New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-07-04
THE YOSEMITE.

FREQUENT CHRISTENING.
SAN FRANCISCO, June THE Yosemite fever
now al it, hight and all the different avenues of APP
proach TO the wonderful valley and s scarcely won
derut aduncts filed to repetion The season so far
has been unusually pleasant and remarkably free from
the annOyance of dust and heat which have figured so
oonspouousyin journalistic Of the trip. The
facilities for getting in and of the valley and parcu
tary for remaining there. wholly inadequate TO the
demand; and the goodnatured reasonable traveller,
wei as the constitutional grumbler has occasion to and
does ye his dissatisfaction the lack of good faith
the part OF those worthy gentlemen who sell tickets for
the round trip" have just returned from two weeks
Yosemite tour. and while shall not attempt the regla
ton task OF presenting by the square yard the arac
tons Of the valley, will record few hints of practi
cal kind regarding the trip itself and such incidental
matters may be Of interest TO those who contemplate
making it, II not to those who stay at home. There
two distinct routes from this city 20 Yosemite-one
by way OF Clark's Ranch, taking In the MarpOsa
grove Of big trees, the other by Big Oak Flat
taking in the Calayeras grove. Each of these
" trsils"-as they oalled-wn keep the tourist
in stage and hOrseback-with proper intervals
for eating and sleepnGfye days. The travelling fare
for the round trip if paid to company is S6 The
incidental expenses, giving from three five days in
the valley will amount TO at least SIS making the
total expense $780, There is great diversity of opinion
rs to the relative merits OF the two routes and what is
particularly about It, resident san Franciscan
has any decided notions the subject which he is will
ling TO impar-uness that resident be agent for
pecuniary interested in the other of the routes
and then his opinion be had without the asking No
careful tourist will spend less than three DAYS eXamin
ing into the probabilities and possibilities Of the rival
trails and whichever he at last decides TO take will be
the which, according to the unanimous verdict of
Yosemite tourists he should not have taken. II ne
visits the Calaveras instead of the Marposa
Grove. he viii be to learn when too late
that the MarpOsa trees are larger taller. beautiful
and more numerous than the Calaveras and should
he he fortunate as to decide in favor Of MarpOsa the
next learned tourist viii him with dOleful
countenance and wise shrug of the shoulders that the
Calaveras trees 1000 years old when those of
Marposa first sprouted II he reaches the valley from
Tamarack Flat and Prospect Point heiw learn that he
has made the great mistake Of his life his first view
should have been from Inspiration Point the other
trail and when he at last aims to correct this blunder by
spending aday get tins view he will be told
with emphasis to misunderstood that Inspra
ton Point is to be compared with Glacier Point
and Sentinel Dome than is pocket syringe to Niagara
Falls In short whatever the anxious tourist may see
from whatever point Of view he will find out sooner
later that owing his following the wrong advice he
has missed the only sights worthy OF his attention.
SUNSET STREAMING THROUGH THE GOLDEN GATE.
Your correspondent fell into the hands of the Gala
veras PhIistnes and has thus earned the perpetual
commseration of the friends and agents Of well as
the travellers by the MarpOsa trail" The Calaveras
victims left san Francisco by boat taking in their
Journey the most beautiful part of the most beautiful bay
America. and passing in full view of the Golden Gate
lust the parting rays Of the sun came streaming in
through its narrow portals 1t is difficult to conceive of
moro beautiful than is here presented. 1t was
perfect surprise to me- and all the acceptable for
being Even now, call to mind the oily logic Of
The agent who is paid to magnify the charms of Gala
oera most heartily forgive him his many beset-
ments extravagan speech. nasmuch he neglected
10 mention the Golden Gate and its heavenly food OF sun
beams We pass through the Bay of San Pablo, Susun
Bay with its wealth Of islands. and enter the crooked
and sluggish Joaquin River, which your readers
must pronounce spelled SanWau-Keen OF not pro
nOunoe at ell
BY this time prudent people are in bed, andn blessed
with good digestion and quiet cOnscences, will remain
there until called up to early breakfast al stockton
From Stockton the locomotive takes the Copper
lp0s Railroad TO Milton distance OF q miles where
stage journey begins For eight ten miles we are
irawn dusty rolling plain, and finally enter upon
stretch Of ve-oak country, with pleasing variety Of
scenery. We stop for the night at Murphys, mining
town about IA miles from the Calaveras grove The last
four miles Of this road pass through beautiful canon,
where stream Of clear water dashes in miniature tor
along the with dropping branches OF
Cich green foliage, TO complete the picture. Had not
known was California, should have imagined myself
IN the wds Of New England. At D1urphy's cur guide,
philosopher and friend takes pleasure in introducing
70 eccentric naturalist who makes a living and
Tatfes peculiar taste by cnlhvatng tarantuas and
selling their nests. As we lot of mpecunious jour
uasts and may possibly mention this queer enterprise
IN our country newspapers, we are presented with |
q nest apiece, and muTmur our grateful thanks.
THE HOMESTEAD OF A TARANTULA.
TfIhad the space would give frstrate notice 10 these
curious insects for they II. great hairy ugly
looking poisonous spider not pleasant OBJECT 10 con-
template in the abstract but when such reptile ex-
bits the divine gift Of architectural construction ana
does IL in such an unObrusive, modest way, and yet
with perfecuon Of skill and adaptation of which any
Intelligent human might be proud, deem it worthy OF
mention The tarantua's nest Is hole in the ground;
a sort of bandits cave with hermetCallysealed trap
door neeniousy and securely fastened on the inside
The interior dwelling, which is single room, is about
an inch and half diameter by about two, or two and
half inches in length; it is perfectly cylindrical ana
smooth with vevety coating resembling the INSIDE OF
chestnut The round door at the top has perfect
hinge and shuts so exactly to be waterght. On the
de NJ the door are two tiny holes through which the
occupant passes string by this device fastens the
door securely on the nner-sde. When not IN USE the
string ia carried the neck Of the tarantua ready to
be adjusted at moments notice. Often the insect Is
killed and taken out of the bottom of It's CELL possessing
intact the curious fastening. The walls OF the cell are
cemented with sort of gluten, like the nest OF wasp
and when taken from the earth sufficient thickness
Aheres TO preserve the These curious nests
are in good demand selling readily at $50 apiece.
From Murphys to the Calaveras Grove is good morn
fngs drive through a billy but delightful country The
big tree indications begin 20 crop out three or -FOUR miles
distant from the grove many Of the beautiful tan pine
trees measuring TO IS feet in diameter and from ZOO 10
800 feet in hight Our absorbing desire to be surprised
bv the genuine Seqtofa Gganteus and nothing less in
nces "a TO close our eyes to the surprising beauty Of
this pine grove which must have been present TO Bry
ants nina when he described Gods first temples"
TIE TITLES OF THE FOREST MoSARcHs.
The lig trees of Caayeras and MaripOsa are wonderful