The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-07-21

set in fixes the thawing snow in all kinds OF
fantastic designs Some of these thousands
OF designs look like nothing at all. but 9TH
ers assume shapes which are absolutely per-
feet in outline and formation. The curious
part Of it is that year after year many OF
| these figures appear in precisely the same
spot and in the same proportions The Tor
nation Of the mountains over which the
thawing snow flows is accountable Tor this
oddity.
LAST MANY WEEKS.
The place from which to view these pic
lures is the town Of Innsbruck, and from
every street and public place in the little
city many of these figures can be seen for
weeks at a time. Then when the first hot
wind blows up the mountain peaks the pic
lures melt away and are seen no more
until another year has gone by.
On the highest peak Of what is known els
the Arzler Mountain appears the heroic
figure Of a falcOner attired in the large
sleeves and hat of the Middle Ages. While
the fslconer is one of the most durable
of the snow pictures, that of the angel which
appears just beneath it on the mountain side
melts away more quickly than any OF the
Others But when seen Immediately upon
it's formation it is the most perfect Of all
When at its best the angel seems to be
separated from the mountain and appears
with it's spreading wings and extended arms
to be blessing the earth.
The herald with a long trumpet in his
hand. looks magnificent in what seems to be
a feather bedecked hat and a costume Of
glistening silver. The figure of the hunter
and the dog can be seen from great dis
lance, as it is the most colossal of them all.
Its great size is brought out clearly by
small hut located quarter way up the noun
tain. This hut seems not larger than the
head of a pin, while the figure looms up with
gigantic proportions.
1t is located on the northeast cliff OF the
Patscherkopel, ard is surprisingly sharp in
outline. The figure shows the kneeling
hunter. with his pipe in his mouth. his
knapsack slung over his back and holding
his eager dog. This is one Of the latest Of
the pictures appearing each year after many
Of the others have melted away.
A CARICATURE.
The wafer carrier would. in an American
city. be Immediately dubbed the 'growler
rusher.' When this figure begins to melt
the legs increase in length until they run
down the whole length Of the mountain
side. Then they disappear, next the body
melts away and later the head fades out OF
sight until finally only the old hat remains
as a reminder of what once was there.
Another curious thing about this figure is
that after it has completely disappeared
the picture of a dwarf appears in its place
In the Austrian dialect of the Tyrol this
dwarf is called the ''mandl,' meaning little
man.
The priest. attired in all the glory of his
vestments, who seems to be sprinkling the
earth with holy water, appears on the
Solstein mountain. Near this figure is that
of the witch, whose flowing robes, out
stretched arms and clawltke hands NIL the
little children of the district with dismay.
The knitting woman appears on the SHIN
mering SIDE OF Serials. the prettiest noun
tain of the group. The first thing to melt
away is the stocking, which becomes shorter
instead Of longer, and it seems as if the
old lady were actually at work.
From Voels. a point on the Arl mountain
hundreds of smaller snow pictures
can be seen representing everything Of an
earthly and unearthly character, animals.
household articles, devils, serpents, birds.
ships, buildings and an endless variety of
things. NELSON SANDERSON.