Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1891-01-16
In Southern California.
PASADENA, Jan. l, 1891.

PASADENA, Jan. l, lSJl.
DEAR FRIENDS:
December 22d, after a California
shower which is more effective in
stirring up real estate than the
"boomers" are in this vicinity at
present, we left Pasadena, the
crown of the valley, to visit several
points OF interest between here and
the famous Baldwin Ranch. Nature
presented face partic ularly charm
ing after the bath, with no dust to
deface its beauty. AS we passed the
limits of the city, the meadow-larks
greeted us with the sweetest songs,
bringing fresh, rich memories Of the
Sound country. Stopping we loaded
our arms with the brilliant seed-pods
of the castor-bean; gathered wild
flowers, and examined the strange
foliage OF the eucalyptus. This tree
is seen everywhere and bears three
different shaped leaves. Some are
very long and pointed, others are
much broader and shorter, which re-
main evergreen, while the bark sheds
annually. The trees present a shaggy
appearance at this time as they are
throwing off the old coat, revealing
new bark, smooth and handsome, re-
sembling somewhat our Mantzanita.
Passing much dry, sandy, stony land
covered with cactus, sage brush, and
other abstemious shrubs we felt like
quoting in exclaminatory pathos-
" Where is the liquid God the Eternal
brews for all his children?" Echo
answered." Western Washing
ton" Occasionally, green fields of
barley refreshed the eye, and the syca-
more, resembling in foliage the maple,
but more scragly in shape, and the
liye-oak dotted the fields. Hastings
ranch of six hundred acres in grapes
and oranges was seen in the distance,
and we hastened on to Sierra Madre
Villa, where we halt to view at
our leisure the pleasant surroundings
of the hotel, and get glimpse of the
ocean and Catalina Island about a
hundred miles away, the driver said.
The approach to the hotel which was
closed, through avenues shaded by
orange, lemon and lime trees bur-
dened with ripening fruit, so that the
trees were propped, as we are obliged
to support our heavily loaded plum,
prune, apple and pear trees on Puget
Sound, was a novel and beautiful
sight, not soon to be forgotten. The
fruit is only inviting to the sight now,
and must hang in its yellow beauty
several months before it will be
thoroughly luscious to the taste.
Santa Anita railroad station, brought
us on the immense tract of land, once
q Spanish grant consisting of fifty-six
thousand acres, now belonging to
Lucky Baldwin. 1t was purchased
for few cents an acre, and one thous-
and dollars an acre would not tempt |
the owner to part with it. The station
and ranch were named in honor of
Anita, the daughter OF Mr.. Baldwin.
There are on the ranch two railroad
stations, a hotel, large store, q fine
private residence for the overseer,
small cottages for workmen and
iOckies, beside the owners handsome
mansion. The splendid racers and
horses in training were greatly ad-
mired, and they submitted to our
stroking and petting in a most friend
ly fashion, quite accustomed to such
familiarity.
Driving through q long poplar
avenue, the naked branches making
clean cut lines against the clear blue
sky, presented rather a restful and
pleasing change in contrast with the
many trees ever clothed in their
spring-like verdure. Peacocks eating
roses attracted our attention, and the
beautiful green deer park, and the
graceful pets enjoying the shade of
the pepper trees and looking at us
with their friendly eyes, called forth
expressions of surprise and delight.
A drink from an artesian we'll was re-
freshing, and the smooth, unbroken
flow OF the sparkling water from the
top OF the pipe to the basin below was
more beautiful than cut glass or
polished diamonds. Visitors from