Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1891-07-18
LIKE THE IDEALS or cusTAvs poRE.
The Western had Lands We're Once the
bottom OF Sea.

Stretching along the western part Of
the Dakotas. extending westward into
Montana and down into Wyoming. Is
curious uplift known on old maps as
the Mauyaises Tcrres OF the French
explorers. on recent ones rs the Bad
Lands. In speaking Of them the West
ern people commonly accent the word
bad" rs il To imply that all other
lands in their part OF the world were
good. These tracts are rightly named.
for they are the type of desolation. and
as yet aro but little occupied and little
known. ..for there Is nothing among
their fastncss To induce settlement or
10 lure the traveller after he has seen
an example of what nature can do In
the way OF big and arid landscape.
The average view in the Bad Lands is
ms near To the somber ideals OF Gustaye
Dorc. as expressed in his Paradise
Lost" and "InferHo. rs one Is likely
TO find in terrestrial scene. and the
spectator who visits them will doubt
less be reminded nj frequent intervals
of what he has read Of the sccn&y or
the blasted surface of the moon. The
region Is high above the level Of the
sea; it has few lakes or rivers. aud it is
fairly well orth--circnmstances That
aggregate lis barrenncss aud bleakncss.
IL has obtained some celebrity during
Indian wars because Of the facility
with which red men can conceal them
selves in tie deep dclles and behind
the hills OF scoria that traverse the dis
lrict in all directions. While grass
grows here 10 n limited extent, and
while even potatoes are raised in pock-
cts of eartlI On the hill-sides. the gen.
eral aspect OF the place is forbi,lding
enough. Sage brush grows abundant
ly. as ifin mockcry Of useful vegetation.
for cattle will not touch this Odorifer-
ous herb while spear OF dried grass
j. to be found in the ncighborhoOd-
there is some cactus and Il stubby
buffalo grass, but only beside the river
Is any rich and positive green to be
found. though this looks the brighter
for the almost appalling wilderness of
the surrounding hills. The animal
life Is rs scant as that Of the vegetable
kingdom; few wolves prowl among
the buttes; few prairie dogs build
their tunnels aud dumcs in open
places; au owl was heard hoo;ng in
the distance ut night and now aud
then antelopes are seen on remote
heights, usually out of rifle range. and
one has need To examine his path at
times lest the prevalent raiilesnake
spring and sting him. Save for these
hints of life in plant and animal there
is nothing To recall kinship with the
States that nature has treated more
kindly both West and List.
Yet it should not be supposed that
the Bad Lands are gloomy. They are
too full OF color for that. Gcologically
they are the bed Of nm ancient sea that
was upheayed in not remote ages, aud,
after their cmergencc from the water.
the escape OF lakes and the How of
rivers from portions that have long
since gone dry wore down the deep
canons that traverse the hills aud
covered the slopes with forms that sug-
gest such things as tcnts. spires. pago-
das. aud Obclisks. The soil Is IN in-
durated clay that has not only good
deal Of color Of lis own. but that has
been transformed by suhterranean heat
into terra Gotta aud brick of lively
red. brown. and yellow. The effect
on bright morning is therefore cheer
ful rather than otherwise. but this un-
wontcd briliancy has the effect after
n while of emphasizing rather than re-
lieying the general desolatinn.