Arizona A Tribute Delos H. Smalley Chicago Decorations by Marion Miller from Sketches and Photographs by the Author Copyright, MCMVII, by Delos H. Smalley Arizona A Tribute J*- :-** Delos H. Smalley Chicago U3NARY of CON lwo copies Mcc«iye<: MAY 25 to n A- I88.Z8C ^K EATH heaven's arched and wide-expanded dome, Lie many lands of beauty, rare with charm; Where seeking pleasure, com- fort, health, or home, Or airs that cool, or climes that gently warm, Man journeys far afield: nor spares the gold, His meed for toil through weary days untold. Some to the pyramids on Egypt's plain, And some, to cities old by distant main: Some to the winding floods, where castle- towers Time years of men, as men take note of hours: Some seek clear lakes, reflecting Alpine snow; Some, sunny slopes, where vine and olive grow; But knowing not thy charms, they yet have missed The fairest land by sun and soft breeze kissed. The Grand _Cany on II [HY Canyon walls, mile -deep, the story tell Of aeons measureless by finite mind: No human skill e'er blent soft tints so well, Nor equal grace, in grandeur fair, outlined. The artist here, with none to praise or blame, Nor power of death to quench his fervor's flame, Colored and carved, till we entranced, exclaim, Nature! Our artists' dreams but bear thy name ! — Then snowy summits, piercing to the blue, Leave denser airs, and starry-worlds look through The ether pure, with nearer kindlier gaze; Hymning, to ear attuned, their song of praise. Below, the Crater-Cups, and Cinder-Dome, Show travail-throes, through which old earth has come. Ill ATURE, ere age of unborn men might waste Earth's Forest -Kings, a thou- sand summers grown: Nor record leave of all their stately grace, Has here embalmed their forms in lasting stone — The chemistry of growth— its sudden stay— The subtle change — the marvel— who shall say What ages rolled, ere elements combined Had wrought the miracle, howe'er designed? What later cycles ran, while forces slow Formed the deep gorge, with hanging roofs, below Which races long forgotten, now, should dwell, Adding their untaught skill, to build so well, That lacking legend's store, or written page, Their homes stand, wonders, for each passing age? IV r AR to the south, Eternal Sum- mer-Land — Broad plains, watched o'er by mountains old and gray: ii Dotted with sage, where thorny cacti stand: Where cattle roam, and miraged -waters play: Where mountain streams are lead to thirsty soil, And fields of green reward the tiller's toil. Here, graceful palm and fragrant orange, charm: There stately pines defy the mountain- storm: Nor sense delight and fertile fields, alone; But filling mountain-gorge, the precious stone, And metals rare, wait the bold miner's hand, To yield their wealth, like gifts of fairy- land — With Nature's best, she proudly welcomes thee, Our Arizona,— Great, and Wild, and Free. ULTURE of favored centers, older grown, A grace and freedom born of nature's charm, Give welcome to the stranger, faring lone, That thrills the heart, and keeps the life-tide warm. Fair women,— men as brave as earth may know, Clear eyes of truth, and cheeks with youth's soft glow, Join the strange cadence of the desert-call, The singing pines, the sounding waterfall: Offer the freedom of their cities fair, Fountains of youth, distilled in mountain air, And every beauty 'neath the purple dome That canopies their loved and chosen home. With these, her charms, she proudly welcomes thee, Our Arizona,— Great, and Wild, and Free. THE GRAND CANYON OF THE COLORADO ;HOU Mighty Chasm! on whose walls is writ The history of the Ages, we call Time— Thy Year an Aeon, as man reckons it— We bow before Thee, murmering— Sublime! Here Nature ever speaks her first Great- Cause: Here God converses, face to face, with man— We read from Stony Tables, changeless Laws, Wherein He shows anew, His great World- Plan. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 015 988 884 8