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Foster and Whitney's Report on the Geology of the Lake Superior
Land
District； Part II。 p。 124。 From this I make the following
extract：
〃The Pictured Rocks may be described； in general terms； as a
series
of sandstone bluffs extending along the shore of Lake Superior
for
about five miles； and rising； in most places； vertically from the
water； without any beach at the base； to a height varying from
fifty
to nearly two hundred feet。 Were they simply a line of cliffs；
they
might not； so far as relates to height or extent； be worthy of a
rank among great natural curiosities； although such an assemblage
of
rocky strata； washed by the waves of the great lake； would not；
under any circumstances； be destitute of grandeur。 To the
voyager；
coasting along their base in his frail canoe； they would； at all
times； be an object of dread； the recoil of the surf； the
rock…bound
coast； affording； for miles； no place of refuge；the lowering
sky；
the rising wind；all these would excite his apprehension； and
induce him to ply a vigorous oar until the dreaded wall was
passed。
But in the Pictured Rocks there are two features which
communicate
to the scenery a wonderful and almost unique character。 These
are；
first； the curious manner in which the cliffs have been excavated
and worn away by the action of the lake； which； for centuries；
has
dashed an ocean…like surf against their base； and； second； the
equally curious manner in which large portions of the surface
have
been colored by bands of brilliant hues。
〃It is from the latter circumstance that the name； by which these
cliffs are known to the American traveller； is derived； while
that
applied to them by the French voyageurs （'Les Portails'） is
derived
from the former； and by far the most striking peculiarity。
〃The term Pictured Rocks has been in use for a great length of
time；
but when it was first applied； we have been unable to discover。
It
would seem that the first travellers were more impressed with the
novel and striking distribution of colors on the surface than
with
the astonishing variety of form into which the cliffs themselves
have been worn。 。 。 。
〃Our voyageurs had many legends to relate of the pranks of the
Menni…bojou in these caverns； and； in answer to our inquiries；
seemed disposed to fabricate stories； without end； of the
achievements of this Indian deity。〃
Toward the Sun his hands were lifted。
In this manner； and with such salutations； was Father Marquette
received by the Illinois。 See his Voyages et Decouvertes；
Section V。
*************
THE COURTSHIP OF MILES STANDISH
I
MILES STANDISH
In the Old Colony days； in Plymouth the land of the Pilgrims；
To and fro in a room of his simple and primitive dwelling；
Clad in doublet and hose； and boots of Cordovan leather；
Strode； with a martial air； Miles Standish the Puritan Captain。
Buried in thought he seemed； with his hands behind him； and
pausing
Ever and anon to behold his glittering weapons of warfare；
Hanging in shining array along the walls of the chamber；
Cutlass and corselet of steel； and his trusty sword of Damascus；
Curved at the point and inscribed with its mystical Arabic
sentence；
While underneath； in a corner； were fowling…piece； musket； and
matchlock。
Short of stature he was； but strongly built and athletic；
Broad in the shoulders； deep…chested； with muscles and sinews of
iron；
Brown as a nut was his face； but his russet beard was already
Flaked with patches of snow； as hedges sometimes in November。
Near him was seated John Alden； his friend； and household
companion；
Writing with diligent speed at a table of pine by the window；
Fair…haired； azure…eyed； with delicate Saxon complexion；
Having the dew of his youth； and the beauty thereof； as the
captives
Whom Saint Gregory saw； and exclaimed； 〃Not Angles； but Angels。〃
Youngest of all was he of the men who came in the Mayflower。
Suddenly breaking the silence； the diligent scribe
interrupting；
Spake； in the pride of his heart； Miles Standish the Captain of
Plymouth。
〃Look at these arms；〃 he said； 〃the warlike weapons that hang
here
Burnished and bright and clean； as if for parade or inspection！
This is the sword of Damascus I fought with in Flanders； this
breastplate；
Well I remember the day！ once saved my life in a skirmish；
Here in front you can see the very dint of the bullet
Fired point…blank at my heart by a Spanish arcabucero。
Had it not been of sheer steel； the forgotten bones of Miles
Standish
Would at this moment be mould； in their grave in the Flemish
morasses。〃
Thereupon answered John Alden； but looked not up from his
writing：
〃Truly the breath of the Lord hath slackened the speed of the
bullet；
He in his mercy preserved you； to be our shield and our weapon！〃
Still the Captain continued； unheeding the words of the
stripling：
〃See； how bright they are burnished； as if in an arsenal hanging；
That is because I have done it myself； and not left it to others。
Serve yourself； would you be well served； is an excellent adage；
So I take care of my arms； as you of your pens and your inkhorn。
Then； too； there are my soldiers； my great； invincible army；
Twelve men； all equipped； having each his rest and his matchlock；
Eighteen shillings a month； together with diet and pillage；
And； like Caesar； I know the name of each of my soldiers！〃
This he said with a smile； that danced in his eyes； as the
sunbeams
Dance on the waves of the sea； and vanish again in a moment。
Alden laughed as he wrote； and still the Captain continued：
〃Look！ you can see from this window my brazen howitzer planted
High on the roof of the church； a preacher who speaks to the
purpose；
Steady； straight…forward； and strong； with irresistible logic；
Orthodox； flashing conviction right into the hearts of the
heathen。
Now we are ready； I think； for any assault of the Indians；
Let them come； if they like； and the sooner they try it the
better；
Let them come if they like； be it sagamore； sachem； or pow…wow；
Aspinet； Samoset； Corbitant； Squanto； or Tokamahamon！〃
Long at the window he stood； and wistfully gazed on the
landscape；
Washed with a cold gray mist； the vapory breath of the east…wind；
Forest and meadow and hill； and the steel…blue rim of the ocean；
Lying silent and sad； in the afternoon shadows and sunshine。
Over his countenance flitted a shadow like those on the
landscape；
Gloom intermingled with light； and his voice was subdued with
emotion；
Tenderness； pity； regret； as after a pause he proceeded：
〃Yonder there； on the hill by the sea； lies buried Rose Standish；
Beautiful rose of love； that bloomed for me by the wayside！
She was the first to die of all who came in the Mayflower！
Green above her is growing the field of wheat we have sown