The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1920-08-26
BLACK HILLS SCENERY
Friends of Rev. T. J. SIM

~
KILLER, South Dakota, will be especial.
iy interested in the following letter
from Mr.. Simons. He and family are
spending a vacation at Hisega, in tha;
state, and he nicely describes the seen
ely of that place and its surroundings,
as follows:
Hisega, So. Oak.
10 be here in the heart of the Black
hills should dispel any illusion one
might have of South Dakota's being
altogether 4 tractless prairie.
A large part of it was originally so,
and even now a Hoosier might be not
only struck by the absence of arboreal
verdure, but also for 4 time oppressed
by the lack of it over v~astsreaches of
tie commonwealth. Of he lived out
nere for a time he would learn to
travel, and that great distances. 1t
would not DC surprising if he grew to
he like many others from the Central
SydICS anu uSNClOp q lldiid " ~, uilu
they are the ones that have furnished
the population of the Sunshine state.)
the eastern part is wen enough shad-
ed-the planting by the hand of man
as well as nation. The eastern CEN
trail is rather sparsely freed, both by
nature and The industry of the settlers.
In the valley of the Missouri the cot
tOnwood, Gins and ash flourish. West
of THE River" there are trees
Oh the tributaries than OF the east.
This is because there are more tribu-
taries on the west side and also be-
cause they, such as the Cheyenne and
he Bad, have cut up prairies into
more and deeper valleys. The up
lands are truly barren of trees. But
like the eastern part Of the state the
part west of the Big Muddy is trying
to raise g~ain-and some years they
eucceed-particularly this year and
last. They are learning how to do it.
Still the great business is stock rails
ing.
South Dakota is not only a state of
great variety but Of great extremes.
There's a fascination about the broad
cxpanse of the prairies. (The most of
The people become thoroughly welded
TO them.) The hills ard valleys along
the Missouri beautiful. expansive and
almost majestic are a revelation to III
easterner. But the Black Hills are
totally unexpected. I have never yet
talked with anyone who did no say
there is no more beautiful scenery in
America, people, who have travelled
widely. We have been here in the
eastern part of them three days and
we are enchanted by the height, rug
gadness and beautify of the crags and
hills and verdure, rearing and trembl-
ling Rapid creek, the pines and flow
ers-the birds are secluded and quiet.
This is a long way from Hand u
~, but it is worthwhile to the jaded
and natuI hungry soul.
Sitting out in front of the log cabin,
which in May we reserved for a month
in July and August, l got he first
intimation that there are other eyes,
BESIDES the human ones in the cot
tages and cabins rear by on the hill
sides. observing one intrusion on the
sacredness of this secluded spot, a
chip monk pecked out from a pile or
wood prepared for just SUCH a rainy,
cool day rs this has developed into.
The place % burn it-where some of it
burma now with a warm and
CHEEKY lights the open fire place
in the west end of the cabin. He soon
fcarlessly showed himself until the
dog came up-yes the boys brought
their dog along-a young black n
white cross between a setter and an
English sheep dog-and of course he
has to slee, in the cabin with them.
Rogers is net content unless ne Is vi
lie cot with him. The danger past,
the chip monk went on an excursion
t. first one and then another pile or
pine boughs trimmed from our fire
wood-no doubt on more serious bust
ness than ours-beginning to get
ready for winter | suppose.
There's a cottage close by called
Tbe Whispering Pines, surely they
could tell more than the walls of the
cottage and they are 50 close together
they do not have to speak out ioud
Their news can pass around over the
hills in an incredible time. I wonder
if they are free to gossip with their
neighbors, the spruces across the
creek | 10 not mean Rapid Creek,
for they embrace 1t, but over on Prair-
lie Creek the pines are on n side n
the spruces on the other. No doubt
trees can talk across water as wellas
ether peop.e. But talking together
how do they keep separate. People