Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-04-26
How quickly we breathel how cxhausting

How quickly we breathe how exhausting
Is the least exertiOn, and how the blood
mounts 10 the head and drOwsiness over
powers usl But we have changed attitudes
by mile end haf since breakfast and
we are not yet acclimatnd.
The photographer wishes 10 tako our
pictures lie may each all he can. We
came 10 see, and not 10 DC seen, and so we
make for the northe N edge of the summit
Hero we sec a sheer prolip. CO OF debris pill
cd ,umultuously and soon lost Ia view in the
billowy mist that swathes thu sides OF the
mountain. How complete is this sol tude |
" seem to 10 sal ing alone through inf
mite spaced How profound is this silence,
unbroken by whispocl Tr9 70 ds noise
lessy iaD the face OF the cliffs and the cur
rents OF air intcrminglo in perfect Stiffness
With startling effect the grun thunder sud
denly r0mbles up from the p far below. IL
Is as If God had spoaen, and uttered with
articGlatc vol the deep thoughts then STIR
Ing In our b SONS.
TIE mist suddenly sweeps toward Us.
We seek the shelter Of tte signal station
| Without hal rattlcs on tie rocks and
rebounds into tbs ar. Once we step out
and, holding up both hands. feel the thrill
OF e elect. ic cGrrent and hear IL sing n
word song as 1t escapes from our finger
tips.
WI hen toe storm ceases we watch the
sheen OF the sun glance on tie billowy upper
surfaces OF the whlto ouds tAat midway
down the mountain hide 60 arl2te.y the
world from which we cone. Swiftly, Ike q
drawn clita n, they ro.l away, an - from
tn height OF anot Or pl met W. iood upon
the majestic globe beneath.
Mo lntains no longer rise, bat are con
struc oil from the apex and slope from peak
To base Forests, greet and grim. become
simple DARK rinkles on the mo n ain sides
a G ty is abridged 10 the diIn nsIons OF one
OF its squares. and II great water course Ce-
comes "a dark green tape laid in fo.ds on the
a
plains.
We arc chilled 10 the marrow TIC guides
give he summons 10 Start We hurry 10
our horses, oon oar slickers and begin the
jOlting decent in snow storm, which mas
already pi ell the moist n likes an nch dc p
on the trail. How The waite background
heightcns tie green of the grass and the
tints OF the flowers, which now seem TO
grow out OF the now.
We lnger to ease our sore limbs and TO
gather hatful of the fora We do not 10
al2e the extent Of our lettering until, ION
after the last man ahead has been lost To
our view, one of our guides s seen spurrng
in haste back to us, and is heard u utter
the warniny; "Gentlemen, if you want 10
get home tonight you VIII have to make
better timev'
patience, good guide; our limbs are
racked and these wild flowers are two beau
tiful TO be left
Still we heed the counsel, and, used "a
ana putting an absolute trust in the watch
full eyes and unerri ny feet OF our ponies, we
rush where we had only crept IN ascending.
Through the wo ded level we fly ike ar
rows and when the cascade bridge thund ers
under the hoofs of our seeds our party is
reganed.
The @ is no fog in tho ravine now; the de.
cllnng sun sends its slant rays far out on
the plain; the wooded rock strewn sides OF
the gorge are barred with light and shadow
the balanced rocks on their tall columns
look down with sentinel Ks approval; the
ruby gates of the Garden of the Gods
! the firm rock of the summit becomes the
crumblng boulder by the side OF the trail
becomes at last the powdered red dust oil
the broad road; the music or the brook be
comes an even song and with one merry
| gallop we are safe hOme.-James r. Truax
/ IN the Great Divide.