THE GORGES 17 



the sight of such exultant energy, which will one 

 day be at man's disposal. We rejoice with the 

 river in a feeling of power, and herein lies its Beauty 

 for us. 



As we look at the tremendous gorges through 

 which the river clears its way we again are filled with 

 awe and wonder. Straight facing us is a clean, 

 sheer cliff of hardest, sternest rock. It cannot be 

 actually perpendicular, but to all appearance it is. 

 And the mere sight of it strengthens our souls. 

 Here is granite solidity, and yet no mere stolid 

 obstinacy. For these cliffs have risen — so the 

 geologists tell us — through their own internal 

 energy to their present proud position. They have, 

 indeed, had to give place to the river to this extent 

 that they have had to acknowledge his previous right 

 of way and to leave a passage for him in their upward 

 effort. The river is careful to exact that much toll 

 from them year by year. But having paid that 

 toll, they have risen by a process of steady, long 

 persistence, and have maintained themselves in 

 their exalted position by sheer firmness and tenacity 

 of character. And as, dripping with warm moisture 

 and carrying with them in any available crevice 

 graceful ferns and trees, they rise above us high up 

 into the clouds, and form the buttresses of those 

 snowy peaks of which we catch occasional glimpses, 

 we are impressed not only with the height of the 

 aspiration those peaks embody, but with the 

 strength and persistency of purpose which was 

 necessary to carry the aspiration into effect. 



Overpowered, indeed, we feel at times — shut 



