Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1883-01-17
los ANGELES TO A STRANGER.
A Graphic Pen Picture of oar City of
Angels by an Accomplished Lady
OF ST. Louis What Others Think
of Us.

Mrs. Erastus Wells, the accomplished
wife of Hon. Erastus Wells, ex-member
of Congress from st. Louis, has written
sprightly and graphic letter to the st.
Louis Republican from which we make
the following excerpts referring to our
city. The entire letter is delightfully."-
written and very interesting, but its
length forbids our producing it in ertenso.
The impressions below described are the
same that come to the major part of the
strangers visiting our lovely country:
When we steamed into the depot it
was after 8 o'clock in the evening. The
sun was declining, and the mountains,
which are here very grand, were bathed
in rich crimson light, fading away in
the valleys to deep purple shading, and
those farther away looked as ii they
were swimming in clouds of amethyst.
1t was one OF the most superb scenes l
ever beheld. We saw old Spanish
churches with their many towers, each
holding bell which chimed the passing
hour. Orange trees, bananas and the
century plant growing, as our apple trees
and lilac bushes do, ia every yard.
The houses are mostly, in the Spanish
part, one story high, with green window
shutters, aud painted white, fiat roofs
with courts in the centre of the houses.
l have not seen many dark-eyed sefiori-
tas or fine hidalgos, but they dc. exist, l
am told. The new part Of the city is
very handsome; beautiful houses en-
closed in lovely gardens, screened by
walls of evergreen, clipped SO as to look
like solid walls of green--impenetrable;
sometimes they are ten feet high and
three or four through, with square open
ings cut like windows in them. You
see the stately palm, magnolia, lance
tree. and all kinds Of cactus, besides
hundred other plants and shrubs Of which
! have not yet learned the names.
The public squares are beautifully
laid out with fountains, walks and
variety of lovely trees and shrubs, kept
in excellent order. In the suburbs are
many splendid places. We drove
thiouSh ohu ytstCiudys As we tuttTtu
through the opening, arched over by
lovely trees, we drove up straight
avenue, bordered ON each side with
row Of lovely palm trees, beds Of gorge
Gus flowers, close clipped hedges edging
each nook and niche, English ivy cover
ing the porches, and numerous trees
growing in l;;xuriafit profusion every
where. Besides huge rose trees, banan-
as, orange and lemon trees. 1t was
perfect paradise. The house was very
large and handsome with very wide
yerandas on which / saw quantity of
delightful chairs. But l think it is
too cool now to use the verandas,
they looked very delightful and in
viting. There are great many Just as
handsome places and thousands of
smaller ones beautifully improved. 1t
is said you can take barren land and
make blooming garden here in four
years.
The climate is perfect-the air fresh,
elastic and balmy; you have none of
those chilly sensations you experience
at home. 1t is cool enough night and
for fire. You can stay out in
the sun all day and never feel oppressed |
lit is simply delicious. The inhabit-
ants here laugh at the idea of any one |
ever having to leave the City of the
Angels from choice, or for q better
climate. Heaven is the only better
place to be found.