Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1881-08-24
n is said that Charles Nordhoff

IL about to visit the Pacific Coast
with view to revising his book
on California. Some of the news
papers add that he will probably
correct some of his glazing mis-
statements about California. That
Mr.. Nordhoff gave his book 3
quite roseate tiDge cannot be de-
MED, but we do not believe that he
was guilty Of any Intentional mis-
representation. About the time
Mr.. Nordhoff came here Grace
Greenwood and Mrs. Calhoun had
paid US visits, and their accounts
were even more roseate than those
OF Nordhoff. which were written
shortly afterwards. The fact Is that
all these gifted people came to Cal
ifornia in an exceptionally good
season and at the best season of the
year to see the State. AS a matter
Of fact, for those months in the
year in which the East is either
laboring with the rains, mud and
slush Of the fallow spring, or the
Ice and snows of winter, California
10 simply an incomparably lovely
country. 1T is what Mrs. Calhoun
and Grace Greenwood, with femi-
nine enthusiasm, described it to be,
. perfect Paradise. The difficulty
with Mr.. Nordhoff was not q lack
Of honesty of intention. but his fall
ure. through the inability of too
brief q residence amongst US, to
discriminate between different Sec
lions of the State and different sea-
sons Of the year. AS to the San
Joaquin valley, we believe that be
has said many things which can
not be maintained, and that be
wrote of that region under the
pleasant influence of a good season,
and in ignorance of many draw.
backs which distinguish it very
painfully from the most attractive
portions of California. AS to ev
.<erything that this popular and
able writer has said about Los An.
geles county, he will not only have
nothing to take back but much tt
add of the character of corroborat-
ing evidence should he again visit
us. Since Mr.. Nordhoff's hurried
frst visit, our city and county have
been the scenes of q simply mirac-
ulous growth. What be has said
of Anaheim remains as true as
when he wrote 1t pine years ago;
while since then Pasadena, West.
minister, Orange, Florence, Comp.
ton and many other successful and
attractive settlements have sprung
Into being. Balancing one thing
with another, retrenching in some
portions of his book ana expand.
ing in others, Charles Nordhof1
can at least claim a stand.off With
truth in California narrative; and,
whether 1t was written to encour-
age travel and immigration to CAL
ifornia In the interest OF the Gen.
trail and Union Pacific Railways OF
not, 1t was none the less a good
and useful publication. That q
certain proportion of the people
who came to California largely
through reading his work have
not been successful is true, but of
what region on the globe could moi
this be said? The proportion OF
people who are eminently success
ful anywhere is small fraction 10
the thousand. To Offset those who
perhaps have not bettered their
condition by coming to California,
there are thousands who, as a con-
sequence, rejoice in improved
health and rehabilitated phys.
iques, while there are other thous-
ands, with whom climate is a Sec
ondary matter, who have achieved
peouniary success here.