Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-04-02
THE WONDERS OF NATURE.
General Rogers Writes TO His Granddaughter Of
His experiences and Observations.

| stood on the mountains by little
tarn at tine source of the James river,
Virginia. and looked far out over mount
aims. hills. valleys, forests and openings.
Dow ng the winding valley of that
river m my stand point at the head,
! itw wonderful sweep of vision,
pane ,. that charmed me- was in
Pr . n. sheltered bv snow shed
neat z iarant Gap on the Sierra in one
of 4 ID Id storms that defied engineers
and = ENGINES. The storm swept
pas e ously. the pine trees soughed
MOI 5 Illv, end not till thirty hours
cou 3 cyclone snow plow clear the
wa = We were impressed with awful
mes . be elements as we never bad been
bef : We now fullv realized what
we 10 saen at n distance. the storm
center nr a mountain cvclone An open-
ing was ,y,ada where the train rushed
through Emigrant Gan rounded Cape
Horn. and down we strobe where the
snow flakes Were large. where the rain
descended arourd sharp curves. out in
the sunshine below the gale down into
the peaceful valley where all was love
illness freshness and greeness sweet
ness of green meadowe hlossoming fruit
trees and an atmosphere fragrant with
natures undistilled perfumes. And all
this in fe-r minutes I stood on the
Cordilleras mountains below the tropic
of cancer and looking out / saw the
Valley Of Mexico, with its cities, hamlets
and lakes For ont to the south Popocat-
anetl and the "White Woman" mount
aims, all covered with snow. 1t was
scene 'ong to be remembered. Again |
| stood near the top of Orezaho, and look
ing towards the east over the Tisrra
Calienta n view OF the tropic ITS rich
ness in vegetation, foliage and fruits,
over the little towns that had stood the
ravages OF revolutions, invading armies.
| pestilence and famine for nearly four
centuries over y country whore frost
never hlights fruits ever ripening, flow
ers ALWAYS in bloom where the beggar
holds ont hand for aims where wealth
} is in an abundance. Once more | WAS
profoundly impressed by the sights be-
fore me-
But the climax Of all was the scene
of sunrise and sunset on Mt Lowe A
few davs ago took the electric 70 Alta
dena. changed for Rubio canvon = ride
around curves and finally reached the
end of that line in Ruhio canyon We
were In great wedge of the mountaipa
where we changed t0 a cable that liftta
us nesriv perpendicularly to Echo
mountain We halted short time inst
to glance at the glory Of the scene, then
an electric car started for the top. The
motorman turned his crank and we
dashed uu steep grade around a sharp
curve. over deep canyon, another bold
point rounded, another awful CANYON.
and we were far m and over the track
we had passed; another rocky point,
again over a canyon dark and weird,
and on went the car MP steep grades, MP.
up, around, over and again above the
curves ana points below We rounded
point on the great circular bridge.
| looked out on the panorama below. upon
| the mighty peaks above, the eexpsnseless
| heavens were there. the earth below and
| | whlrling high up on the rocks. carried
by connection with wire Tthought:
| will the electric current flow, will the
brake hold. will the wheels stand all the
curves will I get down into the orchards
of oranges without mishap2 We round
ed into depression, into forest of pines
and live oak, and near the top gently
| glided into the station at I'VE Alpine
Larem. In the late afternoon with
small party went to Inspiration Point
| ibl biC VIZ" anu NuuhGh. EAT OOWn WAS
4 Echo station. hidden far down Rubio.
ont in the sunset was Pasadena. San
| Gabriel with all its memories Of the
past. beyond Los Angeles, Stillbey and
the ocean-and o. what panorama,
| what a scene before me- The earth was
rolling away from the scene, the west
eTn horizon was aglow with the golden
hines. the little riffs of clouds were gold-
en-, the scene disappeared in glory of
gold; the orchards too had caught the
hue and We're ripening golden harvest.
fingered till the darkness, then saw
the electric lights sparkling in thousand
nlaces below; the blue dome above bril-
liant with stars The greaS search light
near the observatory, sending IFS flashes
over the country below-was impressive
indeed. Returning to Ye Alpine rest
ed with an order for an early call to see
the sunrise.
With small party. on mules and
with guide we iournied by a zig-zag to
the highest points, the flagstaff, in time
90 see the earth roll down toward the
sun The morning lights came brighter
up from the Mohara, still brighter over
! the mountain top and the glory Of a sun
rise on the sierra was before me. More
glorious than the darkness the night be-
fore came this morning dawn-and an
inspiration greater than the hidden city
OF Herculaneum, the battered coloses Of
the Cesars, the Appenine, Alps, Ards or
Orizoba. The guide said: 'rYonder peaks
OF Nevada, to the right Utah, wonder
New Mexico there the peaks of Arizona.
here before Won the grandest panorama
of California" Mountains. CANYONS
deep and dark, peaks Of snow, valleys
| rich in the harvest of ripening fruits,
cities, and seel--yonder the ocean-old
ocean with the commerce of a mighty
nation moving westward-going to every
part of the world, with its products,
army and munitions to civilize and teach
the gospel Ireturned TO the earl be-
low nervous with the grandeur, suDnm-
| tty and awfulness Of the twenty four
7ours, the like never before witnessed
Wedding GIFTS for Bridegrooms.
No reason why the bride alone should
be co nsidered. We show carving sets
with silver plate handles, stag horn han.
dies and sterling handles with knives
that will cut, steels that viii sharpen
and forks that will hold a joint They
sweeten the temper and prOlong the
life Of the groom. Remember him. toe,
wheI buying wedding gifts, and don't
Forget us. JOS BOEHRER, Jeweler.
DIVISION NECESsrTATES SETTLEMENT.