Los Angeles daily herald., 1875-03-13
Letter From California.

my arrival in California. l hav,
thought many times Of doing so, but
business and other correspondence
seemed always to demand my time
besides l have seen an occasional let.
ter from this place to you, written by
the able pen of Judge Clapp, andmore
recently from S. p. Smith, both form
erly of Danville. Having Travelled
through the Golden State with view
of settling permanently, have been
a careful observer throughout; but
found no place which suited me in
every respect, as did this place. The
mildness of the climate, and the pro-
ductiveness of the soil, it seeming to
be adapted to raising every kind OF
produce, both Northern and semi
tropical; besides the rapid growth OF
the city, the increase of railroad facili-
ties, and the vast tide of emigration,
all so plainly speaking the future des-
tiny of the place. 1t also being the
metropolis of Southern California,
what more need one ask to insure a
good business?
| have lived here for one year and a
half, and the Improvements of the
city are really wonderful. There
are many facts, which would, no
doubt, interest many of your readers,
pertaining 10 this quaint city "The
Queen Of the Angels" founded nearly
one hundred years ago, and presents
to this day, to a stranger, the charm
of antiquity with its crooked streets
and queer adobe buildings, scattered
here and there. These, however, do
not lessen the attractions. The streets
are being graded, and the sidewalks
our two and three story buildings
which we have without number. The
city itself occupies an area of about
six miles, and embraces, within its
limits, grand and beautiful view of
hill and plain. From my window l
look upon the hills clothed in green,
and beyond are the Sierra Madre
mountains, with their lofty snow
capped peaks. What contrast!
/ Were is not that it would seem too
much like fairy lands, | would say
we gathered flowers with one hand,
and, at the same time, snowballs with
the other / may say distinctly that
we have no Winter here. When we
speak of wandering through orange
groves, bending beneath their yellow
burden; or inhaling their balmy, de-
licious atmosphere; of the beautiful
eucalyptus and pepper tree with the
lemon and pomegranite-in fact, one
vast tropical orchard, while the gar
dens, teeming with every variety of
the fiowery kingdom, fills the air
with their Incompatible odors; does
nf hn
leafiess days that you are enjoying, or
enduring, at this time. All! L have
spent too many days in your icy
cline to be ignorant of what Winter
means, and can but soliloquize, ugh!
I don't want to be there. 1t is cold
enough here to make fire pleasant
and light overcoat comfortable, and
we have as glorious an atmosphere, as
much enjoyment, as many pleasant
sights as though it were June. Some
of our Eastern friends, believe, erro-
neously imagine that our Winters are
made up of rainy days; but if they
will stop and think that we do not
see a drop of rain from March until
December, they will readily see that
rain would he hailed with great de
light. However, / will correct that
error by saying that our Winters are
far from being rainy ones. 1t rains
for few days, then the sun shines it's
warmest and brightest, and the mud
dries up as if by magic-the soil being
very sandy, we have but little mud.
1t is then, if ever, that the ladies all
seem to be of one mind, that is to get
the full benefit of clean streets, for it
must be remembered that where no
rain descends for nine months, there
must consequently be some dust.
Some seem bent on shopping, others,
RECALLED in all the fashions of the day,
are making calls, while the greater
number, with hosts OF children, have
gathered ON the hill which looks
from distance-as if it were sudden
ly changed into grand park; every
thing is glorious and full of life after
rain. The rains this year are later
than usual, also heavier, causing in
some parts fearful damages. Marys-
Vile, in the Northern part of the
State, has suffered heavy loss, owing
to defects in the levee. Large contri-
buttons are being sent every day,
which will partly alleviats the suffer-
ings of the poor. learn through
your columns that several of the Dan
Vile boys contemplate tour through
California, this Winter. That is
right; come in the Winter and save
yourselves from all the cold blasts
that you can. Do not return without
seeing semi-tropical California. No
one could see it and breathe its in
vigorating air without being charmed
especially in Winter. In summer
the heat is tempered by cool sea-
breeze, and the nights are invariably
cool-just cool enough to require
blanket on the bed--insuring perfect
rest and sweet slumber to all.
Our churches and schools are well
worthy Of mention, for Of these,
stranger who cOntemplates settling
here, with large family, will first
inquire. The Methodist, Presbyterian,
Congregationalist and Episcopalians,
occupy neat and commodious build
ings, while the Baptist, which is more
recently organized, occupies for the
present the Good Templars' Hall. The
Southern Methodist congregation will
soon erect place of worship, which is
to cost $4,000. The Hegrew Syna-
gogue is one of the showiest buildings
in The city. The Public High School,
under the superintendent of VIM. L.
Lucky, is, in every respect, what one
would expect to find in much larger
cities; it being fitted with all the mod
ern appliances, and the Superintend-
ent being a gentleman of over thirty
years experience in teaching,is enough
assurance that it can receive the most
advanced students. Los Angeles also
boasts of public library containing
over 800 volumes, and is one of the
chief attractions to tourists; chess
room is connected with it which is
also used as a smoking and converse