Glimpses of America: A Pictorial and Descriptive History of Our Country's Scenic MarvelsBuel, James W. (James William)
History
Glimpses of America: A Pictorial and Descriptive History of Our Country's Scenic Marvels
Buel, James W. (James William)
United States -- Pictorial works
Returning to Kilbourn City, on the following day a trip was made to
Taylor’s Glen, which is thus well described by a correspondent: “At the
handsome school building on the east side of the village, a rugged path
struggles down into an ordinary ‘hollow,’ which farther down and
followed, opens into a grand gorge. Every step now reveals scenes and
formations beside which all the boasted charms of ‘Watkin’s Glen’ become
commonplace. Being neither cave nor valley, but combining all the
attractions of both, it winds and twists through immense rocks in a
serpentine path. At one point, far overhead, a sheet of daylight slants
through a mere rift the rocks. The roof and high-arching walls are
frescoed with diamond dew and dripping, drooping mosses and lichens.
Groups of strange figures, carved by cataracts, washed by whirlpools
ages on ages ago, ape Egyptian gods and mummies of the ancient Orient.
Here a crystal spring bursts from a wall of solid stone and goes dancing
down over pebbles and ferns. On through an ever-varying pathway filled
with kaleidoscope-like enchantment we wandered with awe and admiration,
our journey ending at a long, dark tunnel, which looks out, through a
wide, cavernous window, upon the river beyond. The Lower Dells, like
their companions above the village, have rocky banks, covered with
vegetation, and curiously shaped formations no less interesting than the
aggregation, a description of which I have but faintly accomplished. One
cannot see this truly remarkable, weird, romantic and beautiful section
of our land and suppress admiration. Nor will a week suffice for a
thorough exploration of the caves, grottos, rocks and ravines
hereabouts. Above Witches’ Gulch is a beautiful view of the river, its
bluffs and many islands, a fairly comparable Lake George view. A fine
drive is had north from Kilbourn to ‘Hornet’s Nest,’ ‘Squaw’s Chamber,’
‘Luncheon Hall,’ ‘Stand Rock,’ ‘Devil’s Lake,’ and many points of
interest farther up the river and in the country in this and adjoining
counties.”
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[Illustration:
RAPIDS OF MONTREAL RIVER, NORTH OF LAKE SUPERIOR.—These picturesque
rapids are located in the midst of a wooded dell, hemmed in and
secluded by surrounding hills from the busy haunts of men. In peace
and quiet they laugh and frolic and sing their merry song of
rippling waters and dashing fountains through the summer days, and
when winter comes they put on a dress of foamy puffs of white that
sparkles and glows like a bed of diamonds in the dull rays of the
northern sun.
]
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[Illustration: GIANT’S CASTLE, NEAR CAMP DOUGLAS.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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