St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1892-07-21
3l1isrellaiu.
THE GLORIOUS FOURTH.
How ST. Johnsbury Man Celebrated 1t
on Pixies Peak

ing that there is some other way to
celebrate the Glorious Fourth"
than with mere fizzle, thud, bang,
and money may procure pleasure in
contributing TO other senses and sens
ations than those of the ear. 1t
pointment that we found almost in
evitablv the homeward journey
would land us in the vicinity of
of Pixies Peak on the national ami
versarv. We were afraid the incon-
gruity of such grandeur of nature
and the effervescence of human
Young America would be oppressive
or distasteful, but on the whole it is
good to know that to any degree
the taste for purer enjoyment leads
so many to spend part of the day
in so rational manner.
After two passages OF the wild
Sierras, alternating with the rugged
desola ton of deserts and the ever
changing scenery of river canyons,
loops, bridges, winding ascents in
and out of mountain gorges, up
over and through the Rocky Mount
aims one might hardly be expected
to appreciate the magnificence of the
renowned Pixies Peak, but our route
was planned so that restful nights
where not much was lost in scenery
and quiet lying off at Denver on
Sunday put us i'll good condition
for Monday. So as that is the Gull
mination of the innumerable ranges
and peaks of this portion of the
great system of mountains, this day
was the browning glory of our trip.
The way to get at the ascent and
accomplish it with the least outlay
of time and the waning contents of
frugal purse, was to take the cleo
trio road from Colorado Springs to
Manitou, then procure a cabman to
show us round the Garden of the
Gods and land US at the cog road.
The first was easily done. Then
comes the dickering with the avari-
cious cabby, but the gravitation of
common pursuits and desires quickly
sifted out two vivacious, good look
ing Kansas schoolma ans, very
glad of a sedate protector, to form
together a satisfactory bargain
with young and enterprising Yer
mont hack driver, with a pretty
pair of black ponies and light rig
just right for Ourpartv. Off then for
the Garden of the Gods, that place
of such wonderful results of natures
handiwOrk with water and stone, as
has more than taxed all effort of artist
in word or photograph to do any
like justice to its marvels. Sand
stone and marble of richest hue are
the original materials, touched up
now with dashes of rugged trees,
tints of moss and shrub set off with
distant glimpses of snow-hecked
crags and ranges of the Rockies, and
one is quickly intoxicated with be-
wildered delight and awe with all
that crowds upon his vision. The
harder strata lay on the softer and
huge mushrooms on every hand, and
forms of all imaginable and unnama-
BILE things are presented. Some
have been named, but every one with
a fancy seen for himself You some
times assent to the name applied, but
see better comparisons according to
light, point of view or mood of see
ing. The strata are vertical and to
the gateway" the cathedral
spires" and many other battlements,
turrets, too weird for names, and
a great variety of shades of color
from deep brown and through soft
yellow browns to white make grea
loneliness to the eye.
Porcupine, alligator, wine cellar,
woman at the wash tub, turtle,
Punch and Judy, Scotchman, kissing
camel, sphynx, painters palette,
bear, seal, are but 1.-THE of the titles
given to some Of the grotesque and
gigantic sculptures made thousands
of wears ago. On the vast battle
ments of rock are to be seen strange
frescoing done in relief or climbing
shrubs, beautiful faces whose eye
brows are beetling crags, flowing
locks of vine and moss To one OBJ
server the regular vision failed to
materialize, but another lovely form
appeared instead. But even this fas-
cinating place cannot lure us from
the great old bare crags so often the
vanishing point of these nearer won
ders, and we leave the picturesque