4 IN AND OUT OF ITHACA. 



ice-dam and consequent lowering in the level of the ice- 

 lake. The fact that all the lowest falls in the various 

 ravines make the greatest leaps would seem to give an 

 answer to our question, as decided as it is interesting. 

 However, we may not cross-question too closely as yet, 

 but may rest assured that we have the main facts of the 

 story in our possession. 



As we stand on one of our hills, this story will help 

 us to understand and interpret the landscape that is 

 presented to our view. The long sweep and graceful 

 curves of the lake valley, and the smoothly sloping 

 hills, save where they are serrated by the terrace-teeth 

 in the mouth of some deep ravine, were ground out by 

 the ice. The glacier-artist wrought our landscape. 

 Standing by the side of some one of the deep channels 

 cut by a fretful stream, the thought of the vast period 

 of time during which the stream must have been at 

 work to accomplish what it has, often comes forcibly to 

 the mind. Yet compared to the ages that passed over 

 valley and hills, ere the stream began its work, what it 

 has accomplished seems like the trifling of an idle sum- 

 mer hour. 



