The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-03-03
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BY WILLIAM WALLACE. JR.

b1 W LILLIAN WALLACE, Jh.
 George Franklyn had gone to visit his uncle and aunt. who lived in Southern California, not far from the great desert in whose very heart was spreading the Salton Sea.
 When George left hls home, In one of the Eastern states, the temperature there was below zero. It was In the month of February, and a heavy snow lay all over the ground. George was dressed for that sort of weather, and when he arrived at El Paso, Tex, en route to Southern California; he was obliged to put his oyercoat out of sight. its very presence almost suffocating him. The next morn- ing. on rising from his berth. he dis pensed with some of his heavier gar ments when dressing, for he had now come Into n salubrious climate where the Northerner sometimes finds even Febru- ary too warm for comfort.
 But George did not feel uncomfortable yet. The first suggestion of too much heat for comfort in winter clothing was at Yuma, Ariz., that interesting town that lies below sea level, and whose houses have double roofs to protect the inhabitants from the tropical sun which comes down so fercely during nine months of the year. There he found a June day in winter, bright sun and soft warm sands stretching all around. At Yuma the train crossed the Colorado River, that uncomfortable stream which has broken through its banks and is fill. Ing up the great Salten Desert basin. making of 1t a sea.
 George left the train at Yuma and walked about the station, buying a string of beads from q Yuma Indian squaw, who, with number of her tribe, was squatted on a blanket in front of the railway station offering her wares for sale.
 In 10 minutes George was again on the train going westward through the Yuma Desert. As they sped along through sand and sand George became deeply impressed with the mystery and silence of the des- ert, and longed to go about in 1t. In the distance, both to the right and the left, were dim mountains, al times almost lost in the purple haze that denoted great distance. On top these mountains gleamed snow In the tropical sunshine, a problem George could not solve. Why" he asked himself If the mountain tops are nearer to the burning sun than are the valleys, do they keep so cold?" But the question remained unanswered.
 As they pushed on into the desert the heat became much greater It made George think of an August day during a drouth in his own state. Then he fell to thinking how 1t was that very moment at his home Doubtless n blizzard was in progress, snow blowing and piling everywhere in great drifts. while here was he. less than 2,000 miles from home riding under tropical sun through great wastes of sand and endless sand.
 It was evening when George reached the little town whore his uncle met him at the station. But his journey was not yet ended. He stayed with his uncle at a hotel that night, and early In the morning they set out for a 10-mile drive over dry, sandy roads. His uncle had q fruit ranch right on the edge of n des- ert, his orchards being fed by means of irrigation.
 During the pleasant ride George ex- pressed his ish to go Into the desert to make some geological study. He was deeply interested in that science and wished very much to take advantage of this visit 10 the West to further his knowledge.
 '1ll tell you what you may do," said his uncle, who was fond of his bright young nephew. You may take a mule tomorrow and ride over beyond that low range of mountains. It's a good day s journey to go and return. You'll have to start before breakfast and eat snack