been the case had there been any glacial disturbance, or the rushing of a vast body of water for centuries through this gorge. Do I put this correctly, Mr. President?

THE PRESIDENT: Yes. It is supposed by many that the gorge was at one time a lake, and that it has been gradually filled to its present level by the falling masses from above.

MR. GOLDUST: How long will it take to fill it up by this means?

THE PRESIDENT: We cannot tell what sudden changes may happen to hasten

the comparatively slow action of climate, storm, and gravitation; but we might safely put it at thousands of years.

MR. GOLDUST: Then there will be a chance for all the club to visit the place yet. CYRIL: One of the most prominent objects in the valley (we are going north) is a group called Cathedral Rocks, about 2,660 feet high, and from some points of view presenting a church-like and very imposing appearance. Above this is the Sentinel Rock, a weird and solitary peak, or rather group, 4,500 feet high.

Below the Yosemitè Falls are the mighty North and South Domes, the latter of which has hitherto defied all attempts made by travelers to climb it. The

sketch of rocks and bowlders gives an idea of some portions of the valley along the course of the Merced, not far from the base of the South Dome, and it illustrates the President's remark about the rock avalanches. Another sketch gives us a

nearer view of the South Dome.

THE PRESIDENT: We have not heard yet about the discovery of this valley.

CYRIL: I had forgotten to say that in 1851 an expedition was organized by the miners in the Sierras and Foot Hills, to pursue and punish the Indians for various outrages they had perpetrated upon the whites. The Indians fled to their fastnesses, and, amongst other hiding places, this one was discovered, and the unfortunate Red Men were attacked, and great numbers slaughtered in this very

spot. A few years later, tourists began to visit it, and in 1856 the first hotel or ranch was built there. The name is Indian, of course, and signifies "grizzly bear." The Indians in California now give little or no trouble to the whites. The tourist meets with them occasionally, but they are harmless. In the Yosemitè region they are known as Digger Indians.

MR. GOLDUST: How did you get out of the valley? Did you take all your party up the precipice at the Vernal Falls, or return by the way you entered?

CYRIL: There is a rugged and steep way out in a northerly direction. Some tourists, indeed, enter from this direction. As you ascend from the valley, the air grows perceptibly cooler. In fact, the whole region is subject to sudden changes of temperature, and to severe storms. Cool nights and hot days alternate with each other. Our party got thoroughly drenched in a rain storm on the road to Coulterville; but, after we had proceeded a few miles, our clothing dried upon us, and we thought no more of it. Some carriages were waiting for us at the first point in

the road available for wheels, and some of our party gladly changed their method of locomotion, though I do not think they gained much by it, as the roads are

warily, or he would upset his party into some deep ravine or abyss. Coulterville is a small mining town, and the tourist will be in no humor to remain there longer than necessary to recover from his fatigue. From Coulterville we drove some forty miles down the rugged slope, into the plains, to the line of the railroad, and so on the following day reached San Francisco.

A friend of mine in London "The peculiar and unique

AUNT HARRIET: I have been very lately reading a description of the Yosemitè Valley by Dr. Russell, one of a party accompanying the Duke of Sutherland last June in a rapid tour through the States and Canada. sent me a copy of the work.* Dr. Russell says: feature of the valley seems to me to be the height and boldness of the cliffs, which spring out from the mountain sides like sentinels to watch and ward over the secrets of the gorge. Next to that is the number and height of the waterfalls; but it is only by degrees and by comparison that the mind takes in the fact that the cliffs are not hundreds but thousands of feet high-that these bright, flashing, fleecy cataracts fall for thousands of feet." He adds: He adds: "What is the use of rolling off a catalogue of names and figures? Even the brush of the painter, charged with the truest colors and guided by the finest hand and eye, could never do justice to these cliffs and waterfalls.”

CYRIL: I had almost forgotten to say that the Duke of Sutherland and his party preceded us by only two or three weeks. We heard a great deal about them from the guides and others. It appears that some of the party, including the Duke himself, were very much amused by a guide calling upon the Duke to help him water the horses. Here, Mister Sutherland, hold this bucket, please, while pump." There was a good laugh, but the Duke obeyed with alacrity.

I

GRACE: I rather liked to hear the story. I do not suppose the man meant to annoy the Duke, and it was a reminder to him, anyhow, that dukes and lords do not grow out here.

GILBERT: Perhaps that is why our people run after them so much when they do come.

KATE: Well, people cannot help being born heirs to dukes and duchesses. I do not know that I should have been so very sorry if I had been a duchess.

AUNT HARRIET: An American girl who is true to herself needs no title to proclaim her nobility.

* An American edition has been published.