The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-08-25


be delayed until we could reach the
canyon, on account of this rough
ness. But for this there would have
been stampede for the edge of the
great gorge. The porters, however,
were conscientious enough and did
their duty by the meal, poning en-
joyment until they reached O'Neills
Point by hack, a distance of about
two and q half miles from the hotel.
THE HOTEL IN GENERAL
Occupying a site 1000 feet above
sea-level, close to the rim of the
Grand Canyon, at the railway
terminus and not far from the head
of Bright Angel trail, El Tovar
commands prospect without paral-
lei in the world.
The hotel is from three to four
stories high. 1t contains more than
a hundred bedrooms. The main
building and entrance face the east.
| Ample accommodations are pro-
vided for $50 guests. More can be
comfortably houscd~in the annex at
Bright Angel Camp.
| Outside are wide porches and
roof gardens. Boulders and logs
for the walls and shakes for the
roof, stained a weathcr-beatcn color,
merge into the gray-green of the
surroundings.
The inside finish is mainly peeled
slabs, wood in the rough, and tinted
plaster, intcrspcrscd with huge
wooden beams. Triple easement
, windows and generous fircplaccs
abound. Indian curios and tro-
phics of the chase are literally used
in the decorations. The furniture
is of special pattern.
FL Tovar is more than hotel; it
I is village devoted to the entertain
ment of travellers. Far from the
accustomed home of luxury, money
has here summoned the bencficcnt
gcnii who minister to our bodily
comfort. Merely that you may
have pure water to drink, it is
brought from mountain spring
120 miles away And that is only
one of the many provisions for un-
questioned excellence of shelter and
food.
The hotel is conducted on the
American plan. There are twenty
rooms at $3.50 a day; about forty
rooms at 81 90 day; the remand
cr arc 81. so day and upwards.
The hotel itself is right on the
brink, but from this point the river
cannot be seen. The best view of
the canyon within easy reach of the
railroad is Rowc's Point, to which
some of the party walked before
breakfast OH Sunday morning. The
shortness of-the stay made a trip
down into the canyon impracticablc.
This was serious disappointment
and great regret to many of us, but
the schedule having been arranged
long before, it could not be helped.
TO attempt a description of this
mighty phenomenon of nature would
be impcrtinence in one whose brain
was too stupeficd by the grandeur
OF the thing to even comprehend it
for himself. l might say this,
however, that no picture can pos
sibly portray this chasm, nor can
any painting reproduce the match
less mingling of colors that succeed
each other, reds and ycllows,
pinks and greys and green's of all
,. shades and tints with misty blue
over the whole. Headlands and
peninsulars run on in to the chasm,
bays and inlets run into the land.
Jagged peaks and spires mount up
from the vast floor of the canyon;
castellated turrets suggest fortifica-
tions which need no defenders, and
, amphithcatres abound, wherein
could sit by thousands of awe struck
spectators of this glorious spectacle,
were they only accessible.
But the enOrmousness of this
scene bids my pen hasten on to
more trivial places and leave behind
the work of an omnipotent Creator
who so directed the waters of what
looks like little yellow stream, as
! ~eraate the sublimest scene which
human eye can witness.
Back to Williams we came in the
bright and bracing air Of Sabbath
upon the Arizona plateau, and in
the rocking, lurching car, with no
ringing of church bells nor solemn
peal of organ, worship was offered
to Him, the work of whose mighty
hands had just ovcrawed us.
Mr.. VIM. Allen White in Sep
tembcr number McLure's magazine
says:
/ II cnnnnf ln thnt tho fan..a4:..