St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-01-01
Breakfast by an Open Win
dow in the Rays Of a De-
cember Sun.
One of the Pilgrims Meets a
Very Loquacious Old
Timer,
Who DiScourSeS Learnedly
Upon San Rafael'S His
tory and Attractions.

first night in San Rafael, whittier we
had gone in pursuit of the ideal winter
resort. The sun was brightly shining
bathing the tops of the mountains
which we could see on the opposite side
of the valley in golden light, and
Mary, who was disposed to
be pleased with everything. did not fail
to call our attention to the beauty of the
view. An open carriage awaited us at
the hotel door and we started out to dis
cover whether San Rafael would bear
us the night before. Charlie Ready,
stroling out before breakfast, had made
the acquaintance of an old resident,
and returned brim full of i'll
teresting Information, which, as we
finished breakfast, he insisted upon
giving us finding at least one ready lis
tener who nodded frequent approval at
the recital. My new acquaintance"
said Charlie, ''made little comparison
for me between what they have out here
for the six months from Oct. l to April
l, and what you have back in Mime
sofa for the same period. Of course we
can't agree with all he said, but it's
rather interesting. This is what he said
they have out here: showers, flowers, Sun-
shine, December plcnlcS. open windows,
one pair of blankets, murmurlng noun
tain brooks. delightful daily walks and
drives, rOsebudS and viOlets, pure ocean
breeZes, ripe fruits and fresh vegetables,
wild flowers. green hill sides and straw
berries in March, and this is what he
said they haven't, intimahng that it is
what we have: Floods, frOSts, snow,
thawS, slush and sleet, frosted panes.
frozen water pipes, four tons of
feathers to sleep under, ice bound rivers
and streams, six feet of snow with a
blizzard thrown in, fir Oxen fingers
and icicles, cyclones and tOrnadOeS. a
winter diet of canned fruit and dried
ditto, equinoctial gales and a general
breakup. with fatlOmless mud in
March. This completed his catalogue
of San Rafaels PROJECTIONS, but was
beginning to get a little weary. SO l.
switched him Off on the theme in which
every true Californian delights-the
origin of his chosen town and the
climate with which it is favored;
do tell us all about it," said Mary.
Il know we will decide to remain here,
so we might as we'll get little bit ac-
quainted with our temporary home be-
fore we set out to inspect it" and
Charlie, nothing lOath, continued: Il
learned that it was Oh the 18th of De
cember, 1917, that mission was estab-
llShed in the beautiful valley which
now bears the name of the SaInt'tO
whom the Franciscan fathers dedicated
their labOrS- The work of secularlZing
this and other missions was begun by
Gov. AlvaradO in 1888, and the monks
being driven out, they were de-
serted by the neOphytes. But one
thing the early fathers discovered
which has not been forgOtten-that
is the remarkable eQuability and Salu-
brity of the climate of this valley. They
gave it the name Of the "Sanitarium,"
and the name is as appropriate to-day
by order of Don Louis Antonio ArguellO,
cOmmandante of the preside OF San
Francisco, and governor, ad interim Of
California, under the unfortunate
Iturbide. undertook the conversion and
civilization of the Indians of this re-
giOn."
why, you arc as good as a guide
look" cried the admirinG Mary, land
what more did this interesting old
timer have to tell you? Never mind
your breakfast. You are much better
employed talking to u.s."
Just as you say" assented the ac-
cOmmodating Charlie. but mind, its
only what my informant said that I'm
repeating. I'm not responsible for
what he said. He went on to say that
under American rule, and with an
American population, San Rafael has
become more and more noted for its
health preserving and health restoring
qualities. With every year the repute
of its delightful climate has become more
widespread. InvalidS, he said, come
here who cannot live exposed to the
harsh winds and disagreeable fOgs of
San Francisco. Sixty years of expert
ence has demonstrated, he asserted, that
the climatic. advantages are even greater
than the early fathers supposed when
they selected it as q sanitarium for the
sick of their own order or of their con-
gregations."
''Just the place, then, for Mrs. Pill
grim's weak lungs" broke in Mary,
but go on"
"Well, then he waxed eloquent" con-
tinued Charlie, land declared that,
healthful as it is pleasant. San Rafael
is eQualed by 10 town in the United
States for the beauty Of its location and
the magnificence of its surrounding
scenery. Its streets, roads and sub
urban drives are, as rule, in excellent
condition, and every month sees i'm
prOvementS. 1t has double railroad
and ferry service, giving connections
with the city of San Francisco thirteen
or fourteen times day each way.
1t is already becoming the home
of large number of wealthy capitalists
and merchants of the cosmopolitan city
of San Francisco, as well as the chosen
resort of large numbers of well-tO-dO
citizens of other states and countries,
who desire to find place where they
can live in health, enjoyment and peace
under their own vine and fig tree.
"And do you think we will find it sop
asked Neelie.
"Oh, I'm sure of it," answered
Charlie: ''by the time you get back to
Minnesota Eli venture to say your lungs
''And if they are" said Mrs. Pilgrim,
california and San Rafael will find in
me prophet forever"
Then breakfast finished we adjourned
to the piazza where, shaded from the
suns beating rays, Charlie and | waited
while the ladies prepared for the ride
which was to introduce us to the beauties
of San Rafael. The morning was indeed a
beautiful one. We found it hard to realize
that it was December and that the peo-
pie at home were already thinking
about their Christmas festivities. The
sun sent long, slanting arrows of gold
down the little valley, and seemed to
impart more vivid green to the abuhd-
ant foliage. The white villas buried in
their depths of verdure seemed like
strangely .incOngruous patches of snow
set down by legerdemain in Southern
landscape. And as we looked we con-
cluded, Charlie and l. that if the fulfil
ment was as excellent as the prom
Use we need search no farther,
but would make our winter
home in San Rafael. Then, as the la
dies returned we fell to discussing
ways and means. Pleasant as the hotel
was, judged by our one nights expert
ence, none of us was willing to endure
hotel life for months at a time, so that
phase of existence was immedi-
ately dismissed. The boarding house
idea was passed by in silent contempt