Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-12-18

EDITOR ENTHUSIASTICALLY norm
ing of the 9Th of July, the substitute
anniversary of our national holiday,
dawned upon US beautifully in Santa
Cruz. The usual dust and heat that
attends 4th of July in our, state were
lacking, but that was all, the noise and
hustle were equal to anything 1 had
ever seen on such occasions. The
good people of that far of bright land
are inflicted with the same habit that
prevails here, that of taking much
spirits down,in order to get a little up,
though l must say l saw but little dis
s~ipation. l was stopping at the Beach
House, kept by Mrs. Lewis, one of
the few survivors of the Inflated
"Donner Party,' mentioned in a form
er letter, as having been caught by
winter in crossing the Sierra Nevada
Mountains in 1S47, and all frozen to
death but a few children. This lady
was one of them. She after ward
got through to California, where she
married. She is now a widow, a
Christian lady, much beloved by all
who know her. She has a hostelry
situated on a high bluff overlooking
the bay of Monterey. She being q
friend of my brother, and a good
Methodist, honored us by giving US a
room in what she called "Windsor Cas-.
tle. From this hotel we could see the
beach and hear the pillows roar as they
dashed upon the sands of the shore,
aud retreated again to the sea as if to
gain fresh strength, with which to
again go as tar as the Almighty edict
would permit them, and no farther.
As I said in a former letter there
were great Gro wds of people from the
city and surrounding towns and coun-
try gathered in Santa Cruz to spend
the 4th of July. These crowds come
hither every year to battle in the sea-,
and TO enjoy the season generally.
This year., and for several years past,
the Yacht Club of San Francisco came
here to enjoy a race across the bay
from Santa Cruz to Old Monterey, and
back, a distance of some 4S miles.
This race is very exciting to many per-
sons. There were four yachts in the
race this year. They started at 10
o'clock a. IN from Santa Cruz, and re-
turned again at 5 o'clock. The race
was won by the Aggie. There was on
ENnrl ~ o,a rf fhncn xaohta II, 0ll -
iUgton boy, VIM. Edgar, Familiarity
Papa Edgar. He has grown to be a
years honored by the people of San
Francisco as city auditor. Some folks
said this race was a good one, but |
confess that it was a tame affair to me-.
| enjoyed the pleasure of walking up
and down the beach. picking up a few
shells here and there, and listening 10
the glad shouts OF the girls and boys,
and grown up people, too, who were
bathing in the bay. The beach at
Santa Cruz affords the finest bathing
along the whole California coast. The
breakers do not run very high at this
season. The beach 4 is about hall mile
long and several hundred yards wide
and at low tide is a most delightful
drive. The sand is packed tight, and
is as smooth as a floor. and the fas'
horses move along over it as smoothly
as a bird flying.
1t was Il long time before l coult
muster up the courage to 60 In bathing
myself. My companions, both ladies
!, and gentlemen, all declined. Some
} said it was too cold for them; other
} said bathing did not agree with them
} aud still others, my travelling compan'
} ion being IL of the last class, said
} Ooh, | can't, l can't" 1 think the,
} dreaded the idea of being gazed upoI
by curious eyes, clad in such scant,
, raiment. | felt a little squeamIst
; myself. But having come so far, | de
, termined not to leave until 1 had bath
, ed my limbs in old oceans waters. S,
. repairing to a bath house, l clothe,
D myself in a dark suit consisting q
D knee breeches and q short jacket minu
D sleeves, aud a red cap, and when
D thought no one was looking | emerge
0 from the bath house and plunged int
y the waves, aud after the first shock c