212 A KIVER VIEW. 



in short, makes kindling-wood of it, so as to consume 

 it the quicker. 



One of the prettiest sights about the ice harvest- 

 ing is the elevator in operation. When all works 

 well, there is an unbroken procession of the great 

 crystal blocks slowly ascending this incline. They 

 go up in couples, arm in arm, as it were, like friends 

 up a stairway, glowing and changing in the sun, and 

 recalling the precious stones that adorned the walls 

 of the celestial city. When they reach the platform 

 where they leave the elevator, they seem to step off 

 like things of life and volition ; they are still in pairs, 

 and separate only as they enter upon the " runs." 

 But here they have an ordeal to pass through, for 

 they are subjected to a rapid inspection by a man 

 with a sharp eye in his head and a sharp ice-hook in 

 his hand, and the black sheep are separated from 

 the flock ; every square with a trace of sediment or 

 earth-stain in it, whose texture is not the perfect and 

 unclouded crystal, is rejected and sent hurling down 

 into the abyss. Those that pass the examination 

 glide into the building along the gentle incline, and 

 are switched off here and there upon branch runs, 

 and distributed to all parts of the immense interior. 

 When the momentum becomes too great, the blocks 

 run over a board full of nails or spikes, that scratch 

 their bottoms and retard their progress, giving the 

 looker-on an uncomfortable feeling. 



A beautiful phenomenon may at times be witnessed 

 on the river in the morning after a night of extreme 



