Cape Ann 25 
this latitude is one more constantly reminded 
of that far-off day, that long desolate glacial 
winter which preceded the present spring- 
time of the temperate zone. 
In every direction ledges are planed in the 
characteristic fashion with gentle northerly 
and north-westerly slopes and abrupt south- 
erly ones, polished as by intention, so that 
now and again one is inclined to rub the hand 
approvingly over some particularly smooth 
surface, as if tacitly to imply admiration for 
such excellent workmanship. But it is on 
Dogtown Commons that the spell of the 
departed ice is most keenly felt, for on this 
historic ground the glacier made its final 
stand and here beat its slow retreat, dissolving 
into vapour and leaving the terminal moraine 
as evidence of that great conflict of the ele- 
ments. Here an endless array of mammoth 
boulders, like some heroic legion, turned to 
stone where it lay encamped upon the plain, 
stretches far in all directions, so imposing 
that it awes the saunterer who for the first 
time picks his way among these silent cohorts 
of granite. That silence is eloquent of a day 
that was—of the dusk of the gods. 
Thus one has not only the sense of the liv- 
ing sea, but is haunted by the ghost of the 
