The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-02-23
Former DakOtans Living
in "VaI|ey of the Moon

I hills and began the ascent to Rox.
Ann. Up, up, through the pine timber
we rode, breathing the piny, pungen
| odor Of the newly cut pine wood, pile'
| in neat rows along the roadside.
About noon, we reached the ent
of the wagon trail, where we tied ou
ponies and camped. and fried on
bacon and boiled our coffee over ;
| campfire. Late in the afternoon, w,
proceeded on foot, picking our wa!
over rocks and through brush unit
we reached the summit of the noun
tain. We stopped to rest near a grea
oak tree and amused ourselves read
ing the names carved thereon. Sud
denly my eles rested on a familiar
name and the address read Mime
apolis, Mimi" 1 could almost imagine
myself seated again in the Telephone
Exchange" calling Hello! Hello! Min.
neapolis!" for the name was that Of 9
Minneapolis business man for whom we
received numerous long distance calls
and whose Hello! I'm here Fargo,
came over the wires many times q
day. 1t made one feel that "the whole
world seemed kim"
Near the tree was a pile of large
rocks, upon which, We mounted. And
oh! what sight met our eyes! Way
off to the east. rose snow-clad Mt
McLoughlin-gold crowned from the
setting sun. Far to the south, lay snow
clad Mt. Ashland which one member
of the party in her enthusiasm likened
to the Switzerland of Italy. We did
have to stretch our imagination to
know that the Alps of Switzerland
was what she meant. And just be-
yond as though peeping over Mt. Ash
lands shoulder we caught a glimpse
Of snow-capped Californian, Mt.
Shasta. Standing out to plain view
was huge Pilot Rock-a gigantic rock
used as a guide-post by the pioneers
when travelling over the trails by foot,
stage, or OK teams in 40.
All around, below, lay the beautiful
peaceful Rogue river valley, with its
cities, neighboring villages. and here
and there-the homes of the ranchers
from whose chimneys, columns of
smoke assembled. reminding us of
LongRellow's 'Arcadian Land We
sighted the paved Pacific highway
winding throughout like a monster
white serpent; Rogue river, stretching
away like a great blue ribbon; Med
ford, the gateway to Crater lake-that
great scenic wonder. A lake lying in
the crater of an old volcano, whose
water are a deep indigo blue; it's
banks, rocky cliffs, and whose depth
mas hSNcE UCSH d6CGTJdlnG0.
And Ashland! The city Of homes
with its beautiful natural park: its
cool sparkling mineral springs; it's
canyon through which comes tumbling
Ashland creek receiving its waters
from the pure SHOWS of Mt. Ashland.
Ashland! Whose people remind us of
a great, happy family. A coast pass
enger went speeding along toward the
south. with its double-headed noun
tain climber putting wreaths of smoke,
ready for its long climb up and over
the Sislkiyous.
I'VE lifted our eyes to the western
ridge, behind which. the sun slowly
sank to rest. AID! The crimson and
pink and gold of that sun set-which
spread it's reflection over the azure
blue sky and cast shadows of lavender
purple, and rose-over the surround
ing mountains-which mingled with
the green Of the pines and the fir trees
made picture which truly no artist
save the master workman
paint.
From the compfires OF the woods
men, wells of hazy-blue smoke ascend
ed, draping the mountains in an even
ing robe Of deep deft-blue hue. It be-
gan to grow dusk. Here and there, a
light sprang up. until the whole valley
seemed aglow with the myriads OF
twinkling stars.
THE yi-i-i, yip-yip yi-i-i-r Of
coyotes rang out on the still evening
air, but as they scented their human
foe-for a. coyote fears man as a cat
fears dog-they lost no time In
widening the distance between US -
and their cries grew fainter and faint
er.
"As we prepared to descend, the
stars shone forth in the sky. and q