mr.. McGiffin. These
azttle looked fine, and good breeding
was the physical stamp Of the whole
nand. At last [ reached the top O
She hill. and .glancing around, motto
sd The Highwood Mountains to th'
aaFt, and the long chain in front 0
rne comprising the Little Belt anl
Belt range. [ travelled in south
saasterly direction, and on for miles
Fzaw / crossed rich sags, and again,
uould find myself traversing SOM
long divide, from the top of which
aad commanding view Of the sur
rounding country. On | went, anC
xs4zll farther; not house to be seen;
Eew punches of cattle away off in th'
distance, and a little band Of horse
nearer at hand. Never had plough
zshare struck into this sod, it was still
IN state Of virgin strength; the wild
grasses in their careless luxurienc
asEorted their dancing heads in tn
amorning sun, and hundreds of wil'
birds, as they fitted about, sent for Il
n carol of praise to Him who made al
Ghings of earth for the comfort an
enjoyment Of man.
While passing over this extensiy
Ezble-land, the richness of the vegeta