Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-02-05
NUMBER 80.
Letter from Southern California.

To the Editor of the Free Press and Times
In my far away home on the shores ol
the Pacific. there is no more welcome visit
ant than that old Vermont friend, the FREE
Press. Although as we read Of 100 90
and even 30o below zero, we involuntarily
shiver in sympathy for those less favored
than We, who are blessed with q warm
temperature and sunny skies and often
have wished for the pen Of ready writer
to depict the delightful climate of Southern
California. Perhaps Of all the places for
winter resort. in this region, Santa Bar
bara is most popular. and on many ac-
counts deservedly so. For beauty of stu
alton it surpasses anything have seen out
side of New England-I never acknowl-
edge It is finer than q mountain town
there. Almost encircled by lofty
mountain range, the town lies coz
lily snuggled in among the hills. with
only southern exposure TO the sea, its
only unobstructed road 10 the outer world.
The town has risen from Struggling Mexi-
can village to 4 neat, thriving, regularly
laid out incorporated city. within a few
years, with churches, schools, and public
| library. and nearly all the advantages for
business or society that our slow growing
eastern towns have been able to accumulate
in halt Il century. The population now
numbers 5000. and is constantly increased
| BY those who come for winters sojOurn.
and eventually make the place perma-
nent residence. The boats touch the wharf
at the foot Of the principal street, which
extends north about u miles; and as one
first walks up the street the quaint PIC
turesQue, character of the place. i very
striking. The Mexican houses in the lower
part OF the town have given way to hotels
and various business and public buildings.
But as We advance, the old, one story tiled
rooted habitatiOns Of the old Californian
appear, still occupied by the dark-eyed
senOritas, il not as in some cases driven out
by that industrious individual. whose sign
proclaims his motto TO be cleanliness next
To godliness" and also his nationality
'Ang Lau. Washing and Ironing Near
the head OF the street stands Santa Barbara
College. and a little further Oh the
foundation for large. tirst-elass hotel
i already laid. But the most noticeable.
and 10 many the most interesting bdildilg
in all Santa Barbara l. the old mission,
built by the Eranciscans nearly hundred
wears ago. As seen from the harD0r it pre-
sents quite an imposing appearance. with
it, white walls and arched porch, sur
mounted by two towers, whose bells call
the deyout to worship IN the early morn
ing. and at regular intervals through tie
day. But IN this, as IN many other eas5-,
distance lends enehantment. for On near
approach it l. found 10 be built oi adobe
and whitewsshed. and lis stately pillars
are OF the same material. The edlhce IL
about 300 feet long and the main part 80
feet deep, and is occupied for Il chapel and
school for boys with at present 55 pupils.
The view from the towers is enchanting
zN.nl
of the bay beyond hecked by the white |
wings OF al approaching schooner, and, !
when We visited the spot. the soft, rosy
light OF the declining sun touching and /
glorifying the grand old hills and lofty |
mountains in the background. 1he grounds |
are well cultivated by the Fathers although |
on account of the snare and delusiOn of |
ladies' society our party were not admitted. |
Not being prescribed from visiting the |
burial ground, the inmates being beyond /
the reach Of temptation, We entered the /
sacred enclosure through side door in /
the chapel, over which, embedded IN the /
wall were two skulls and the enblematic /
cross-bones The place Is utterly neglected, |
being Overgrown with weeds and rank grass;
but several pretentiOus looking monuments
of adobe chonic!e the virtues Of the deyout
DOns resting beneath, while in one corner
marked by slab, We ind the Yankee name
of Hill. and the State of his nativity .Massa-
chusetts Beside the mission the Catholics
have church and girls school in tie city,
while all the orthodox denominations have
hOurishing ehurehes-the Baptist, Rev. Ii.
|. Packer, pastor. formerly of Burlington,
and Rev j. W. IiOlgh, of ths.Congrega-
tional Church, 80 well known In Chittenden
county, and upon whose return from the
II E. manila f-a- a pn-Ffa Il I'D h Z
stantial reception at the principal hotol.
and decorated the church with flowers on
the following Sunday "a a token ot the &c y
high esteem in which he i held by the pcO-
pie. But, alter all, the chief attraction Of
the place Is its genial climate. F-O:n
Thank. giving 10 Christmas there was not
cloudy OF windy day beautiful, sunny
days with a moderate temperature, and
aad clear. cool nights. 50 cool that IN some
parts Of the town there were Slight trOst>,
but not enough TO injure the most delicate
plants Geraniums. heliotrOpes and tea
roses are in iuil bloom in the open air.
The absence Of trees, - noticeable TO an
eastern person IN many parts OF Southern
California, l. Lot ielr here, a. there are
many grand old oaks, and the graceful
pepper tree, the eucalyptus and the acacia
are grown tor ornament and give refresh
ing shade from the somewhat fierce rays OF
the nOon day sun - an agricultural
region this Is not 50 favorable location on
account Of the rearneSs of the coast range
To the sea, leaving comparatively little
country for farming purposes, vet in either
direction up or down the coast, at LampOe
or Carpenteria there Is ample scope for the
herdsman or general farmer, with always
ready market. L. I.
California, Jan. 18th.