The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-02-17

IN THESE days of advanced travel
it seems strange to record the dis
III covery of gorge crowded with
natural wonders within 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
its 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 CT
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 IN
touched, give promise of paleontolog-
ical treasure and recent finds in its
caves interest ethnologists.
The canyon is q cash in the south
ern end of the Sierra Nevada noun
tains. Its mouth opens upon the
northwestern edge of the Mojave des-
ert. 1t is 1876 miles from Los Angeles.
For nearly q century the prosaic pio-
neers who passed that remote way paid
no heed to its vivid charm. 1t was
the decision to extend the state high
way from Los Angeles to Bishop that
led to the discovery of the beauties
of this gorge. Until the surveyors re-
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 its many Won
ders will be on the main trail of civ
| iliZation, and tens of thousands Of
! tourists and others viii soon admire
| it with rapture and astonishment, The
! new roadway approaches to within so
! 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
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
enhancing picture; pillars and col
umns, plain and iuted and chased /;
pilasters and colonnades. tiny and IT,
tanic, tier upon tier. mile after mile,
far skyward arcades, balustrades, cor
ridors; temples. castles, cathedrals,
towers, domes, spires, sphinXes, gar
goyles-al perfectly nodded and ex-
quisitely adorned by the lord of crea-
ton.
Moreover, they are untouched and
unmarried as yet by the laundering
vandal hand of man; buried city
an acropolis. 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. 12j feet high, approached through
q series of terraced entranceways
with partially erumbled walls forming
an elliptical Enclosure approximately
$50 feet in diameter-an ideal amphi
theater. Those who look upon thi:
temple find it difficult to believe tina
II is not human handiwork. Near by
dominating the mystic region, rises tht
massive Sentinel Tower, imposin,
rather than beautiful. 1t Is apparent
, ~ harder and more substantial thar
Its neighbor. Biologists say it ha
. held its commanding bulk aloft 70
thousands of centuries. The walls ar
pinkish gray, and the ponderous flint.
\ capstones brilliant red. A mile d
agonally opposite is the colossal pill
known as the Acropolis. This is, per
10 haps, the browning feature. More thai
$50 feet high and 1000 feet long an
solemnly aloof, it has been likened t
at the Athenian Acropolis because of
&c marked resemblance, and as well t
~ the mammoth temple ruins of Baalbe
: in northern Syria. Seen from any angl
r. 1t is mysterious. awe-compelling, Gel
IN tain to leave a lasting imprint on tn
ur mind of all observers.
n The Closed Cathedral.
tie Still is another masterpiece in tn
We Closed Cathedral, study in magnif
IN cent coloring. so gorgeous and yet S
:. softly harmonious that no wielder c
the brush dares hope to equal 1t.
va is of tremendous size, with an er
r. trance % feet high and 10 feet wild
Ike solidly blocked at depth of u fee
,e Pure white. deep blue. yellow, RET
lg, green, and all the intervening shade
or figure in the decorative scheme. an
~ in places give the suggestion {
=" stained-glass windows. The whole al
We pect is of antiquity, enhanced by
ire crack or fault diagonaly through til
front-evidence of slide before til
de processes of erosion began. The c:
on thedral effect is SO realistic that on
am involuntarily listens for bells to Il
ea tone the hour or call to prayers.