170 BOOK OF A HUNDRED BEARS 



Many have raved over the Grand Canon of the 

 Yellowstone below the falls, and many absurdities 

 have been written about its awe-inspiring depths. 

 To my mind, its chief charm is the setting it 

 affords these falls. It is not so vast that the 

 waterfall is lost in its immensity, as it would be 

 in the Grand Canon of the Colorado. Nor is it 

 petty. It is simply in perfect proportion with the 

 falls. Either would lose much of its charm 

 without the other. 



It is from this canon (the color of the rock) that 

 the whole region derives its name of Yellowstone 

 or yellow rock. The prevailing tint is yellow, 

 mixed with browns and, occasionally, a bit that is 

 almost black, all blended and harmonized by the 

 erosion of ages. It is beautiful, picturesque, what 

 you will, but not awesome or dreadful. In fact, 

 it looked so beautiful from above, so friendly- 

 like, so accessible, that one day the Banker and I, 

 hanging above the fall, decided we would descend 

 and explore its beauties from below. We were 

 moved to it by the fact that we saw down there — 

 mere specks along the sandy marge of the green, 



