The Pulaskian., 1920-01-23
ZEIzz2kE 1AHe Szzy

wN THESE days of advanced travel
 it seems strange to record the dis
 covery of a gorge crowded with
 natural wonders within a few hours motor ride of busy city, says London Graphic. Yet such is the story of Red Rock canyon, in southern Cali fornia, an enchanted spot, so rich in it's unique beauty, and of such scien- tific import that the president of the United States is asked by some of the leading men and organizations of the Pacific coast to set it apart as a national monument. This romantic, rainbow-hued gorge contains a wealth of amazing structures reared and carved and even painted by the ele- ments and yet comparable only to the classics of ancient and modern archi- lecture Its fossil beds, practically un- touched, give promise of paleontolog- teal treasure, and recent finds in it's caves interest ethnologists.
 The canyon is gash in the south ern end of the Sierra Nevada noun tains. It's mouth opens upon the northwestern edge of the Mojave des- ert. It is 126 miles from Los Angeles. For nearly a century the prosaic pio7 neers who passed that remote way paid no heed to its vivid charm. It was the decision to extend the state high way from Los Angeles to Bishop that led to the discovery of the beauties 0f tb;e bo turned and reported the existence of strange and wonderful rock formations no one knew of their presence. This is all the more remarkable when we remember the Americans love of travel, and that these are the days of railways and motorcars. Shortly now the canyon with it's many won- ders will be on the main trail of civ ilization, and tens of thousands of tourists and others will soon admire it with rapture and astonishment. The new roadway approaches to within 50 feet of the scenic marvels which the government is petitioned to protect and preserve.
 Miracles of Form and Color.
 That section of the canyon which contains the inspiring works embraces a little more than four square miles. is several miles removed from the desert, and lies at an altitude of 5000 feet. On approach from either direction a turn brings the walled-in miracles of form and color suddenly into view-an entrancing picture; pillars and col umns, plain and fluted and chased i; pilasters and eolonnades, tiny and ti- tanic, tier upon tier, mile after mile, far skyward arcades, balustrades, cor ridors temples, castles, cathedrals, towers, domes, spires, sphinxes, gar goyles--all perfectly nodded and ex- quisitely adorned by the lord of crea- tion.
 Moreover, they are untouched and unmarred as yet by the blundering vandal hand of man; a buried city, an acropOIis, and scores of other fan cies become realities. On an eminence at the canyons head stands the Tenn pie of the Sun, an impressive gray pile 125 feet high, approached through series of terraced entranceways, with partially crumbed walls forming an elliptical inclosure approximately 150 feet in diameter-an ideal amphi- theater Those who look upon this temple find it difficult to believe that it is not human handiwork Near by, dominating the mystic region, rises the massive Sentinel Tower, imposing rather than beautiful. It is apparent ly harder and more substantial than its neighbor. Biologists say it has held its commanding bulk aloft for thousands of centuries. The walls are pinkish gray, and the ponderous flinty capstones a brilliant red mile di- agonaly opposite is the colossal pile known as the Acropolis. This is, per haps, the crowning feature. More than 450 feet high and 1000 feet long and solemnly aloof, it has been likened to i the Athenan Acropolis because of a marked resemblance, and as well to the mammoth temple ruins of Baalbec in northern Syria. Seen from any angle 1t is mysterious. we-compelling. cer- tain to leave a lasting imprint on the mind of all observers.
 The Closed Cathedral.
 Still is another masterpiece in the Closed Cathedral study in magnih- cent coloring, so gorgeous and yet SC softly harmonious that no wielder of the brush dares hope to equal it. Ii is of tremendous size, with an en- trance 25 feet high and 15 feet wide solidly blocked at depth of 12 feet Pure white, deep blue, yellow, red green, and all the intervening shades figure in the decorative scheme. anC in places give the suggestion of stained glass windows. The whole as pect Is of antiquity, enhanced by s crack or fault diagonally through the front-evidence of a slide before the