Los Angeles daily herald., 1874-07-29
THE BEACH.
A Dny ut will TelIs-BOat Racing
Bathing-A General GOOD Time
Where to Go for Recreation.

BRthtnE-A SSnernI SOOI
Where to Go for Recreation.
Almost everybody goes to the beach
nowadays, and those who are unable
to do so, are both out of the world and
out of fashion. Catching the general
inspiration, our reporter paid visit
to Will Tell's "Seaside Retreat" last
Sunday, and what he saw, heard and
experienced is chronicled for the BEN
eft both of those who know how it is
themselves, and those who don't.
Not to be under the imputation of
"over-drawing," we will say that the
drive down does not lie through Elysian
fields, but on the contrary the country
looks trifle more like Tartarus. Af-
ter leaving the green yards and shade
trees in the suburbs, rolling plain
at this season of the year dry and
dusty - stretches out with but few
oases to mark the parched way until
you reach the sea shore. The land is
covered for the most part with the ma
tive grass called alfilerilo," dried to
a crisp and matted upon the ground.
Our Eastern visitor looks aghast when
this is called "excellent feed " in his
presence, and perhaps suggests that
shavings or curled hair be substituted,
as containing an equal amount of
nOurishment for stock. Nevertheless,
the alfilerillo is all that is claimed for
it, being perfectly cured hay and at
the same time excellent grain; the
abundance of small seeds contained
in it answering the latter purpose.
Upon this cattle will live the Summer
through without other nourishment
and grow fat. Along the way, we saw
several flocks Of sheep and goats graz
ing, with their herders standing guard
over them. But there was not enough
animation along the whole route to
furnish "gon for funeral procession.
The fiocks only made a sleepy fore
ground for sleepy picture; and we
were glad enough when, at last, we
passed through the gap in the noun
tains down the other side and found
our monotonous journey drawing to a
close. At the "Seaside RetreatN we
were welcomed Hospitality by Mr.. Tell
and lady. Everybody has heard of VIM.
Tell. He was the individual who
raised such rumpus with old Gesler
once upon time-refused to bow to
Gesler's scare-crow, finally got his
dander up. and then shot an apple.
1t may be gratifying to cur readers
to know that Mr.. Tell still waves, and
that he now has old Gesler in his pos
session, dried up to a mere board,
painted red and blue, and set up on
commanding point for q weather.
vane and warning to all tyrants.
The Retreat does not boast of very
elegant or very extensive quarters,
but it has what is better than all these
good cheer; plenty to eat and
drink, and all outdoors for reception
room. People do not visit the place
for the purpose Of sitting indoors with
kid gloves on, and bottle of perfume
adjusted to their olfactory organs, but
rather for romp on the beach, sail
on the lake, a bath, n hunt or "a fish
something different from the pent-up
formalities of city life. And they
who visit Tells find all Of these enjoy
ments in their most acceptable form.
Upon the lake there are a plenty of
sail and rOw-bOats, where one can
paddle his own canoe, in still water,
out of harms way. Then there is
fishing tackle to supply all demands,
| III eiiO oSoo'ht suns "'AN w. ~
cetera for visiting sportsmen. Mine
host, too, Is the most Obliging of COM
panions, and is always ready to lead
off in any sport that may be in hand.
Beyond the lake, and on the other
side of the bar, you find the tide roll
ing in from the old ocean itself, with
the finest beach and the best surf on
the coast for bathing. We donned
the Black Crook costume in vogue at
the place, and, as the term goes,
"waded in." Perhaps the experience
of novice in sea-bathing would be
worth something to the entirely unin-
itiated ard would furnish amusement
for those who know how the thing is
done, but we have constitutional
aversion to being laughed at, and con-
sequently withhold what we know
about it. Just as the proof of the
pudding is the eating thereof, so you
will never know the exact flavor of
the briny deep until you have had a
mouthful of it. Our opinion of the
beverage is that, though somewhat
superior to EPSON salts, it can't com
pare with a few Local Option drinks
that we have tasted.
The sail-bOat race was arranged to
come off between Messrs. Lacouver
| anu huIlAJ vi Jul Clty do iiootSiS ~
spectively of two small craft, and
fifty dollars side was staked on the
results. Mr.. Lacouver "backed out "
(must we say it) and the race would
have been complete failure had not
Mr.. Tell volunteered to fill that gen.
tleman's place. The course was up
and down the lake once and repeat,
and some very good management was
shown in handling the boats, over the
distance. Mr.. Kurtz, finally, came
out winner by great odds and 1--WE sup
pose) got his fifty dollars.
Altogether, the day was very pleas
antly passed by all who were at Mr.
Tells place, and every succeeding
Sunday during the season will see a
repetition of the enjoyment. Those
who have been once will go again, and
those who are debarred from the priv
ilege deserve the sympathy OF ell the