The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1894-07-31
NO. 90
THE GARDEN or Tnfs Co.'s.
The Wonderful Sights and So nies
~ Near Cnlnradn Gnninns. .N

Nesf CoioradO springs. rs
A writer in the Chicago Evenane
Post gives graphic description of tn
marvellous formations of nature whiei
are to be seen in the vicinity OF S.s1f
rado Springs. His picture is true t,
nature, and every one visiting the fl.
nous Garden of the Gods would readily
recognize the various rocks ho de-
Alas this wonderful spot, the G Gar.
uen OIL she Gods" is about to lose its
| romantic, and it might be said supa,-
natural, life, for a real estate man has
plarted very natural sign-board in
The very center of the garden. What
must the gods think of it?
Where will the Colorado real-estats
man stop? He has already subdivided
the hills, valleys, canons, mountains.
and prairies for many miles about.
Piile's Peak, and now he profanely en-
tors the sacred Garden of the Gods,
ana stakes out every day, common
tackle paradise next and establish
cheap lots for all classes there g BE-
fore all the delight OF visit to this
charmed place could be DESTROYED we
decided, after d beautiful carriape.
drive OF three days from Denver, 10,
camp out and spend whole day with
the gods before streets were graded up
and sidewalks were laid. ~
There is probably no section of rock
ana earth in the country so intensely
interesting as that which includes this
garden, Manitou Springs, Pixies Peak.
Monument Park and the other many
resorts in this vicinity. In no other
place probably in this world are there
SO many genuine surprises and natural
wonders as in the GalIen'of the Gods.
We have spent the entire day hunting
up the various forms and figures rep
resenting animals and human beings,
chiseled out Of the solid rock by Ma
lures hand, and it requires patience
to do so, for to see these objects at
their best one must get in perfect posi-
tions. Kodaks and other camera fail
to take correct portraits of the figures,
as the light is not always good. have
therefore depended upon what little
skill have to draw tire Urtlines OF the
best of them. u
As we enter the garden by the Mani
tou road the first objects Of interest are
the Mushrooms. The stems of these
are of red sandstone, while the top is
white or sometimes dark gray. AT the
right side of the road upon flat rock
Is seen the picture of q deer's head.
The stone surrounding the head is a
darker red and the eye is of white
stone. The Washerwoman appears on
rock to the left and farther into the
the garden. She is washing clothes.
and has her skirts pinned up about
her and handkerchief or shawl about
her head. This stone, or collection of
stones, is probably twenty feet high.
Balanced Rock is tremendous mass
of sandstone weighing great many
n 10, sntI h.
rock was moved by the wind. 1t is
now supported by cement to avoid acci-
dent, as it is situated immediately ad-
joining the wagon road. Originally
not over a foot of the top rock touched
the pedestal upon which it stands.
Mr. Grupdy next looms up. Then
come Ben Butler, punch and judy"
the Dutchman, "Threc of Kind"
the Twin Walruses," and then draw
near the great gates at the other end
OF tho garden and the road to Colorado
Springs. The Lady of the Garden,
sometimes called Lots Wife, appears
at the right. 1t will be noticed upon
close inspection that she is dressed in
the style OF the sixteenth century and
wears bonnet which is very becoming.
She is very graceful, and photograph
fails to do her justice, because the var
lous shades of color in the rock ot
which she is composed add much to
her beauty. Pictured out in the huge
red rock that forms one Of the gates ut
this end of the garden is correct rep
resentation of lions head. Rosa
Bonheur's famous lion'- head is front
face. This is side face and sulcrge
that 1T can be seen nearly half mile
away. 1T Is over one hundred feet
high on the rock and measures prob
ably twenty feet from tip of nose TO
ears. 1t may be said that it is not un-
like Miss Bonheurs lion in expression
of cOuntcnance.
The Seal and the Bear are wonder
fuliy correct llkcnesses, and one might
almost fancy that they were hewn ont
of the rocks by a sculptor. But this
idea is soon dispclled by approaching
the figures, for they then seem shape-
less mass of ragged rocks. AS one
passes through the immense gates.
one of which is 327 feet high-about
the height Of the Auditorium tower
and looks back through the opening.
one sees upon the rocks the exact por-
trait OF iine-shapcd bulldogs head.
1t is impossible to distinguish the
slightest likeness should you go with
in 800 feet OF tt is rock, because the out
lines of the head are formed by
growth Of small pines on the rock.
When | saw this five years ago there
was collar round the dogs neck. This
was formed by q branch Of one of these
pines, but which is now broken off. On
the top of the highest red rock appear
the kissing Camels. One is of perfect
shape, but the other has lost his hump.
From outside this gate, and look
ing through the gate, fine view
is had of Pixies Peak, lIl75 feet
high. On the top Of the left-hand
gate, looking in, is perfect represen-
tation in stone OF stage coach and
horses, with two men on the front seat
and one standing on the rear seat.
one horse Is darker than the oCher.
This coach appears to be about two
feet long, but owing to the great alti-
tudc-ovcr three hundred fcet-it is
probably about the usual size of a stage
coach and team.
There are two female figures well
dressed and with rather fno faces ON
the outside rock, and at the end the
large red gateway, probably six hun
drcd feet to the right Of this entrance
appears Cleopatra's Mummy. This is
situated as If carved out of the rock.
The figure is twenty-five feet high and
is as solid as Cleo. was supposed to be
in life.
When we consider that Manitou was
formerly the place of worship of the
Ute and other tribes of Indians, these
peculiar rocks no doubt were intended
by nature to paralyzc" the bad In
dian into treating his squaw son the
square and "divvying up" the verli-
son and mountain goat, and to other
WlSe observe the ord papcpa nf %bo