Wichita eagle., 1889-09-17
A WICHITA GIRL ACROSS THE
ROCKIES.
To the Editor of the Eagle.

To the Editor oil Inc Eaole.
Our first glimpse of the Rocky mount
aims. How can we tell you how eager
we were to catch the first glimpse of
them? We strain our eyes in the direc-
ton in which we know they must soon
appear and out against the clear blue
sky dawned slowly the underlined SHIN
merlng trace of something bluer. Yes!
we see plainer now, and know that we
are looking on the everlasting snow and
the Ice that never melts. But it IS i'm
possible to imagine them built of earth,
rock. anything terrestrial; 10 fancy them
cloven by horrible cllasn1s, or shaggy
with giant woods. They seem made
out of the air and sunshine which shows
them. To see what they looked, and to
know what they were, was like a sud
den revelation Of the truth that ''The
spiritual is the only real and substan-
tial; that the eternal things of
the universe are they which. afar
off, seem dim and faint .
How we would love to live in the shad-
ow those grand old mountains, for we
think with the poet that
"The ray
OF bright sun make sufficient holiday.
Developing the mountains, leaves, and mowers
And shining in the Drawing brook, whereby,
Clear as its current glide the sauntering hours
With calm Ianguor, which, though TO the eye
likeness 1t seems hath its mortality"
IL only we could get closer to them.
But no; the shrill whistle OF the locomo-
tive and we know that We are IN Den
yer, that marvellous city of the plains.
Here we are to wait two hours, and we
are told to take the cable car and ID two
hours ride can see the most interesting
portions of the city. This we hasten to
do. and never was ride more thor
oughly enjoyed. From Denver we pass
over vast plain to Cheyenne, beautiful
little city, seemingly built on a
desert. Now we begin the ascent
of the foothills Of the Rock
les. 1t requires two engines
to pull our little train up to Sherman the
highest point that we will reach Q2,00O
feet above sea level) Here we find an
immense monument built OF rock, upon
either side of which is bust Of Sher-
man. On through Wyoming we go over
region of country devoid Of vegetation,
with here and there picturesque little
villages, nestled against the foot OF the
mountains, and we, wondering how, and
why the inhabitants live in this wider
ness, look around to see upon the nils
vast herds OF cattle and sheep, and we
know that this is their industry.
Passing through Wyoming and Idaho
we pass many places of interest among
which is Dali creek bridge, spanning a
chasm one hundred feet deep. The Cliff
Rock. a curious formation of rock
whose height we could not learn, Snake
creek with its succession of falls, the
great Idaho desert with its beds of lava,
and we mentally calculate as to how
it came. and when, and how did
the volcano, which left US this evidence
of its existence, become extinct. Our
coored porter tells us that God didn't
have nothing to do with this country;
He warn't up here when it was built, u
and we. knowing his superior wisdom,
do not doubt the assertion.
Sunday morning dawns and we are in
Oregon, being whirled around curves
at the loot of the mountains, while far
below US lies the beautiful Grand Round
valley, its green fields, trees, and cosy
little farm houses making a pretty pict-
ure From early morn until noon we
follow clear stream Of water which
winds around mountains whose SUBMITS
we can scarcely see. and which are COW
cred with gigantic pine trees and ever
greens of various kinds. While
| still far from Portland (our desti-
nation) we see the sun set between the
mountains: and soon the full moon
appears. We shall never forget our
moonlight ride along the banks of the
! Columbia which reflected SO perfectly
the mountains, trees, and rocks. upon its
banks. We will reach Portland at eleven
oclock-why could it not take hours
| longer. for we are as comfortable as
though the last four days had been spent
at home instead of in d car. Seventeen
! from whom we received the parting in
junction write just as soon as you get
| there won't you," and we solemnly said
| Il will" Write seventeen letters just
as soon as we get there? Oh no! one
must suffice for all. In a very short
time we will reach Portland, our future
! home. 1t will be very lonely there
among strangers and we know we vii
often long for old friends, familiar scenes
! and Wichita. LIZZIE.