The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-09-24
PEN PICTURES
OF THE FAR WEST
Same Graphic Description Of Scene.
and Incidents.
BEAUTIFUL BUFFALO PARK,
Nature Has Been Very Kind To That
Place and Vicinity-Ihe Trials OF
Narrow Roadways-A Monu-
ment to a Real Hero.
BEAUTIFUL BUFFALO PARK,

slghtloss plains OF Colorado to nor noun
tsins. ''rock ribbed and ancient as the
SUM-" IS a transmisration filed with op-
portunity for reflection. Tho powerful,
imposing contrast between the two and
yet 80 near to each other, bespeats in
mute eloquence the limitess possibility
OF nature Less than TWO hundred miles
southeast OF this point you can traverse
the prairie for days. yet see only a dim
mountain peak in one or two directions,
while rivers are as springs IN the desert
Though beautiful lakes which shine Ia
mockery nigh, they never are, but always
20 be reached.
Here IN the mountains where II Would
seem water Is not so necessa-t for there
ara no farms or cattle, streams are album
dant. Besides the Platte river, which Is
the base OF the wonderful Platte canyon
through which the famous Colorado and
Southern railway runs from Denver 10
Letdville. the great mining city, there are
many smaller streams flowing hither and
thfther. notably the beautiful Builalp
Creek. on which is situated this city N
cottages called Buffalo Park. Tie powers
that be here would do well 10 hold q
caucus and get together Oh an appela-
ton. The name OF the p0stollce is Buffalo
Creek. the railroad station Us plain Iut-
faio. while tho city is Buffalo Park. The
Western Union operator says lie doesn {
know What the Western Union calls II,
but he will look IL up for me some sun
day as the fishing is poor.
The mountains here are covered with
pine trees. some Of which are dwarfed,
owing 70 the lack of free soil. rocks being
imbedded everywhere, but AN are beaud-
ful to look upon because they are green,
the one rare color I'm this rid region,
that Is. green is rare among vegetable
life. Unlike other parks. the one al Buff
falo is not carpeted with green, but with
grown pine leaves, with which nature
covers up the decomposed granite which
forms tho soil around and between me
giant rocks Of the Rockies.
a TALISMANlC TOUCH.
The one exception TO the absence OF
green lawns and flowers is the cottage
here Of Mr.. A. T.. Thorne, OF Denver,
which is an elysian or beauty and arts
tic arrangement. He works Ike an Eng
lsh country gentleman and his touch rs
talismdnlc. He has d0n more than him
who makes two blades of grass grow
where only one grew before, for he has
taught grass and flower and vine 10
flourish whore It was unknown 90 grow
anu Mltlt inc bri4HA NA'FdAAHA AAhk 81
would not five. What DE has accom-
plished would put TO blush those who live
where there is abundant water and Ia
vorable seasons. But for this cottage The
name Buffalo Park would De a s0ubrique,.
the joint fancy Of buGaloes and Indians,
both Of which are but memories and
furnish exclusive topics for the oldest
inhabitant"
l have found a native C|oioradian Al
last. He is a rara avis. IL seems that
his parents got lost iu the mountain fast
ness while j0urneylng across 10 California,
and he vas actually born here. By some
strange inadvertcnce ne has remained
here ever since. Ills bosom heayed con-
vulsiveiy with pride when Dee announced
in an accent which was drowned in roll
ing RS that he was "bOI-r-ru ln COlcr-r-
r-rdy.' and that he hadn't ought 10
BEEN but for the accident 7 have re-
lated. He doesn't claim 20 know any
thing except all about these mountains
ard the fullness thereof and politics. be
claims TO know an about these two sub.
jects. especially the latter, and part'cu-
larly the financial issues involved some.
whore. somehow, in the mulufari0us laba
rynth II its meshes. which as lie talked
and looked al ma through his eyebrows.
grew denser and denser until the Niger
in The WoOdpile appeared. If was Bryan
and free silver. He was cur en- he
said. when he reached the climax OF DIS
tangled skeiu OF argument, "aint you?'
No answer.
The oracle OF the Rockies proceeded 90
quickly with his screcd OF words that my
failure 20 answer was not noticed by the
~by-standers. General Early had taught
me that silence was golden and speech
s%ilvern,' and never before did I realize
the great T. pa OF the maxim So forcibly
for was told that IL meant dire disaster
TO differ with the L0g of the Platte.
This is characteristic OF hts prophet. So
thought he was "a faithful follower. aud
as his argument served % entrench me
all the stronger In my faith, I enjoyed IT,.
HOW THE MOUNTAINS ARE NAMED.
All Of the tallest mountains hereabout
are named for the being or object whose
likeness. either real or imaginary. they
bear. Erosion has left some of them win
huge rocks piled high and SO h.ted
and shaped as 70 suggest pulley and der
rick. Some OF the natives declare they
were the l~attlements or f0rtressos 0r a
prehistoric race. and indeed many Of them
look Ike SUBMITS "old TN story" Here
are outlines Of castles and cathedrals.
giants and lions, elephants and tigers,
c%rouching TO spring. one tain peak pre-
sents the sentient bishop iu surpiice. with
a book in the left hand, turning 10 ape
proach a cathedral near by. They are
wonderful decorations Of The great tomb
Of man. and some are so perfect as 90 in
spire awe ana reverence.
Tn the mountains an electrical storm Is
a most impressive scene and IF they come
at night the lightning strikes on the
peaks In many places leaving fires burn
ing the dead timber. resembling q great
bivouac suddenly deserted.
Oftentimes the sunsets I'm this raridod
atmosphere are gorgeous. 7 have seen
almost the entire horizon a flaming red.
" bile tho drifting crowds OF clouds hold
ing a perfect panorama OF shapes and
colOrs looked sometimes like a burning
city BY moonlight. then presenting the APP
pearance OF the ruins of great fOrtresaes
and walls broken and shattered and =.
here are more beautiful by FAR than IN the
low attitudes. Here you get the silvery
moon indeed and the stars OF the first
magnitude, too, seem bigger and nearer.
Nature and her children are at their best
ia the arid region and when you SIT in
the moons rays ana watch the stars as
keep their laughing vigil. you re-
gre, IS tho time me when Tor DRAWINGS
sake you must withdraw and retire. The
early mornings. too. 1 am told. are quite |
as well as cxhiliarating when
dew f. on the sage but / have i'm
plicit faith in the yeracity OF those who
tell me so.
There Is one disadvantage here which
IS the result OF natures stingiless with
evel land over which people may travel
With teams. The base OF the Platte Can
IN a. talon 81. .rffr.Nr nrffh fNa DHasFA 4