the "Punch Bowl," the "White Pyramid," the "Comet,"" the "Splendid," the "Daisy," the "Catfish," the "Young Faithful," the "Beehive," the "Castle," and the "Laundry," Geysers. In the night, we enjoyed the spectacle to see the Giant Geyser in action, which, as a rule, is only once exhibited in four or five years, always unawares happens and presents a view which no pen can delineate. The 19th of July was selected to proceed to the lower Geyser Hotel and to the Yellowstone Falls. After a ride of eight hours through the most romantic ravines, valleys, plains and Wildernesses where we also saw wolves and bears, but who, probably, disliked our tough flesh, we arrived about three o'clock P. M., at the hotel of Yellowstone Falls where we stopped, took supper and and put up our tents for the night. Having arrived at this hotel we immediately mounted our riding horses, called mustangs, like Indians, and rode up to the top of the "canons" as they call these ravines, in order to view the wonderful great Yellowstone Fall and to admire the rocky mountains with their stones and awful depths. The great cataract, diversely colored, is precipitated from a height of 300 feet into the straightened channel, an aspect which exerts an overcoming power and in my mind made an impression by far greater than the world-renowned Niagara Falls, because these reach hardly the fourth part of the height of the former one. The canons of the Yellowstone Falls surpass those of Yosemite valley, both by their grandeur and the splendor of colors. The 20th of July was set down for the continuation of our journey; but as the horses of our s age which during the night were pasturing, had disappeared and probably mingled with Indian mustangs, it must be de MATTER AND FORCE. 129 ferred to next day; we employed the day examining the canons and waterfalls. We also got sight of several flocks of buffaloes. After the 21st, of July, another stage with horses arrived, our four horses had run away and were not caught for three weeks, as far away as 200 miles from the Yellowstone Falls; we continued our trip and passed through a very romantic mountainous region. The movements of the wagon and horses were sometimes quite dangerous. The vegetation of this region is downright stupifying; the wild grass which is the feed of the buffaloes, was at some places, from 12 to 15 feet high. We had also the pleasure to admire a nice pair of beavers that were constructing their artificial building at the bank of the Beaver lake, near the road. After a trip of 5 hours we arrived at the lower Geyser hotel. The 22d of July, we started for the Loris Geyser, and, on the road, had occasion to admire yet many Geysers. In the evening, at 6 o'clock, we alighted at the hotel of Mammoth Hot Springs, took a hot bath of 20 degrees and had an excellent supper. The 23d of July we made, accompanied by three ladies and three gentlemen, an ascension on horsebaek, seventy miles far, to the neighboring Geysers, called Sawmill Geysers. The 24th of July, in the morning, we passed from the Mamoth Hot Springs, on the stage, through the picturesque valley and arrived after 2 hours at the railroad station of Cinnabar, where we continued our route on the railroad to Livingstone. So we had been in the magnificent Yellowstone Park from the 16th to the 24th of July and did not believe it to be possible that we had spent a full week in this 130 MATTER AND FORCE. fairy land; we thought that only one or two days had passed away. By the short sketch of this journey, it will be seen what incredible wonders of Nature in this comparatively small territory are diffused, the Park containing only 3,575 square miles: there are the highest mountains, covered with everlasting snow, splendid green valleys, watered by crystal rivulets, grand lakes and natural jets of water, hot springs and mineral baths, woods and ravines, as they in no other part of earth can be viewed. Only man, as far was missing to enjoy the rich gifts which Nature spread in this part of the Rocky Mountains; they are not yet sufficiently known: but I believe that railroads and hotels soon will tend to render this Park the most famous place of pilgrimage of mankind. In conclusion, I must add the remark that, in those regions, the air is so rare that even the greatest eaters can hardly consume so much food as, in common life, a little child three or four years old, for men live up there more on air; great quantities of food are quite debarred by nature, even if there were a will to eat them. TWO SCENES FROM LORD BYRON'S MAN FRED. [REMARK OF THE AUTHOR.-Here follow two of the many beautiful descriptions of nature which are given by Lord Byron in his works. They form two scenes of sublimity, such as the ingenious Byron alone could describe.] ACT III, SCENE II. [MANFRED AND HERMAN.] HER. My Lord, you bade me wait on you at sunset. He sinks behind the mountains. ΜΑΝ. I will look on him. (He advances to the window of the hall. Does he so? Glorious orb! the idol * Of early nature, and the vigorous race * Which gladden'd on their mountain tops, the hearts Of the Chaldean shepherds, till they pour'd Themselves in orisons! Thou material God! And representative of the Unknown, Who chose thee for his shadow! Thou chief star! Center of many stars! Which mak'st our earth Endurable, and temperest the hues For near or far, of thee, And hearts of all who walk within thy rays! Thou doest rise, SCENE IV. [Interior of the Tower.] MANFRED ALONE. The stars are forth! The moon above the tops To linger yet with Nature, for the night Hath been to me a more familiar face Than that of man. And in her starry shade Of dim and solitary loveliness, I learn'd the language of another world. I do remember me, that in my youth, Midst the chief relics of almighty Rome. The watchdog bay'd beyond the From afar Tiber, and More near from out the Cæsar's palace came [exit |