10 THE DESERT AND THE ROSE 



the high sky are unique. Moreover, it is generally 

 conceded that Southern New Mexico and Arizona 

 can display the finest atmospheric effects on the 

 continent ; also that for every gain in scenic grand- 

 eur northward bound just so° much is lost in color. 



Unimaginative indeed must that newcomer be 

 who can roam around this section of country, if 

 only bent on ranch hunting, without absorbing 

 something of its romantic history or being impressed 

 by the picturesqueness of his surroundings. Years 

 have slid by since the marvel alone of desert sunris- 

 es, sunsets and afterglows was first beheld, yet the 

 primal glory holds us yet in thrall. In winter and 

 early spring are all these at their best. Many an 

 evening may we watch, bewildered, the sunset 

 south, east and west; wherever we turn there it is 

 to confront us — a riot of color flinging itself up and 

 across the indescribably tender blue of the high sky, 

 a blue that defies description or imitation. They 

 linger long, these passionate rainbow hues, — spread- 

 ing tentacles of splendor, indefinable cloudlets edged 

 with rose — a pageant evidently not- intended for 

 mere mortal vision, but part of the always detached, 

 immortal scenery in which by chance we find place. 

 And perhaps this is as it should be, for the majority 

 of human beings pay it slight heed. The hotel sup- 

 per has started, and to that important function all 

 but ourselves have fled. And when at length we fol- 

 low, we return later to behold a transparent rosy 

 veil drawn across the wide heavens through which 

 the star of evening shines undimmed. 



One day we climb the eastern mesa and pass 



