The Wilmingtonian., 1888-01-14
In The Land of Flowers.

Special Correspondence.
Los ANGELES, Jan. This town Is
striking example Of western pluck and en-
terprise. Where few years ago there was
q village whose population was mainly COM
posed of dark-eysd, indolent MeIicans and
whose narrow, dirty streets and rudely built
houses seemed almost incapable OF improve
ment. there stands to day large city with
imposing public buildings and handsomeres-
idences. a city in which every invention has
been utilized, while over all is an atmosphere
of activity, a healthy, working busines aspirit
which cannot fail to impress itself upon one.
From everything bat an artistic standpoint
the city within tho last decade has improved
beyond recognition. There is nothing pro-
gressive about narrow, dirty streets and adobe
houses, but dirt occasionally picturesque and
adobe houses are invariably 80. But the
true American spirit has entered and pulled
down the quaint little buildings with their
tipy windows and curious red-tiled roofs,
and these, with all the other lasy Spanish
characteristics of Los Angeles, are fast dis
appearing and becoming part OF the past
the past of only half dozen years ago.
One of the first places to which the stran-
ger repairs in Los Angeles is Washington
garden. Last Autumn about 4U fms large
otrichss were brought here, and they form
the chief attraction of the garden. In spite
of the injunction " Do not feed the birds,
painted in large letters on the fence outside
Of the inclosure in which they are kept, the
temptation to disregard it seems to be great,
for very little attention is paid to the prob ib-
tion. When the writer had the pleasure oil
looking at these birds, they had been pluck
cd only few days before, and more awk-
ward, clumsy, ungainly set of creatures it
would be hard to imagine.
Itwss raro sport to feed them with oranges;
to see them come to the fence, look at you
with their curious, snake-like, expressionless
eyes, aud then, curving their long nscks,
derterously snatch an orange from the nm
| pers. or umbrella tips of the more tim'd OF
their would-be benefactors. The interest
ing part now comes, as the progress OF the
orange (which has been swallowed whoie)
can be traced all the way down the three feet
or more of neck that intervenes between the
throat and the body of the bird. Round
and rouud goes the orange in trnc corkserew
style, until 1t finally disappears beneath the
bunch OF feathers which grows on tho chest
of the bird.
There is no end to the ostrich capacity,
One man, more csrioap to see how much
the bird would eat, selected one, ane
after gathering from the surrounding trees
a number OF oranges, proceeded to feed his
bird. He gave him thirty-ssx oranges
which ueally filled the long, slendr throat
so that the animal finally looked as ii hi
neck was composed of a succession o
tumors. In short time however, ths or
apres had worked and screwed themselve
down. and there stood the bird, his loni
neck streached out his whole attitude on
of expectancy, and, like Oliver he wante'
"more."
Naturally L)s Angeles has mauy advanta
ges. In the midst of a rich agricultura
-, country, with the snow capped peaks of tn
Sierra Madre mountains towering above il
the city lies, famed by the fresh breeze
that blow in from the ocean aud warmed
the soft, mellowing rays of the souther
sun. 1t is imbedded in perfect bower
bloom. The eucalyptis tree lifts its state
head, and the graceful pepper tree. with i
lunches Of crimson berries and delica
blossoms, tosses Its feathery branches in Il
wind.
% For miles around stretches the fertile v;
lev. dotted here and there with tiny sett
ment, while only eight miles distant is ia
adsna. with its shaded avenues and beau
= fnl homes. A little further to the west
Long Beach, washed by the waves OF
Pacific, and Santa Monica, another seasi
resort is near, with its famous h tel a
beautiful beach.
Man has done much for all these plac
and nature has done far more, and for one
:. whom the piercing winds and penetrat
chill of our Eastrn Winter is well nigh
bearable, and to whom equality of climate
boon, this land is delight, for it is Ia
of sunshine and flowers.
i'm,
a a n Ian A. y. IL, A, %. u