28 A BOOK-LOVER'S HOLIDAYS 



From the southernmost point of this table- 

 land the view of the canyon left the beholder 

 solemn with the sense of awe. At high noon, 

 under the unveiled sun, every tremendous de- 

 tail leaped in glory to the sight; yet in hue and 

 shape the change was unceasing from moment 

 to moment. When clouds swept the heavens, 

 vast shadow^s were cast; but so vast was the 

 canyon that these shadow^s seemed but patches 

 of gray and purple and umber. The dawn and 

 the evening twilight were brooding mysteries 

 over the dusk of the abyss; night shrouded its 

 immensity, but did not hide it; and to none of 

 the sons of men is it given to tell of the wonder 

 and splendor of sunrise and sunset in the Grand 

 Canyon of the Colorado. 



