Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-03-18


Nest Of stRamona'' was WRIT
ten.
It is impossible for one who has
spent but few hours at Carmellta to
eive a detailed description OF its
beauties and interests, for, independ-
emit Of the dignity of It's situation, and
the extent of its area, it is a horticul-
tural gem. 1t is located on Colorado
street, upon which are to be seen so
many handsome residences, and it
embraces thirty acres, every inch OF
which is cultivated to the high
est degree. Upon the summit OF
the hill, at the foot of which
lies beautiful Pasadena, stands the
elegant home originally occupied by
DR.. and Mrs. Carr, but which is at
present used as a clearinghouse. A
little to the left of it is visible, amid
the foliage, the pretty cottage in which
the family now reside, and which
they find more to their taste than
the more pretentious abode. The
cottage is two-story, and is surrounded
by balconies. All OF the rooms upon
the lower floor are furnished with
open fire-places, while the library,
known as DR.. Carr's den, is 'The
ideal snuggery Of the man Of
letters. 1t is finished in the native
woods and is packed with books and
relics, too numerous to recall without
being catalogued. Its two wide door,
ways open into the garden from
which humming birds are wont to fly
in for shade and quiet, and through
which the semi-tropical air waits into
the room the odor OF the orange
blossoms so plentiful in the grove
without. Standing upon the balconies
of this cottage one can behold with
fine effect the Crown of the Val
lev, the lofty Sierra Madre, at the
feet of which are spread whole fields of
golden poppies, and beyond which
tower the snow-clad peaks of Old
Baldy, the Cucamonga and the San
Bernardino mountains. At the foot
of the knoll upon which the house
and the cottage are situated are the
well-kept vineyard and the barnyard !;
while all over the plantation are to be
found trees of great rarity and perfec-
ton. There are twenty different kinds
of apple trees on the place and a large
variety of oranges, as well as many
other excellent specimens of fruit.
But the cabin occupied by Mrs. Jewett,
30 well known in Pasadena, is perhaps
the most unique feature of the estate.
1t is built of Monterey cypress, in its
crude state, and has wide-spreading
roof, up to which Chamber variety OF
clinging vines. Its interior is quite
as novel and as perfect as is its
exterior. 1t is finished with native
wood with broad dado of colored
mating; while it is SO fully adorned
with relics and curiosities procured
by Mrs. levitt during a recent visit
to Alaska, that it appears more like
an art exhibit than an abode.
PROFESSOR EZRA S. CARR.
The happy possessor Of Carmelita
is not only man of profound scholar
ship and reputation, but is fine con-
versationalist and a courteous host.
Physically exhausted by his long and
brilliant career, he is now resting
upon his laurels, but during his days
of activity he was identified with
many leading medical colleges, while
he has delivered scientific lectures in
almost all of the largest cities of the
Union. He knows as much about
trees and flowers as he does about
books, and while conducting any one
over his plantation he has innumer-
able interesting stories to relate of the
fora with which he is surrounded.
THE FRIEND OF HELEN HUNT JACKSON.
Like the doctor, Mrs. Carr is an
expert horticulturalist, and takes an
increasing delight in improving her
princely home. She is also very active
in her habits and spends much of her
time in the supervision of the work
going on upon the ranch. Yet she is
fully identified with all public move
ments calculated to promote the inter-
ests Of Pasadena, while she is a pro-
digious reader and delightful host
ees upon whom society makes exor-
bitant demands. She is we'll known,
too, on account of her intimate as
associations with Helen Hunt jack
son, whose brilliant pen and pathetic
death have 80 endeared her to the
people of Southern California. Mrs.
Carr was acquainted with Mrs. jack
son long before she became famous,
while during the latter years OF the
writer's life the two were much to-
gether. Indeed, it was seated beneath
some shade tree, and on the lawn at
Carmelita that Mrs. Jackson wrote
most of Ramona" AS she was re-
markable character, and as Mrs. Carr
was deeply interested in her work
and personality she has many inter-
esting "reminiscences to relate of the
genius now slumbering beneath the
snow which covers her isolated noun
tain tomb.
The Public Library at Pasadena
Is at present located amid orange
groves and pretty cottages, and is the
most physically attractive place of
the sort any one could imagine. The
reading-room into which the door
opens, is prettily papered and
adorned with handsome chandelier,
while it is equipped with two long
tables, number Of chairs and all the
best magazines, as we'll as the Cali
fornia and some of the Eastern ne VS.
papers. The library is in the rear OF
the reading-room and is equally bright
and inviting. 1t is filled with
q carefully selected class of books
conspicuous among which are the
works of Tyndall, Ruskin and Hum
boldt and the dramatic works of
Moliere. Several complete encyclo-
pedeas, a number of valuable his-
tories and religious books, and va
riety of the best and latest novels
are also to be seen on the shelves.
The library is one Of the first places
to which tourists staying at Pasadena
make their way, and SO pleasant and
do many of them find it,
that they frequently remain longer
than fhax orioinallx axnectad 10 and