Year: 1869

The valley lies on the west side Of the
Sierra Nevada range. about two hundred and
fifty miles southeast Of san Francisco. The
loitiest mountains of the range are in the
immediate vicinity. The architecture of this
region is peculiar and wonderful. The White
Mountains and the Aleghanies have rugged
outlines, but here is regularity Of form. The
SUBMITS are gray granite domes, hleachcd by
storm, and whitened by SHOWS Here and
there tall and slender columns ofrock rise like
minarets and spires between the domes. BE
holding the range from distance is like
looking at Damascus, Jerusalem, or COnstan-
tinople. 1t is panorama far mo e beautiful
than the view Of ST. Sophia and Suleimen
from the BosphOrus. or Of Omar and FL Aska
from the Mount of Olives. The combination
of dome, minaret, tower and spire, with in
tervening valleys. dark gorges with forests
and fields of snow, as seen though the hazy
autumn, light gives a strikingly Oriental char
acter to the architecture Of this group of
mountains.


Descending into the great chasm we be
hold architecture Of a different order-out-
line of nave and transept of butuessed
walls and lofty towers of arch and alcoye
and overhanging gallery with adOrnment Of
sculpture and mural painting Of sunlight and
shade-the work Of a hand Divine.


The valley is about eight miles in length
and from one-half mile 10 a mile in width
lying nearly east and west The Merced riv-
er winds through the valley, fed by melting
SHOWS and ever flowing springs.


FIRST VIEW.


We have been riding through the forest
since early morning, and it is mid afternoon
when we approach the valley. We have had
no view of the chasm, but suddenly we come
to clear space and find ourselves upon its
brink One mad leap of our steed and horse
and rider would fly half mile downward in
to the yawning gulf The heart ceases for
moment TO beat. We hold our breath No
word of exclamation from those who accom-
pany us. The soul stands in awe before this
unexpected revelation Of Omnipotence.


A little farther down and we reach the
point from which we obtain the best general
view of the valley. Lean against this block
of white granite and gaze upon the scene
over the cliff, if your brains are steady
enough, and beheld the beauty.


These little green points, seemingly not
larger than Young onions Just thrusting their





in diameter and two hundred feet high
That foliage of brighter green, to the sight
not larger than tufts of grass just springing
from the ground, are oaks which have braved
the storms of centuries The foliage of the
trees is changing with the advancing year.
Upon the stubble fields there is a sunset hue,
and upon the meadows golden light.
Beyond the valley rises back ground of
mountains-hight above hight, dome above
dome, with intervening valleys ever vernal,
and fields of light shining like the sun. We
think of that Holy City which Christian saw
beyond the Delectable Mountains. The sub
limest ina cry of the Revelation Of st. John
portraying the grandeur and transcendent
glory Of the New Jerusalem-lts foundations
Of jasper, and emerald, and amethyst. its
gates Of pearl, its golden streets illumed with
thelight of the Lamb alone-is adequate to
describe it. From the summit Of Mt. Wash
ington little child once looked down upon