Daily Los Angeles herald., 1882-03-26
Russell ON SANTA MONICA.
A Graphic Description Of the Colorado Desert
Los Angeles and the City BY the Sea.

A Graphic Description Of the Colorado Desert
Los Angeles and the City BY the Sea.
Most Of our people remember th'
Welt to Los Angeles and SAINTS
Monica, last year, of the Duke o
Sutherland and his party, which
comprised, amongst ether dlstin
guished personsgss, DR.. William
Howard Russell, the famous "BuI
Run" Russell, of our war of tb,
Rebellion. DR.. Russell, on his re-
turn to England, published the re
suit of his experiences and obser
vations in the United States in
beck entitled, "Hesperothep,' ,
from the Franklin Square Library
edition of which we quote as fol
lows, beginning with the depar
ture of the party from Yuma:
More happily constituted travel.
ers than the most of US have seen
something pleasing In the aspect
of the country roundabout, and
have been moved to much admira.
tion by the various tints OF the
hills in the distance, and by the
rocks which constitute the near
limits of the valley through which
the river passes. In the Old days
when the stsge-coaches offered the
only means Of travelling through
the district, there might have been
q good deal to see along the road;
but the rail generally avoids
sights, and where nature IL at Its
best, the engineer strikes deep
down in burrows if he can. The
eolors of the hills are bright aud
varied; the lava rocks are of many
shades, and the sun, piercing
through strata of pure air, illumi-
mates them with great vividpess
and force; but after q while the eye
tires of the uniform hues of the
landscape. For few miles the
rail runs close to the river, then
plunges into the most remorse ess,
cruel waste of sand aBd rocks,
spread out up to the foot of the
rugged hills of the Bernardino
range, I ever beheld-an abomina-
tion Of desolatiOn compared with
which the Lybyan Desert Of the
plains of Scinde were the Garden
OF the Hespsrides. l cannot de-.
scribe, nor could I at any time
hope to succsed in giving al ade-
quats conception of this dreadful
wilderness. Fer 1O7 miles west
there is not drop of water to be
found; the stations are dependent
on the railways for their supplies.
But Nature, as If to take aw ay the
rsproach of permitting such vast
blotch on her fair face, kindly
threw ia Fata Morgana. We saw
with delight widespread lakes with
fairy islands in ths midst; placid
seas washing the base of the dis
tsnt hills. This baked and dreary
expAnse extends nearly to San
0ergonio. We were spared the
sandstorms which are 30 dreadful,
nor did we experience inconve-
nisnce from the dust. The traveller,
who has begun to despair of ever
seeing anything greener than
giant caeti and the adsmantipe
vegetation which dispsnses with
water, is agrssably surprised as he
approaches Los Angeles. If he b
as fortunate as we were Ia having
such friends as Colonel Baker and
his wife to take charge Of him, he
will be amply repaid for far great
or discomfOrts than any ne exps-
rienoed on the Colorado desert.
From Los Angeles there Is xrail-
way to santa Monica, seventeen
miles distant, which belongs to
Colonel Baker; and L would ADVISE
every one who can, either To spare
or make the time for u diversion to
that most delightful spot. Judge
Of the pleasure we felt when, after
a picturesque run through orange
groves, vineyards, and fields Of corn
and barley. we gazsd on the waters
Of the Pacific. = What
o glorious scene! the broad bay
lighted by the rays of the declin-
ing sun; the blue waves rolling on
In solemn march, AMI breaking In
long lines OF foam on the dazzling
sand, and nearer still the gardens
and trees of the Pacific BiarrItz
which was about to welcome US!
Our palace-car and its attendant
carriages shot into siding close
to the beach. In few minutes
"every man Jackn was off to the
bathing establishment to conform
to the regulations ere we plunged
into the sss. 1t is an orthodox
bathing place Of tho highest erder.
The baths are extensive, aud pro-
vided with every convenience and
comfort for ladies and invalids;
hot end cold, salt water and fresh,
for those who do not like to trust
themselves 10 the sea. A rope sx-
tended seAward to hold on by was
needful, for the surf was heavy and
the undertow strong. The water
was delicious. Generally there is
less sea on, and it Is never too hot
or too cold for bathing. Next
morning we had another bath In q
still roughsr Pacific. The Duke
and some of the party were driven
about the country by Colonel and
Mrs. Baker, and at 3P. M, to our
sorrow, we left the most lovable
little spot of all we have seen on
this continent. Good fortune be
10 store for Santa Monica! At Los
Angeles, whore carriages were
waiting, We drove through the
streets and suburbs, which ena-
bled as to appreciate the reasons
which induced the Spanish found
era TO give the oitY iIs name.