The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1920-09-24
BY r. A. CANINE.

81 have lived in this part of Utah all
my life. For years 1 have run my
stock in these hills and valleys, have
cut firewoOd and fence posts on the
hillsides. Yet, never had any idea
that there was such a country just
over the hill yonder until this spring."
said native in speaking of Bryce can
yon. in southern Utah.
"One day l happened to just STUN
Bile on this canyon. Fact is. came
near stumbling over into the canyon.
And say, l was simply flabergasted.
Beautiful. Say, there amt anything !
have ever seen or heard about that can
light candle to this. Every week,
and sometimes oftener, l have been
up here, just gain and gain. Purity
soon the Missus will be givin' me hail
Columbia for neglecting my work.
"Glad you came, amt you, mister?
Thought you would be. Rather pays
for the drive from Salt Lake, even if
it was long drive, Ell? Well, one
thing, they tell me the roads are good
all the way. That helps some. Ought
to go home now, but. by cracky, |
have simply got to take another peek
before l go. Look at that court house
over there. Amt she natural? And
that cathedral. Gosh, looks like the
real goods, don't it?"
There's many a resident Of Utah, If
he or she should speak right out in
meetin', who would have to admit
that they were in the same position
as the native quoted above, as regards
one of the most wonderful sections of
the United States.
Many have heard of the wonders Of
Bryce canyon. Have heard, but
thought the stories they heard we're eN-
aggerationS. They haven't taken the
time to investigate. And thus they
have gone on in ignorance of spot in
their own state which if located in
some other states we might mention,
would be visited annually by countless
thousands.
But one could not eXaggerate in at
tempting to describe the wondrouS
beauty and attraCtiveneSS of this little
known spot which some day will claim
the homage of the beauty lover from
every section of the country.
The past summer has seen thousands
of auto tourists, from every state IN
the union. vending their way TO Bryce
canyon, returning awe-inSptred and
without ADEQUATE words to describe
the picturesque beauty of the canyon.
Strictly speaking, Bryce canyon Is
not a canyon at all. 1t is an amph'-
theatre. which cannot be seen by the
spproaching visitor until he is within
a few feet of the jumping off place
Then. as he stops his machine on the
very brink. he is Immediately awe
struck with the panorama tha'
unfolds before the eye.
Erosions that have been going on
since time began, probably, nave
etched out the earth and stone III al
most every conceivable shape-caStleS'
mansions, cathedrals, minaretS fort-
resses. giant organs, figures of human
and animal shapeS-all lying FAR oelo"
the visitor and hundreds of feet below
the roadway. Miles and miles Of these
beautiful, varlcoIored objects, ul'er-
spersed with pine trees, with " u'oe
silver-threaded stream flowing OUT
ward TO the valleys below.
The coloring instantly CHALLENGES
the attention. Every color OF Ihe
rainbow, then some, to use the wor"S
of one who stood silently, for at least
half an hour, entranced with the I'M
expected scene. Native brown, ochre'
mink and gray: bronze, yellow wn'te
and salmon; orange. rose and reo' hu'
WHY enumerate? 4 cloud passes by
and the colors shift and change al
WAYS startlingly beautiful, Seemlhs'S
never the same, a veritahle kaleido-
scope. ,,s
But a description of Bryce would
tax the pen Of the most gifted writer
whi,e The brush Of the artist would 10