San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1889-11-07
From the Pacific Slope.

Grad ns with another letter descriptive Oh
har rscent travels. We give the first half OF
/, below. the remainder will appear IN our
next Sic left Los Angeles October io'h'
--Ep.
An JuI1AN.-To.morro l will don my
travelling suit and bid goodbye to my
relatives aud friends and start home~ard'
90 via. San Francisco, Sacramento SAT-
lake CITY. Denver and Fort Worth. Have
about three thousand miles to travel before
| reach home. IL is with some regret
leave this lovely and favored land IL IL
true the great rush and boom is thing OF
the past, yet there is steady growth ana
constant improvement. l heard tourist
rsmark that he counted one hundred hand
some buildings being erected in the CITY Oh
Los Angeles. So with oil the cities l nave
visited. San Diego has more than donbled
itself within the last few years; it now num-
bers about thirty thousand. Pasadena q
lovely little city Of ton thousand, adJaeen'
to Los Angeles. can boast Of one OF the hn-
est opera houses in Southern California
The court honse in Los Angeles will be a
magnificent building when finished, costing
about $500, 900. They have just completed
the city hail. costing $500 600, both credit
to any city. Such elegant buildings and
lovely homes as they do have here!
Since wrote you, Mr.. Julian, l have
had a nice sail on the Pacific, and fully
realized what it was to be sea-sick on
restless ocean. The words of Mark Twain
came to me with full force. He said there
were three wonders: LIST was wonder If I'd
be sea-sick. End, wonder if would die.
3rd, wonder if could die" Even death is
preferable to some, rather than the con-
tinued sea.sickness. was quite sick for
few hours, though I admit did not quite
reach that point. On my return was not
so sick aud enjoyed the glorious sunset on
the water. Far out of sight of land, moth
ing but the deep blue ocean and the clear
blue sky above, could then better appre-
ciate the beautiful words of Cowper:
God moves in mysterious way,
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps on the sea,
And rides upon the Storm"
The ocean was quite calm, and we had a
nice smooth sail homeward; but for days !
felt quite dizzy and at times almost i'm
acined | was in q rocking boat and the
great waves dashing against it. My cousin,
Clyde Mitchell accompanied me to San
Francisco. We reached there on the 10th,
passing over some beautiful country and
wild and grand scenery reaching here,
the Golden City of the far west. 1t is truly
a grand old city OF 400, 900. There is much,
very much. to be seen here, but will only
mention few prominent places of interest
l visited during NV sho stay of four days
When We reached here the wind was ter
rife. blowing at the rate of forty ejgh
miles IN hour, and it was pouring dowr
rain. We were not to be daunted, however
rs we came to see the city. Golden Gate
Park is as beautiful as dream. Beautiful
drives and walks, and any quantity of choice
flow ers, so artistically arranged The con
servatory is simply marvellous. Such n rare
collection Of flowers, from the tiny waxer
petal Of the most delicate flowers to tht
royal colors of the most gorgeous one.
feasted on the beauty of real, pure white
Pond Lily, that we delight SO mnch tc
pant. Beautiful gold fish darting here ans
there, screaming themselves beneath thu
broad emerel leaf Of the lily. Beautiful
white statuary with their tall or bowed
forms as The c>se may be, cleaning here ant
there through the green foliage, One es
pecialy attracted my attention, the Goddess
of Wisdom, It seemed fit and appropriate,
for it seemed that everything was wisely
planned. The grounds Of Suto Heights
too, are beautisul, if possible, excel the
park. The Gift House, proudly overlook
ing the foaming ocean, and Seal Rocks arr
especially grand. AS I stood and gazet
upon the wondrous beauty of the oceaI
and other marvellous sights, felt I'd hav,
given much to have placed them before m.
friends at home to see them just as saw
them. The Palace Hotel, said to be one o
the largest in the world, costing $500, 600, i
nine stories high, and covers one whole
block, 1t is quite imposing in appearance
The interior is magnificent indeed; tn
open court is well appointed, SO carriage
can drive through for the convenience o
the guests. The verandas overhanging tn
court are most deliberately carved and reach
ing up for eight stories, making beautiful
frame of lace work, which is beautiful in
deed. The California Theater Building i
also magnificent structure, and the prid
of the State, and well it may be, for it i
most beautifully furnished and is elaborate
ly carved in brass, cleaning with sp!endo
and beauty. The most dazzling of all tn,
sights was the Diamond Palace with it
mirrored walls, Rejecting the image of til,
costly gems displayed in every direction
making it seem quite an extended affair
Lovely Oriental figures adorned the archeC
ceiling, the sparkling jewels adjoining thei
arms and shoulders, which seemed so life
like You almost dreamed you were in fairy
lnud, 20 perfectly dazzling was the display
1 was 10th TO leave this wonderful city, bu
/ time bade me tarry not
FTVkCORSn VV