The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1910-03-17

the Yosemite Valley, but none
is complete, nor will pen ever
express in adequate manner
the bearties, the charms, the
grandeur of so marvellous a place, of
which one might well say that it is a
terrestrial paradise.
The Yosemite Valley is situated in
the heart of the Sierra Nevadas, al
most in the middle of the state OF
California, and between the eastern
and western foothills of the noun
tains, the distance between them be-
ing a little more than 100 kilometers.
The word Yosemite is an English
corruption of the Indian expression
"Ajomitai' (Big Gray Bear), which,
It is supposed was the nickname of
an Indian chief, and is the name ap-
piled to tribe that lived in the re-
gion stretching eastward from the
valley to the plains. However, the
word was not the name which the
Indians gave the valley, for they called
1t "Awahni," which is equivalent to
the Spanish word canon"
Formerly the valley was inaccessi-
BILE for almost half the year, because
the SHOWS in that region fall with so
much abundance that they completely
obstruct passage over the highway.
At present a railway line goes to
Ell Portal, which is distant only some
twenty kilometers from the valley,
kxyo fa
coach over a magnificent highway con-
structed by the federal government,
under whose control is the valley.
Thus then have been eliminated the
obstacles which formerly made the
trip so disagreeable, and that beauti-
full point can be visited at any period
of the year. The railroad goes from
Merced to Ell Portal, the distance be-
tween the two points being IL kilo-
meters, more or less. 1t traverses
the picturesque valley of the Merced
river, and crosses 1t at various points.
On reaching the foothills of the noun
tains the railway follows the course
Of the river, which at times is at a
very great depth below the road and
at others almost on a level with it.
The line from Ell Portal to the Yose-
mite is travelled, as has already been
said, by means of a stage coach, and
is very comfortable as we'll as pic
turesque.
On the way to the valley, still at
some distance, there are presented to
the sight of the spectators huge rocks
and mountains of the most capricious
forms; one is like an elephant, farther
on another has the aspect of camel;
still another has the form of a castle;
and from all these stand out sharply
those called "El Captain" THE Sen
tinel," "The Cathedral Spires" and
The Three Brothers"
AS the road ascends the grandeur
and beauty of the landscape are en-
hanced; look whatever way one will
he sees foaming rivulets falling from
high rocks; old and mysterious pines
sigh tos the measure of the music of
the waters; here and there are seen
mountains. gigantic rocks and preci-
pices, the contemplation of which in
spires admiration mingled with awe.
While the mountains constitute the
element Of grandeur in the landscape,
the streams of water give it the touch
of beauty; nothing more picturesque
can be conceived than the torrent, the
pools, the falls of the Merced. In
some places it flows sweetly below
Ieafy trees, in others it rests in placid
pools, that it may precipitate itself
afterward with vertiginous rapidity
in cascades like mantles of foam and
drift of diamonds. At many points
enormous rocks obstruct the course
of the river, fragments of the tall
rocks that lie on either side of it;
surrounding them or leaping over
them, the water follows its indefatig-
able way.
There are no two sights alike; and
the journey is for the eyes of the
traveller a succession of delight after
delight, such is the variety of the
landscape.
Finally a presentiment tells the
traveller that he is near the valley. A
little later there presents itself to his
eye THE Bridal Veil," one of the
finest waterfalls of the valley; farther
on, at the right, stands out the rock