Los Angeles herald. [volume] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1890-1893, 1891-10-12
[cLARA S. BROWN

Monica is quiet; in October it is de-
serted. This is owing to decree Of
Dame Fashion, who is responsible for
much of the foolishness of the world.
The fact is that the beach in October is
delightful. l tried it several times last
wear, and spent Sunday and Monday of
this week there, and can confirm the
assertion of "old residents" that this
autumn month is the pleasantest of the
year at Santa Monica,
The temperature on Sunday was like
that OF midsummer, and the ocean
well, you stay-at-homes don't know
what a treat you might have had.
The water was uncommonly warm,
and very calm, so that the timid dared
venture out below the ropes at low tide,
and scarcely got good wetting all over
then. "The best surf bath I've had this
summer, and we'll worth coming for, ="
said my companion, enthusiastically.
Two large fires were raging on the
point. in the Santa Monica mountains,
and as the sun neared the western hori-
zon, it entered a flame-cUlored smoke,
and for once mortals might look it in
the face. The livid reflection was cast
upon the water and over the bold out
lines of the bluff. forming grand pic
ture that if transferred to canvass would
doubtless be pronounced unnatural.
Darkness came on fast and shut from
view the mighty sea, so near our door,
whose beat seemed to grow louder as
the night advanced. A chill grew in
the air and the little tent seemed
cosey. Just before bedtime we
peeped out at the stars which
studded the heavens thickly and looked
almost as bright as they used to on cold
winter nights in the long ago. Jupiter,
monarch of the evening, had changed
his bearing since we left Los Angeles,
but seemed to say: "You can't get
away from me! l see you puny things
down there"
How snug it is to lie under the warm
covers and listen to the boom OF the
incoming tide 1t is easy to fancy that
a big storm is without, from which we
are securely protected. The majestic
lullaby banishes insomnia and sleep is
sweet on the oceans border, SO sweet
that it takes some determination to
carry out the plan of arising at day
break for a still hunt on the beach.
Once out on the sands, however, we
are rewarded for the effort. The early
the sea is changing to blue that has
never been matched by anything save
the sky, and on the long rows of breaking
waves is a lovely flush mingling with the
snow-white foam. Apparently, the sun
has not risen, but the sea knows better,
''as if it had intelligence with some re-
mote horizon" Gradually the ''orb OF
day" reveals itself-it is perfect morn
ing, and the walk two miles up the coast
to the canon gives one acquaintance
with the real Santa Monica, which was
centuries ago and will be for ages to
come. 1t is not good day for shells or
moses, which sometimes are thrown up
in generous quantities, but there is
enough to enjoy without them, even for
an ignoramus who passes by much that
would be revelation to a naturalist.
A round, flat fish lies switching his
tail on the sand, and we bend to exam
inc him, relaxing for a moment our
watch of the treacherous waves. The
consequence is that in another mo ment
we are ankle deep in water, and Mr..
Fish unceI tremendously hounces back
into his native element.
Our mishap only provokes laugh
for whoever heard of anyone taking cold
at the beach?
All along we have heard lonesome
note-tweet, tweet-from some bird fire.
quenting the bluffs, and now we see one
of them taking his morning bath. He
is a dainty brown and white fellow, and
he skips along the sand close to the
waters edge, advancing and retreating
like timid child sporting with the
waves. Sometimes he lets the foam
touch his little body, and then he shakes
out his ruttied plumage, feints some
411-A ~ FIN llx-
Joining flock ofwhite- breasted compan-
ions who seem to be trying how close
they can fly over the water without COM
ing in contact with it.
Walking few rods up the canon we
find noble liveoaks and sycamore trees
a stream of running water, and sew
eral cottages nesting under q
grateful shade. The campers are gone.
but we see where many tent has
been pitched in a location neal
enough to the ideal for denizens of this
earth. Unusual attractions are com
bined here. The scenery OF the canon
increases in beauty the farther that it
penetrates into the mountains, and on
the other hand is good beach and the
broad outlook of the ocean.
A comedy Mexican woman gives us a
refreshing drink of water out of curi-
OuSIy uOllOWtQ WOOQCn N0SSSI, anu dALOl
resting while beneath a perfect canopy
OF green branches, we retrace our steps
to Santa Monica.
Less than half mile from the canon
we see workmen setting the grade stakes
for the Southern Pacific road at the foot
of the bluff, and trace them all the way
back to North beach. We reach our
quarters tired but enriched. There is
always something to CLEAN from nature
We had followed Thoreau's advice, Rise
free from care before the dawn
and seek adventures" and had found
it good. 1t is true, as he says,
that. "Men came tamely home at might
only from the next field or street, where
their household echoes haunt, and theil
life pines because it breathes its own
breath over again." Neither IS i
necessary to seek foreign shore fol
change or information. We may have
both by getting out of the beaten chan
mel and looking upon the Interchangeable
wonders of the earth with that respec
which belongs tn what is eternal W.
cannot get along without our cities, bu
the country-devoid of artifciality, pos
sessing ''the tonic OF wildness"-is
blessing that we cannot appreciate 10
greatly CLARA ). BROWN.