228 



NATURE FOB ITS OWN SAKE 



The Alps in 

 ttorm. 



Seen in lake 

 refaction. 



sky like a cathedral tower, its edges lined with 

 bright silver from the light of the rising moon 

 behind it. 



Beautiful as the mountains are under sun- 

 light and moonlight, they are often more im- 

 pressive under clouds with storm. The lofty 

 majesty of the greater Alps in furious weather, 

 their calm repose among all the turmoil of the 

 elements, the mighty lift of the white, sunlit 

 peaks out of the gloom of the valley, are sights 

 never to be forgotten. The noisy winds, the 

 sharp lightning, the torrents of rain that dash 

 against the granite walls or hide from view the 

 timber-robed sides, are mere sound and fury 

 signifying nothing. The mountain is not 

 moved. Secure in its strength, it holds its 

 head above the storm and lives in the sun- 

 light. Very beautiful indeed, are the tem- 

 pests in the Alpine valleys, with darkness be- 

 low and light above, and all that that implies 

 of color-contrast. Nor does the scene suffer any 

 by being mirrored in the greenish-blue waters 

 of the Swiss lakes. Oftentimes the whole pano- 

 rama of the upper air cloud, lightning, green 

 forest, gray rock, and sunlit snow-cap may 

 be seen in the lake darkened and deepened in 

 tone by the local color of the water. The Al- 



