The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1911-05-25

l''#si'c We fordcd rushing 'umbluE noun
tam streams, looking like cascades OF silver.
rhd We red" through silent Indian villages.
where the inhabitants were sleeping IN from,
Of their stIaup. little bamboo huts The only
sound To brock Tie silence was the paiutiyc
call Of the whIppoorvln.
We reached the village OF San Lucas. on tho
borders Of the lake, and there ~ found in
readiness tho N'tIo steamer which was to
take Us across 10 the hotel on The opposite
shore, trip Of an hour and a half.
Words are inadequate 10 portray the scene
which was before us. The great cNpause o.
water lay like molten silver In the moonlight,
tho mountains. solemn and awciusprinE.
standing in sorriod ranks Ike giant scntinels
TO guard this treasure soft, pearly mist
hung over all, but not so dense as to hide
IN" perfect outline Of tho three great volca-
noes the two Autlaus and san Pedro These
stupondous giants rise to the height OF nearly
1900 feet and fan in one uubrokcn sweep to
the waters edge
In this peaceful spot the days slip by un.
needed The world and its busy life beyond
the towering mountains is forgotten and we
drift ont upon sea OF romance and poetry
There are many delightful excursions to be
made IN the vicinity, eleven quaint Indian VII.
lagos, named after the apostles, dotting the
shores. considerable commerce is carried on
between these towns by means Of canoes and
the steam launch makes the round OF the lake
regularly twice n week The town OF Atltlan
is very pcuresquely situated on bay run.
ming inland between the two yolcanocs-Sau
Pedro and Atitlan Not far away snuggcd
close to the waters edge at the foot Of Att.
Ian. is the "Ccrro del Oro"-Mountain OF Gold
where great treasure is believed by the
natives to lie buried, and the ruins Of an old
fort can be vaguely dlsccrnod
Two thousand feet above the lake is tho
large town OF Solola capital of the province
of the same name and a center Of commerce
Here is obtained n fine view OF the surround. /
ing country, but by far the most beautiful is /
that from the height OF Godines We find our.
selves at an altitude OF 5000 feet and the
whole world appears TO lie before us II is
true we have not the snow peaks Of Switzer.
land, but instead Is the unusual spectacle OF
range after range Of mountains on all sides
dominated by the majestic heads Of great vol.
canoes, seven In ALL magnificent in their
imposing grandeur and jealousy guarding the
beautiful lake. which, like great sapphire.
lies 5000 feet below.
The hlmy veil OF mist which is characterize
tic Of this region during the greater part OF
the year occasionally melts away, and as we
stood on this spot. spoechless before tho won
der OF this panorama II seemed for our ben
GU "'""' !" nave cTept silently away In the
night, and earth and sky and water were per.
fectly revealed outlying each other I'm deepest
tones of blue.
But even We gazed soft clouds formed in
the valleys below and crept stealthily IN.
writing and twisting like great white snakes.
until once more they had encircled the noun.
.ains Ike giant serpents whose power even
he great hills could not withstand
Nature seemed to say that We had looked
already too long upon her secret treasures.
md softly but swiftly she again drew around
hem the Eau2y mantle In which, cxccpt at
are intervals. she keeps them wrapped.