330 Ileyond tlu hurras. 



in the Ujlden State is of the bent, ami it wan a matter of universal regret to 

 the Society that circunastances prevented his presence with us at our gen- 

 eral sessions. 



What I was aboul to say was llial tla- S.mta Birbara excursionists re- 

 turned to the Southern Pacific trains and there broke up, some going south, 

 and others north, by way of Sin Francisco, oa their return to their homes 

 beyond the mountains. The writer belonged to the north-bound band, and 

 we now make our way over the lower branch <jf the Coast Range into the 

 Mojave desert, and take our course for the metropolis. 



I have already spoken more than once of the character and appearance 

 of this low, waste region between the mountains. Here for the first time I 

 saw the veritable mirage. I do not believe that the science of physics hag 

 yet explained this strange phenomenon. Looking off yonder to the east and 

 south of D3ath Valley, there is a landscape of water and palm trees and vil- 

 lages. The vision is a little spectral in its outline, but all plain enough, and 

 you would like to be there on the border of the lake. But the vision drifts 

 from you, and takes another form. I must try my hand at a little poem on 



THE iMIRAGE IN DE.\TH V.\LLEY. 



I. 



() lake that sleepest on the glimmering plain ! 



() noliiing palms in the horizon dim ! 

 ( ) teats that vanLsli and return again ! 



O shining spires above the desert's rim ! 



II. 



How do ye gleam and fluctuate and float, 



And yet hang motionless ! No life is seen. 

 There stands the castle o'er the drawbridge moat. 



But prince or princess there is none, I ween. 



Ill 

 There shining villages lie slumbering ! 



Over the walls a spectral donjon towers, 

 But casts no shadow ! There the fountains fling 



Their pictured waters on the pictureil flowers. 



IV. 



No whirring wing, no bounding font, goes by, 



No wild fowl ruHles that mock-water lake ; 

 No tall reed (piivers with a song or cry; 



No girl nr fawn stoops down her thirst to slake. 



V. 



Over the glistering desert swims and drifts 



Yon town of Tantalus, with silent gates — 

 An air-built image that recedes and shifts 



Vcros-^ Mojave where Henth Valley wiiits I 



