The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-09-22

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PALMS NEAR ST. JANIS PARK, SAN JOSE.
yond all these is the exquisite natural
beauty and richness of tho valley, which
has made il tho abiding place Of the rep
rescntative wealth of the entire slope
and given ii distinction peculiarly its
own. cannot think Of any one hundred
miles of railway in the civilized world
presenting on its line anything like the
number of attractions, famous here and
abroad, that are seen on the journey
from San Francisco 20 Monterey through
the lovely valley of Santa Clara.
First. then. is Menlo Park, the summer
homo of the Floods. the Mackays. the
Crockers. tho Stanfords and other Occi-
dental millionaires-whichh has about IT
an cxclusiveness and rcpose not unlike
renox. Mass. Here. too, is Senator Le-
land Stanford's "Palo Alto the equine
paradise. a ranch of nearly ten thousand
acres. where eight or nine hundred
horses live better than half the humans
of the world. where two hundred men
are employed TO care for them, and
where the celebrated Electioneer valued
at 500. 600, heads the stud. AS patted
the grand old horse in his roomy stall, ]
thought of few years ago when he was
bought in the east for mere bagatelle.
His get. thus far, has been sold for
round million at least.
To the north Of Ncnlo Park is the Le-
land Stanford university ] wandered
through it's superb yet unfinished walls
Of widow stone, which, when completed,
will have cost twenty millions of dollars.
The senior pays this twenty millions
md then cndows it all with thiSy mill
ions more, as a beginning. Upon what
n large scale these California millionaires
do things. Within sight of the univer-
sity buildings is San Jose, the prettiest
and most cultivated city in the state,
with a community of much more than
average intelligence. Just beyond the
CITY. on a ''heaven kissing HILL" is the
famous Lick observatory, the Mecca of
the average tourist. Not many miles
away are the big trees and Santa Cruz,
and near them are the two great cstab-
lishments of Spreckles, tho sugar king,
where thousands of tons Of bcets are
made into sugar. At the end of all Is
Del Monte, miniature garden OF Eden.
They have a legend in Santa Clara
which the loyal native of San Jose will
kindly tell YOU, TO the effect that in the
far distant, prehistoric times, this was
the home Of the fairies, who watched
over all the provinces or counties in en-
bryo of California; that when the Span
ish padre came with his bell and book
they departed from the Pacific TO other
undiscovered lands; that before going
the fairy representatives of all the coun-
ties met az Santa Clara and into her lap
poured the gifts for which they were
each most noted. Thus il has come to
pass that this valley and county of Santa
Clara has something and the best OF
all the other valleys and counties pos
sess, and is therefore so rich IN natural
treasures that it is called the earthly
paradise. OF course this pretty legend
IS shrewdly advanced by the worldly
wise resident as part of the gloritication
of his home, but the gist and implication
Of the fairy tale is not far from the
truth.
The visitor TO the Lick observatory has
n sentimental journey if nothing more.
The distance up and down the mountain
side-or there and backs fifty-two
miles, the fare is s., the time occupied
about ten hours. The road is an excep-
tionally fine one and the scenery ex-
ouisite. 1t suggests poetry and things,
and they say that miles OF tender verses
have been written by inspired tourists,
who leave the Nendome on the big Con
cord stages in tho early morning. II
YOU take the ordinary conveyance, not
built for ordinary mountain travel, you
are likely. however, upon your return to
San Jose in the evening, To fully appre'
ciatc Horace Greeley's remark when
Hank Monk, ON a wager, drove the great
editor over rocky roads from Virginia
CITY to Piacerviile, lie miles, in ten
hours.
The old man, getting down from the
coach with much difficulty, observed TO
the waiting and gaping mob; Gentle
men. Ill bet $50 that Hank Monk is the
best driver in America, and that I'm the
sorest man." The observatory is built on
the crest of what is now called Mt Ham
ilton, q slightly cminencc which the
Spaniards century ago gracefully chris
tened Mt. ISABEL The new name IS
cross impertinence. Some village doc
tor wandered up there one day, and IN q
burst Of tremendous egotism called the
mountain after himself. He wrote some.
thing about il and then--decently died.
When the visitor gets 90 the observa'
tory he STAYS there a couple OF hours
wanders through tho buildings, is told
several times that there, sir, is the larg
est telescope on God + wide earth. ana
that under its foundation of one hundred
tons or more James Lick. pioneer and
philanthropist. is laid permanently and
deep. lie rests under tho great dome OF
the observatory. Just as Napoleon rests
under the great dome Of the lnvalides in
Paris. But the Frcnchman gives. even
10 this homo Of death, touch Of artistic
beauty by Frightening il with rich colors
and decorating it with fine mosaics. |
Lick's vault, Oh the contrary, is dark and
gloomy.
The Lick observatory has been here
for several years and is yet TO be heard
from. il reminds me Of Charles Dickens
refreshment station at Mugby, "whose
proudest boast was that il had never re-
freshed anybody" / can't for the life Of
Inc See how James Lick acquired a repu-
tation for great philanthropy by build
Ing this observatory with its biggest
telescope on earth" Your correspond.
ent may be Of tho Gradgrind species.
and might make palatable soup Of his
grandmother, but lie really cannot see
what practical use the observatory is. II
has been here nearly decade and its as
tronomers have accomplished nothing
Possibly there is nothing to accomplish
Astronomical! science has virtually