Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1886-10-08
Letter from C.liforni..
SELMA, CALIFORNIA,
September goth, 1886.

September goth, 1886.
NM Dear Father-You have been ask
ing me continually to tell you all about
California, and how / like 1t. WELL
like it very much, though will confess
that had not been ashamed l would
have gone back the first week Of my
visit. for it was so hot thought l would
surely melt. Now do not say am ex-
aggsrating, for no word but melt
will express how I perspired. But
when night came there was a blessed
relief in the cool breeze which makes
the nights here so pleasant; q comfort
is necessary as cover; so, after all, the
cool nights are almost a compensation
for the hot days. Still, after the first
week did not mind the warm weather
rather liked it than otherwise; but
along the coast the weather is always
cool; it is only on the plains that 1t Is
so warm, and even on the plains there
is always breeze stirring which those
driving get the benefit. So that the
climate Of California is like its society
of every variety; it reminds me OF the
shop woman's cry, "you pay your
money and take your choice"
You can raise everything here, but
| here, Just as i'm othe, States, you have
to work, aud those who come here ex-
Meeting to live without work are very
naturally disappointed. Still, man OF
energy and small means can make money
here, If he can make up his mind 10 ac-
cept the situation. ga spade is only a
spade" in California, SO man passes
for what he is worth.
What struck me very forcibly when L
first came here was tie independence
manifested by every one-the great tree
dom from conventional restraint. Ev-
cry one does and goes where he or she
pleases and it excites no remark or COM
ment. There Is another thing that
struck me, and that is the Californlans
real or affected contempt in small money
matters. 10 All Eastern reared person
who has been taught to "look after the
dimes and the dollars will take care OF
themselves" the idea of their accumu-
lating money does not seem possible UNI
der the circumstances: but nevertheless
they do accumulate means and some 10
it very rapidly. Others, and they are
the majority, make money slowly but
live well and enjoy life and see more
pleasure than any people ever knew.
Apropos of pleasure, you must hear
about my trip to the Big Trees. You
know went TO the mountains several
weeks ago. Well, was very anxious
to 90 to see the famous Big Trees, and
Mr.. VIM. Staley concluded to take his
family and 90. So after taking provis-
ion and bedding for eleven and storing
it all in wagon Is feet long and pack
ing all eleven of us in the wagon beside,
he mounted his seat rs driver, cracked
his whip, and 10. our caravan was
sweeping along the plains followed by
two dogs and colt. The early part of
the first days drive was very pleasant.
We stopped at ranch protected only
by windmill, not tree as far as the
eye could reach; nothing but the hot
dusty plains and dry stubble; here we
dined. Mr.. S. made a fire and Miss
Beckie Remsburg made coffee. While
they were getting ready to start again
1 amused myself writing a note on the
door TO the absent owners, btu. what was
my chsgrin upon our return 10 learn 1t
was occupied only by negroes who we're
running the ranch for widow. L had
10 bear no little amount Of teasing in
consequence can tell you. The drive
during the first afternoon seemed not
near so pleasant. AS we nearcd the
foothills it became closer, and OF course
hotter, for there is no breeze there. Our
first night was passed at Sulphur Spring,
the next day Saturday was spent in
climbing the mountains over roads that
seemed in many places almost perpen-
dicular. That night we pitched tent at
Indian Spring, the most Insignificant
spring, by the way, that l ever saw. 1t
was i'm truth too small to be dignified
with such title. However, we man.
aged very nicely and passed very COM
Portable night, and early next morning
pushed on for the mills just miles this
side of the Big Trees. Here the road
was fearful, about five miles of grade
cut in the side Of the mountain in the
form of double SIS, and i'll many places
it is impossible for two teams to pass,
and in some places the road is so narrow
that it Is eked out with logs. And below
straight down ia the canon several hun
dred feet. Going up we walked, but
coming down we could not do that, as it
consumed too much time; but all the
time we came down think we all fully
realized the danger we were in. Should
horse scare or brake give way, we
would have gone tumbling hundreds Of
feet, down seemingly bottomless cam
on. Still we laughed and jested through
it all, as that seemed the best thing to be
| done.
Sunday noon we reached the mills
where we dined and in the afternoon
reached the famous trees, which really
deserve the praise they receive for size
and beauty. We walked through log
that was half of it burnt away, that was
over a hundred feet long and had been
over 40 feet in diameter, and almost 200
feet in length of that same log lay be-
yond the portion we walked through.
The General Grant," whose measure l
| hoya with mo Ia 100 fuet In, s.ircum fer