Mohave County miner., 1891-03-07
THE YOSEMITE VALLEY.
a Locality Of sublIn'itg and "f "os'
Wonderful Beauty.

A Locality of knbiinits 81" W
Wonderful Beauty.
II Is In the grouping OF objects OF
.ublimity and beauty that the fos.,fn-
lie excels. writes Charles Dudley war
ner In Harpess Magazine. The mar
row valley, with it, gigantic walls
which vary in every change OF the
poiut OF view, lendc itself 10 tho most
astonishing scenic effects. and these the
photographer has reproduced 10 thht
tha world IL familiar with the striking
features Of the valley, and has d toler-
ably correct idea OF the sublinnity OF
some Of these features. What the
photograph cannot do is 10 give an i'm
preston Of the unique grouping OF the
majesty. and at times crushing weight
upon the mind, of the forms and masses,
Of the atmospheric splendor and illu-
sion. and OF the total value OF such an
assemblage Of wonders. Tho level
surface OF the peaceful park-like valley
has much 10 do with the impression.
The effect Of FL Captain, seen across
a meadow and rising from a beautiful
park, In much greater than II II were
encountered In savage mountain
gorge. The traveller may have seen
elsewhere greater waterfalls, and domes
and spires Of rock as surprising, but
he has nowhere else seen such a com
binaiion As this. He may be fortified
against surprise by the photographs he
has seen and the eXtrayagant reports
Of word painters, but he will not escape
(say at Inspiration Point or Artist
Point, or other lookOuts) quickening
OF the pulse and an elation which Is
physical as well as mental, In the sight
Of such unexpected sublimity and
beauty. And familiarity will scarcely
take of the edge OF his delight, 80
varied are the effects in the passing
hours and changing lights.
The Rainbow fall, when water Is
abundant, Is exceedingly impressive as
well as beautiful Seen from the car
riage road, pouring out OF the aky over
head, it gives sense Of power, and at
the proper hour before sunset, when
the vast mass Of leaping, foaming
water Is shot through with the colors
Of tho spectrum, it is one of the most
exquisite sights the world can offer; the
elemental forces are overwhelming. but
the lOyeliness IL engaging. One turns
from this to the noble mass Of FL Capi-
tan with shock OF surprise, however
often II may have been seen. This Is
the hour, also, in the time Of high wa
ter. TO see the reflection Of the Yosemite
Falls. As a spectacle 1t is infinitely
finer than anything at Mirror Lake, and
Is unique in its way. To behold this
beautiful series Of falls, flowing down
out Of the blue sky above, and flowing
up out Of an equally blue sky In the
depths of the earth, Is a sight not TO be
forgotten.
And when the observer passes from
these displays 10 the sight OF the aerial
domes in the upper end Of the valley,
new wonders opening at every turn Of
the forest road, his excitement has little
chance OF subsiding. He may be even
little oppressed. The valley, so YER
dant and friendly with grass and trees
and flower, Is so narrow compared with
the height of It's perpendicular guardian
walls, and this little secluded spot Is
so imprisoned in the gigantic noun
tains, that man has a feeling OF help
lessness in it. This powerlessness in
the presence Of elemental forces was
heightened by the deluge OF water.
There had been an immense fall Of
snow the winter before. the Merced was
a raging torrent, overlooking its banks,
and from every ledge poured a minia-
ture cataract.