The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-20
Ny First
Impressions
of Seattle,

nAOU wonder. do you, at a fellow like
~ me having Impressions? And You
want to know who l am and what
n have done, before you will slve me
- your attention? Well! l am only
poor journalist, and learned language set
ting type on a six-column folio country
weekly, printed on a Washington hand
press. used to set up. make up aui
run off and DO everything on the paper,
except ink the forms, fold the papers ari
address them That was done by tie devil
had often read about Washington and
gained the impression that Ii was some
place near Seattle. but further than that
knew little more about the state. l
used to ponder much over some of the
speeches of her congressman, but NEVER
gained any clinging ideas.
With many misgivings, I, af.cr much
debate with myself, concluded to walk cut
to Seattle and see for myself l caught
train some where in Montana, after rlucl
effort and. one morning, while the night
shades were fast disappearing before the
charge OF the oncoming sunbeans, / be-
held Washington.
Washington, How my heart thrilled, as
I thought Of the father of his country
was surrounded with snow-cappei peaks
and rugged mountains. The sun vas east
ing great long streaks of golden, brilliant
sunshine to the west. The eye was CHARM
ed with the living. growing halo o. glory
beaming upon it Although dusty and airy.
weary and hungry, stiff and crampod by
my circumstances. yet l forgot my imInc-
date surroundings and my personal cordi-
ton in the glories of the gorgeous scene
of beauty and magnhcence which / ne
held, filed with expectation and thought,
"The golden shores OF life's success soon
will reach!'
Morn broadened into day and on We rode
into wide and level plain of fertile val
leys until we reached the great and grow
ing city Of Spokane. | thought that ! WAS
at nv journeys end and with much Peas
ure viewed the magnificent and pctur-
esdue Spokane Falls. Tumbling. rushing on,
the great volume of water spasaes ana
da shes over rocks and through space into
the depths Of the river rapids beneath. In
the spray white. clear, pure. misty sprey.
the colors OF the rainbow were described
and ticked the vision with the beauty o:
their sharply defined radiance. The cease
less roar emphasized the power. the m Ties
tv and the great force which mature ''tS
here put into active operation through
those silent. subtle methods none OF hs
can now explain. Zip! goes a street car.
as we jerk and start onward to the Coast.
The Spokane river can now be seen lazily
flowing along at the bottom Of its canyon
ton after ripping. lungtng and piungins
around like It did in coming over the falls
a few moments before.
T grew quite tired of looking out across
wide vast areas OF unoccupied lands AMI.
before knew IL. fell asleep. Gang
ayoke as the train jammed together snd
stopped.
The night was on. with n most brilliant
moonlight making all objects as plainly
d,scernible as in day. On every side were
shadows of great mountains. Tall green
trees-the largest ever saw-grimly stood
out upon the mountain sides. II have
boarded the wrong train thought, and
am back where we were this morning.
But no. We were just starting down the
western slope OF the Cascade mountains.
Peaks hid beneath the depths OF ever
lasting SHOWS were all around us. Tho
breezes from those icy piles chilled the air
and tinged the summer night winds with
winters freezing breath Yet trees and
shrubs clothed rock and dirt, as far as eye
could see in great long stretch OF valley
covering the bare earth's form with the
dark. rich color or Verdant, perpetual
green.
Gushing, splashng rivulets in countless
numbers flung themselves from precipitous
heights, and, rollicking with laughter and
foaming in excitement, tore on and down
TO the valleys beneath. When mornings
sun came out upon the scene IL setuieu as
If q view of paradise was laid before the
eyes.
Not many hours from dawn we found
view Of mountains further on, and in be-
tween a thin, long stretch Of shining sea-
when was told that | beheld the Olym-
! MICS Pen cannot tell nor words express
the thoughts which inspired to action the
emotions of my inner self as I looked out
upon that grand and glorious view. An
| eunfre seemed to stretch away, bounded
! by the high barriers of eternal hills. await
| ing for possession. Silver-tipped were
peaks which pierced the clouds and stood
| proudly out In the blue above. Threadlike