The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-04-17

AtchlS0n, Topeka and Santa rec, ana saw
much of interest; but, like the last Presidential
campaign, the cry was 1--WE want change"
and, also like that eventful time, we got it.
In this case the change was not pleasant.
The country is mostly fiat prairie lands, and
soon becomes very monotonous. We stopped
at Ell Paso, Texas, a town remarkable for its
push, dirt and immortality. Paso Del Norte,
old Mexico, is only u miles from Ell Paso.
1t is reached by street cars. Ours was an old
discarded one, brought into use by the great
rush. The annual church festival was in
progress, and the curious visitors were numer-
Gus, for it is not often we Americans are
treated to genuine Spanish bull fight of rye
olden time After much shaking, some
shrieking from the ladies', and ''look out,
there ~ from the gentlemen, we got over the
river bridge and the rest of the way in safety,
and were landed in the town. All, what
sight Men, women and children gambling
in open daylight! All was excitement On
the corners stood men and women selling
their wares, each trying to outyell the other.
| Officers of the day, dressed in gaudy Spanish
costumes, rode about on jaded-looking ponies,
proclaiming their presence by loud blasts
| from their saddle horns; and, to add to the
din, the band discoursed wierd, yet strangely
beautiful music. In the afternoon was the
bull fight. The male portion of our party
attended. and their description of it gave one
an idea of the cruelty and barbarism practiced.
Two horses were killed and one man wounded.
could not help wishing it had been men
killed, for in this case they were much lower
than the brutes they tormented.
Nothing of interest occurred after leaving
Ell Paso until we reached Cotton, 1.-THE Gate
way of Southern California" where we
changed cars for San Diego. And here |
wish the power were mine to paint pen-pic-
lures, for on this road-California Southern
we passed through one lovely scene after
another Now to the left are great rocks,
overrun with vines and flowers, and the pure
crystal water falling in cascades from rock
to rock. Again, on the right are beautiful
sloping hills, green as emerald, with a stream
of sparkling water
"Gurgling over rocks and stones to join the brim-
ming river;
Men may come and men may go, but it goes OH for
ever"
San Diego is nicknamed "City of Bayan-
climate The bay is beautiful to the eye,
and is fine harbor 1t is considered by old
seamen much better than the harbor at San
Francisco, as it is sheltered from the winds
and is at all times a safe place to anchor. Of
the climate too much cannot be said Here
there are no extremes of cold in winter, no
high winds laden with moisture, but pleasant,
dry sea breeze, stimulating as tonic. think
the poet meant San Diego when he penned
these lines:
| "There is n land of every land the pride.
A spot beloved by Heaven DER all the world beside"
The climate of this place is shown by the
recorded observations of the U. S. Signal
station established there to be the mildest and
most equable known, the thermometer rarely
rising above 800 or sinking to the freezing
point. The population at present is 5000.
The town has now great boom. Squares
that sold last winter for $500 and 5000 now
bring from So, 900 to $4,000. The principal
hotels are the Florence, Santa Rosa and
Horton House. Another large one is under
course of erection. There are numerous
Others and person can live cheaply or ex-
pensively, Just as it suits best. There are
great many beautiful drives. Twill only men,
ton two-the Mussel Beds, where, whilst
gazing on the grand old ocean, one may feast
on mussels We tried them, and found them
quite palatable. The Old Mission, estab
lished over hundred years ago, is quite
curiosity, and attracts crowds of visitors.
Naught remains but part of the adobe walls,
and the "tee-wit to- hoon of the owl is all the
sound one hears. The great drawback to
San Diego's shack country is the want of
water. This want is slowly being filled by
artificial means, and the present outlook for
both town and county is a most cheering one.
Water is carried about the streets (for not
every house can boast of water pipes), and
sold for FIVE cents a bucket, or three for a
dime. Fortunately for farmers in this sec
ton, less irrigation is required in San Diego
county than in any other in Southern Cali
forna Raising bees is quite an industry,
and thousands OF tons OF delicious honey are
shipped annually.
San Bernardino, the county seat of San
Bernardino county, is situated on the Cali
fornia Southern Railroad. As is usually the
case with these California towns, they are laid
off in town lots for miles around. This town
is no exception; for example, it claims 5000
inhabitants; on investigation | find $500 in
the town, the rest in the suburbs. Verify 1T
pays to bring our country friends in. 1t is a
thriving business town, has many handsome
residences, and the scenery, whether one
looks to the north, south, east or west, is
beautiful beyond description. II is a strange
fact and hard to realize, that, whilst cuiling
the fragrant flowers and enjoying the warm
sunshine, like that of summers day, one
can see the adjacent mountains covered with
snow. The climate is very pleasant in winter,
but rather too hot for comfort in summer,
Sand storms, or ''Northers," are rather fire.
quent, and are very unpleasant. For the
benefit of those who may not know what a
sand storm is, will say it is strong wind
from the desert, which brings clouds of dust
and sand. They do no further damage than
to thoroughly annoy the good housewife by
filling every crevice the dust can possibly
enter.
Riverside, eight miles distant, can boast of
many beautiful homes and is a lovely little
town. The finest oranges in California are
raised here, the Washington Naval, perfectly
seedless, native of Brazil, and the finest
favored orange, in my humble Judgment, that
grows, bringing readily from 81 to So per box.
The Glenwood is the best hotel, and any
one stopping there will find '.mine host
Miller and his good wife always ready with
hearty welcome. This place, like San Ber-
nardino, is now and then treated to sand
storm; but the beauty of the place and the
dryness of the climate make it great resort
for tourists and health seekers.
will tell of Los Angeles next, beautiful
overgrown town of 40, 900 inhabitants, full of
push and vim. The railroad centre of South
ern California, description of it | shall not
attempt for want of space. Pasadena, I
miles from Los Angeles, is most charming
little town. 1t is called the "City of Beauti-
full Homes' Quite number live here,
and do business in Los Angeles. 1t has 81
600 inhabitants, and is situated at the foot of
Sierra Madra Mountains, and consequently
offers great inducements to invalids and others
as pleasant winter resort The climate here
and at Los Angeles is remarkable for the de-
clded change IN temperature aDont o CLOCK
in the afternoon. A fire is needed to be com
Portable in the morning and evening, though
it is warm enough to dispense with wraps
through the day. Santa Barbara, the Sara
togo Of the Pacific, is situated directly on the
sea coast, has fine bathing, riding and driving,
and is as beautiful and rich in Flora as an
earthly paradise can possible be; indeed, no
tongue or pen can exaggerate the beautiful
vegetation of Southern California. | have
seen heliotropes 20 feet high, hedge fences of
geraniums II feet high, rose trees as large in
body as an ordinary-sized arm, and counted
over $50 Callas in bloom in a bed Now
word of this place and am done. ARROW
Head Springs, y is so called from curious
and most striking "Blaze' or mark on the
face of high peak which rises from the
mountain range from whence flows the spring.
This mark is exactly the shape of an Indian
arrow head, can be seen distance of 25
miles, covers eight acres, is 300 feet in
length and 430 feet across the top. Whether
the work of God or man no one knows.
Many legends are connected Herewith: give
one:
LEGEND OF ARROW HEAD.
At the time of the war in Heaven a scene
| tool nlace not recorded in Miltonis Paradise