The Press., 1883-12-13
Issued Every Thursday Evening.
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.
Los Angeles Co.,, Cal, No

ing, Nov. 9th. For few hours severe thunder shower accompanied us, and lightn- ing was upon the track. It was our last welcome to rain, for not day since has q cloud shadowed the faithful sun.
 All was blank in our journals till we ar rived in Kansas City the following morn ing. We were not displeased to l. arn that we were to remain there until evening j; there was day in the city, and of course a program of entertainment. From the appearance of the station house and sur roundings we judged the city of one hun dred thousand inhabitants had arrived to perfection at the young age of fifteen years, but later found our mistake.
 slowly proceeded to the central scenes of action Had not gone far, when there was halt, and an order for the stronger sex to get out and push, as the mules had re- fused to go, and the car was off the track. Righted once more, the instrument of CO., ercion was not spared, and in time We reached Main-st.- t.-glad to step off the car, even on to the muddy walks. Some of the streets were being paved with round sticks of timber set end wise, others were very stony, and the side walks equally rough. 'sTake heed lest you fall, , was the wise caution. We visited buildings of interest, saw all kinds of people, and ill general scanned the city that is built on more than ''seven hills," then made our way back through the narrow dirty streets as we came. Passed heavily loaded teams drawn by six and eight pairs of mules, that were driven by single jerk rein, and few paths from the driver. At the close of that day I concluded that when there wasn't any other place on earth to live, l would go to Kansas City.
 Moving out of the depot at 10:30 p. m., we reioiced to find the family all on board, though many had changed sections by changing cars, and furthermore another excursion party had joined us: s'The more the merrier" was voiced, then after the usual goodnight concert, those who could afford to sleep sought the travellers pillow.
 All the next day we were crossing the prairies of Kansas. To some the seeming
 
 notonous, but to others the vast herds of cattle, the immense focks of sheep, and the villages of prairie dogs were enough to satisfy the observer. Occasionally we would pass the slow emlgrant trains per haps there would be eight or ten covered vehicles, and each drawn by no less than four yoke of oxen. With them it was slow and sure. Numerous Hocks of wild geese were sailing arnnn8 cipping here and there as if in search of an abiding place.
 Toward night we drew into Dodge City, which place has the reputation of being so wicked. Inoticed few dark-faced men with heavy belts from which plenty of am- munition was suspended. There was also the skin of an antelope lying near, there fore from the premises we are free to con- clude the object of their appearance with out thinking too unkindly of them.
 We reacht d State Line before midnight, then giving up to the lulling motion, ,sensed nothing till we stopped in La Junta, Col orado moving again we slumbered on till early the next morning we pulled into Trinidad. Coffee was served early, as we wanted nothing to detract from sight-see- ing through Stein's Pass. Here, on eith- CT side, were adobe houses as thick as could be set, and the smiling faced occu- pants peering out at some aperture left in the clay. Notwithstanding the crude ness of these dwellings there was an ex- pression of welcome in the curling smoke, the clean swept paths, and the uplifted heads of the domestic goat and donkey. In fact, we hardly liked to leave this quaint settlement.
 i We now began the ascent of the Raton (Rattoon) mountains. Spanish Peaks were at distance of thirty miles, but to our uneducated eyes seemed only one mile away. The mountain engines wound slow ly around the Pass, and when we came up to the elevation of over eight thousand feet, and looked away to the snow-capped Rockies glistening in the sun, then glanced backward to the valley below, there was picture that artists fail to present. Some were nearly wild in exclamation, others mute, while drinking in the grandeur of the scene that preached to us & sermon on that holy Sabbath molning. Then all was dark-we had entered tunnel from Col orado and came out in New Mexico, the distance through being about one-haf mile. On this side, the houses were also adobe. Along the Rio Grande are many Indian villages, some of which contain large adobe temples. It was 8 novel sight to see the Indians in the gray light of the morning wrapped.in in their blankets, lying on the roofs of their houses. Whether they sleep there, or were there to worship the rising sun, was not learned.
 Passing Lynn and Lansing, the next large station was Raton. Instead of see- tug church spires, and hearing the tolling bell, we see open saloons and hear the Mexican's bugle as he gallops across his ranch, which looks to us so barren and incapable of supporting animal life, yet it was literally covered with cattle and sheep.
 For some hours before reaching Las Vegas, several were charmingly enter tained by lady, 8 way passenger, who gave glowing descriptions of life on the ranch. She said nothing could induce Ter to return to Philadelphia, her girihood home, to live. Her husband was in bus mess in Las Vegas, and she was managing the ranch, looking after eight thousand cattle and two thousand sheep. At Las Vegas our attention is drawn to a s'e ,w- boy" that has just come into to VII and dismounted. We has heard so much of these man that have the audacity to go through trains and order men to Gift y that we scan him carefully in his fMnged leather pants, girdle, broad hrimmed hat, and spurred shoes, and our: impressions are such that we do not desire to make friends with him. We also notice post bill that offers large rewards for the ruff. l fans who shot and killed engineer on re.