Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1880-08-21
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.

SANTA Rosa, July %, 1880.
Mr. ROBERT TAYLoR:-In my last
letter told you OF my proposed visit to
the wonderful valley OF the Yosemite,
and l believe promised to write you
about it on my return.
Well, l have made the Journey, and
am now home again without loss of lie
or limb. The German proverb that only
Americans and fools travel irst-class,
was not the argument that determined
me to make that journey by convey
ance of my own providlng-it was
rather because of my conviction that
that mode of travel would not only be
less expensive, but with a camping out
fit, far more healthful, and besides this
we thought sort of f'go-as you please"
way would enable US to secure larger
share in that supreme good which all
Calliornians believe is only to be found
in camp life.
No people need it so little, and yet
none esteem season OF outdoor lite so
important as do the people of California.
Everybody. almost, goes out camping.
Its entire exemption from rain from
April till October. makes California the
paradise OF the camper. A tent, (though
usually provideD Is unnecessary, and
except to relieve one OF its hardness
bed at night, nor yet L blanket is need
ful as shield against dampness, Tor
the earth is everywhere as dry Us pow
der and AS hard rs flint hardly know
how to speak of its hardness bed of
macadamized limestone rock upholster-
ell in sheet iron, would be luxury to
the man who has once tried to sleep
upon the bare uncarpeled adobe soil of
California. A single night thus spent
would bring you to your feet Gas it did
me) long before the sun, with the
| truthful exclamation that California is
indeed hard country. But with a
light mattress, pair OF blankets. 4 good
gun and good companions. there is no
|
feebled frame can he so quickly replen-
ished.
There is no ailment, no curaJle all.
ment that will not yield to the life giving
power OF an atmosphere so iull OF ozone
as is to be found in these mountains
Believing this, and to CRAFTY my ambi.
tion to see that wonderful valley, we
started on the 10th of last month with 8
full camping outfit, and at noon of the
lth day we reached the summit of the
mountain overlooking the valley. The
journey was one lull of toll and hard
ship and peril, and should be undertaken
by none but the tough and resolute.
To a person wholly unfamll liar will
the perlls of mountain travel among tn,
Sieras, a description OF our Journey
nigh be instructive, but to the man who
found his way over these rugged hill:
along the devious, dim underlined patl
of % years ago. as you did, and who's,
first look into these deep dark impassa
Die canyons, was over the bows an,
horns of an OK team. it could not b,
otherwise than tame, will not tire yo,
with 1t.
Besides my own family, we had a
company four others OF our neigh bo
friends, a widow lady and her grown u,
daughter, and Il widower and his invali,
son, our entire equippage embraced onl,
absolute necessaries- wardrobe wa
especially scanty and without ornaments
single SUIT to each aud That selcctc,
from the garret OF cast off clothing witt
one change of underwear was all w
had. our plug hats, tight boots ant
lpsperi collars We're all lett behind, ant