Repository: UIHistories Project: Sophograph - 1889 [PAGE 39]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

IH |

B

II

Large barns, fine farms, pastures and yar< full of sleek cattle, indicate a land of plenty, and such indeed it i It is a country of which some one has said: One need only tickle the soil to have it laugh with a plentiful harvest." Leaving this level country we turn to the left and soon again enter the woods. Our road now takes us down a ravine, across the line of the Illinois Central, down another ravine, and we are once more in a valley. Cro ing a narrow strip of bottom land we arrive on the bank of the Vermilion river Once more we will pause and look about us. At our feet flows the swift Ver milion about ioo feet wide. On the farther side of the river the bank rises almost perpendicular from the water's edge 150 to 200 feet. At places the cliffs are clothed with vines and shrubbery, at other places they are formed of smooth walls of sandstone Directly opposite us is the only opening we can see in this wall. Behind us are the dark green woods whose cool shadows are not yet warmed by the rays of the sun peeping over the edge of the cliff before us. On the right and left turns in the valley take the river from our sigh* There is beauty enough in this little valley to detain us for some time, but we are impatient to get to the Park. Following the minute directions given us by our host we drive down stream to where the river ripples over pebbles and small rocks. Driving straigh across to the other side we turn up stream as sharply as possible, hugging close to the bank. Right at the opening at the angle made by a huge boulder the current always washes a deep hole. When the water is low it reaches to the buggy box, but often it goes through it. As the Park is a famous pleasure resort and as all from the west side of the river must cross at this place, thi hole is a great terror to the girls, and we can easily imagine from our know] ge of the sex how they climb upon the buggy seat and hang on to the bo an the boys in turn hang on to the horses However, we get through the hole II right and arrive safe and sound, though perhaps a little t r, in the ntrance < Deer Park. By this time it may have become quite warm, but soon a * in be tween the perpendicular walls the cool breeze t it me 1 us warn it * going into another atmospher A quarter of a mile or so u this narrow <i

-rings us to the Lodg

This 1

11 hoi

built in an angle of thi

where tourists register and where I m< id dir< tioi At this place als< nature has pr< ided a stable r hoi A l < niche in the rock on the floor of tl; n needed only the a lition • pai on and feed 1 s to make a comfortable stable tor ma hors whil im ou str ig springs and a Hear rivulet furnish abundant wat

Lun ask sand irraps a o r of expl • al placed th< ock rises straight and am h

cvicc h eve small'

awa\ in the 1 w the * r 1 wh h • the 1 p

ub t 1 \ take

Not .