The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-01-13


ERS-wHAT FORMER INDIANAPoLTTAE
SAW IN PARADISE"
A letter from Mr. Geo. Merritt, a former
well known citizen Of indianapolis, recently
received by Mrs. C1en. the state librarian,
contains some points of interest relating TO
California, where lin the town of San Diego
he and his family are now living. AS every
one is anxious to learn about the wonders of
the ''finest climate under the sum- the fol-
lowing extracts may prove Interesting. He
describes his first ride from San Diego into
the surrounding country and ssys: start
ed out TO take all tue family to ride, but
found the only ssrigo TO be had WAS an old
"Wells- Fargo coach, for which we must
have four hourses and driver. This was
engaged and rolled up to our door with
great flourish at eight o'clock, and we bum
died into it wrapped in shawls overcoats.
etc., just as though it was cold, although we
have as yet had no frost here. We were
soon seated and with loud crack from the
drivers whip, were off tor Paradise valley
with our four horses on gallop, giving
promise of our arrival on time. We were
rapidly whirled out of town--over the
"mesa," through long rows of - barrens,
only occasionally relieved by lunches of the
tree, cactus, and prickly pear, which grow
here from four to ten feet high, and seem to
require no water. We were soon on the
brow of the hill overlooking Paradise valley
with its beautiful little farms looking fresh
and beautiful as if under May sun and en-
joying April showers in place of "Decem-
ber's chilly blasts" From the brow of the
hill could be seen coming up from some I'M
known depths to our sight, volumes of dense
sulphurous looking smoke, which were
painfully suggestive of - some other place
than Paradise. Our driver could give US
no positive information about the origin
of the smoke, and we were LETT to our
own surmisings while he drove down
the steep grade and around the sharp curves
with his horses on the run, and cracking bis
whip for our benefit, showing a recklessness
that we feared would throw over little
too near those smoky depths. He, however,
brought Us down safely and drew rein in
front OF a little cottage nearly buried in
green trees and vines, standing in the midst
of what appeared to be garden farm. Here
we alighted, and leaving our overcoats and
wraps in the coach, we're met at the gate by
the proprietor of this little
MANSION IN PARADISE
Valley. After mutual introductions, in
which we found our host was a Mr.. George
c. Swan, formerly of Cleveland, Ohio, he led
the way to the house through long rows of
beautiful flowers too numerous to mention,
but among which the different varieties of
geraniums were blooming with such profu-
sion as we never see at home, and the tube
rose was also prominent. As we neared the
house we passed under the beautiful ever
green pepper tree and among several varie-
ties of the acacia tree, in full bloom; one
variety growing in long, slender twlgs
thickly studded with flowers, each one of
which was guarded by short thick thorn,
very sharp and strong. This is supposed to
be the kind of thorn from which the ''crown
of thOrns" was made more than eighteen
hundred years ago. Passing these we were
shown an eucalyptus forty feet high and
twelve inches in diameter at the root, the
seed of which was. planted January l., 1870.
Then we were taken to the strawberry
patch, and told to pick and eat. The ripe
berries were not very plentiful, but there
were some fine ones; also plenty OF green
ones and others in bloom. Passing peach
tree we saw a fine cucumber hanging on
limb, and although we were pretty well pre-
pared for wonders, we had not expected to
see peach trees bearing cucumbers in the
winter. Mr.. Swan seeing us standing amazed
rushed i'm and picked it, and handing it TO
Mrs. Merritt said: take it home for your
Christmas dinner" Then we were taken to
the fig trees and ate ripe figs from a tree
three years old that had borne about two
thousand figs this year; then to grape vine
three wears old that nearly covered the house.
There was only one bunch of grapes left on
the vine but it was as large as my hat, and
each grape TWICE as large dS dUy We udu dt
home. We were invited to try the quality
of the grapes and then Mr.. Swan brought us
from the house some raisins made from the
earlier grapes on the same vine and some
dried figs of his own curing which were ex-
cellent. Next we went to the apple orchard
and tried an apple which was very fine; then
to the melon patch, and picked and ate two
nice NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. the last of the sea-
son. We were shown sweet potato vines
that had born two crops, and were still
growing; the vines will grow and produce
continually here, but they do better to be
replanted every two or three years. Lemon,
orange and lime trees were growing finely,
but were two young to bear, except one lime
tree which was quite full. They also had
date palm trees started, butthese were small.
We had, however, seen them full size, and
bearing, at the old ''A1ission" near here. that
were planted by the "San Franciscans" over
hundred years ago. Before leaving here,
Mr.. Swan hailed gentleman that was riding
by and remarked that
HE WAS FROM INDIANA,
And invited him to the roadside for an in :
PRODUCTION, when who should it prove to be
but your one armed soldier, Hamilton who
wished employment at the State House at
the time you were elected librarian. He
owns farm in the valley, of twenty acres,
well started in semi-tropical fruits but not
x,at ,nrodu cir,r, rnuoh innofua and I fpar