The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-04-20

depths. Much to our delight we were
assigned a tent in the front row, COM
handing the finest view of all, and on
our dressing table a thoughtful "sav-
age" whom we had met at Swan Lake
camp had placed lavish bouquet of
dog-tooth violets, the Yellowstone Park
species, quite different from the New
England product.
Lunch was a hurried affair, for "Bill"
was to entertain US in the afternoon with
personally conducted" trip to Artists
Point on the east side of the canyon, and
a climb down 'Uncle Toms Trail'' to
the foot of the Lower Falls, "if, as he
said, "you dare to try it," l fastened
to assure him that after Bright Angel,
Uncle Toms Trail would have no
terrors for me, but l did take the pre-
caution of putting on my heaviest walk
ing boots, which by the way were never
fit for wear again after that afternoons
tramp.
Our way led first past the Upper Falls,
and we stopped to enjoy the view from
the platform above them. The dancing
rainbows in the spray rising from the
foaming cataract made fascinating
picture, and one that we would have
gladly fingered to watch had not the
other side of the canyon doomed so invit-
ingly before US. The views both up and
down the river from the concrete bridge
were most attractive, but we FASTENED
On, leaving the road and following the
footpath along the east rim of the can
yon. The Upper Falls were far more
impressive from this side, and Will
climbed precariously down to an advan-
and | sat on a log and absorbed the
scenery as we waited for him to climb
precariously back again. Then we fol-
lowed the trail through the woods along
the canyon edge to where the Great
Falls dashed over their 800 foot preci-
pice, a quarter of a mile below. Just
beyond Shaw and Powells camp near
the rim of the canyon, forbiddine sign
Dangerous marked the beginning of
Uncle Toms Trail to the foot of the
falls. In years past set of stairs and
ladders aided the tourist to make the
descent, but these were destroyed by
! fire few years ago and never rebuilt,
so that the sole aids in the rather for
midable descent are ropes fastened at
the steepest portions of the trail to give
the climber support in swinging down
over the rocks.
/ All unnecessary impedimenta, such as
sweaters, etc, was left at the top, and
| "Bill' going first to test the strength of
the ropes, as we were presumably the
first party over the trail for the season,
and Will bringing up the rear, our ex-
petition started over the edge and down
to the river below. The descent was
not SO bad as Bills lurid tales had led us
to believe, and fifteen minutes later we
stood GREATNESS at the very foot of the
Great Falls, and so close that the rain
bow-tinted spray dashed in our faces as
the wind veered in our direction. A
deep and hard-packed snowdrift in a
sheltered spot made startling contrast
to the tiny "pencil" geyser close by,
where the boiling water squirted up at
the rivers edge. Here were rocks, hot
on top from the steam of the little gey-
sers, and cold on the bottom from lying
in the icy water of the river. The: view
of the Falls from below was we'll worth
the trouble it had been to secure it, and
the splendor Of the canyon. as we looked
through its gorgeous length, seemed like
that of lurid sunset, and would have
put one of Turner'S canvases to shame.
Above on the rim we. could! see little
groups of tourists looking at the Falls,
and we signaled each other with hand