The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-03-03
What a man I should be,
And what sights 1 should see

And what sights 1 should see
Did I have but
Ten thousand a yeari"
sind the Master" as he carefully look
ed through the various railroad folders
and planned and changed and PLANNED
again for our winter outing.
The days were growing short still we
were no nearer to a decision, until
finally, l felt it necessary to remind the
Master" that one of the distinguishing
differences between Father Time and
Chinaman was the place where the
hair is worn; and urged that we start
before the season for our pleasuring had
passed.
During the summer Just over we had
learned to ride the bicycle and had found
much pleasure in our many visits to the
lakes near our home. A strong desire to
see more of the world from the saddles
OF our silent steeds decided fer US, final
", the location in which to pass part
Of our seasons outing
AnXieties followed concerning the safe
transportation of our cherished wheels.
which were not entirely dissipated when,
as we were seated in the Pullman, we
saw them being taken to the baggage
car, and observed an awkward, heavy
fellow attempt to mount my safety
at the risk of his neck and limbs A
fall, and a shout from the station mas
ter, What are you doing. riding that
"heel?' brought the man to his feet;
and also the answer: I'm not riding it,
I cont know how"
This had been quite evident to all on
lockers, and the acknowledgment in the
year 1850, was not so Notifying as
similar one would be in this year OF
grace.
Visions of punctured tires and missing
ed mo hlf
crossed all Of my bridges before reach
ms them" and when we arrived at our
first stOnning place ! discovered to my
intense delight that all was WE'LL
Fearing the effects Of the mountain air
upon our nerves and breathing apparatus
we had taken the precautiOn Of changing
our gear, knowing that we should all
the more enjoy the new sights and scenes
to pass them slowly. Our fears left
us after our first ride in Colorado
Springs, where we were on more con-
scious Of rariied air than we had been
on the Mississippi river. Up and down
the beautiful broad streets we passed,
enjoying each one more than the one be-
fore, until satisfied that there was per-
feet safety in attempting something more
ambitious than town riding
After deciding to. start. directly after
breakfast the next morning for a ride
on our wheels through the Garden OF
the GODS" We left a call for an early
hour and betook US to our beds. In
Colorado, as at home, it is much easier
TO plan for early rising than it is to
carry that plan into execution, and when
the rap came upon our door while dark
ness was over the land, we felt much
like the man who had gone to the Alps
10 see a special sun effect which was
visible only under very unusual condi-
Sions, and who decided that, rather than
1cse his morning nap, he would come
again next year"
However, after a great effort I Sprang
from the bed and threw up the shade
OF the window, just in time for one Of
the most wonderful pictures 1 have
ever seen.
'Oh, do come quickly" I cried. The
master" fastened and we gazed in
silence at the bare summit of Pixies
peak, glowing in the brilliant sunlight
while everything below was still envel-
oped in shadow and darkness That MIC
ture alone was worth a journey to seeI
1t gave US greater zest for the wonders
we We're to see during the day, and by
the time. the sunlight had reached the
valley we were ready for our breakfast
We soon started from the Antlers and
1efSurely rode alongside the track of the
electric line to Manitou, where we drank
at the soda spring, then turned and soon
entered the Garden Of the Gods at a
point near the strange formation called
The Turtle" The firm roadbed of the
bright red roadway through the Gar
den" free from dust, because Of bit Of
snow fallen the day before, was in
perfect condition for our wheels The
altitude, combined with desire for in
TeStgating excursions persuaded us to
stop frequently
Over our heads wheeled large birds.
but flying near to us was, frequently,
one beautiful Colorado blue jay. who is
so like and yet SO different from his
brother in the Mississippi valley, with
his black coronet and markings, where
our birds have white His saucy call Is
the same as the one with which we are
so familiar
The privilege of really seeing each of
the many curious shapes was ours to en-
JOY without stint. The Garden was
ours for that day. There was no driver
to touch up his horses just as we were
most intent in finding new likeness in
one Of the fantastic creations. Our
steeds did not become restless The sun
was shining brightly most of the time,
hut occasional clouds warned US that at
times the garden could be cold and
dreary.
A few burros, kept by photographer,
whose shanty burst upon our view Just
as we were leaving the Balanced Rock.
seemed to acquire new interest in this
lonely place, where the grandeur is 50
overwhelming that none but the gods
could be comfortable to be in it eternafIy.
The mushroom park attained new at
fractions when we could ride around
and between the strange shapes, the fan
tastic masses Of red stone that for ages
had been slowly corroded into the forms
before US.
As with man, the chiseling away of
dross leaves the beauty of the character
plainly outlined.
Frequent breathing spells gave abund-
ant opportunity to enjoy the wonderful
cyclorama. While we rested near the
Balanced Rock we saw what to our
uninstructed eyes appeared curious cloud
forms over Pixies Peak! But soon even
We knew that it was a snow storm in the
heights. Every turn in the road pre-
sented something Of new interest: until
the capacity to appreciate seemed blunt
ed by the grandeur. We bowed before
the Statue Of Liberty" felt like wor-
Shipping near the Cathedral spire," en-
5oyed searching out the resemblance of
the Dolphin" Lion" Griffin" and
%Bear and Seal" to their prototypes.
We wondered If ever "Camels'' in the
flesh kiss
The exhilaration Of the ride, with its