Los Angeles herald., 1891-12-12
Yesterdays Meeting of the
Friday Club.
Papers by Mrs. Whiting, Mrs.
Hughes and Mrs. Moore.
Typical Features of the Days of Old
Described.
How Mrs. whiting Made Bridal Trip
to California-Mrs. Hughes and Mrs.
Walter Moore Describe Life
Here in the Old Days.

New York Mrs. George Mead, Boston
Mrs. E. l.. Cone, Springfield; Mrs
Stern, Colorado Springs; Mrs. Barlow
Ventura; Miss Grace Smith, Pennsyl
vania; Mrs. Barnes, Holbrook. A. T.
Mrs. Denham, Oakland; Mrs. Commo'
dore Conner, San Francisco; Mrs.
Joseph Medill, Chicago; Beatrice E,
Tisdall, Dagman D. Tisdall, Tacoma
JIM. Henderson and ]. E. Henderson
Pennsylvania.
The morning was given over to most
interesting reminsce noes OF the early
times in California.
Mrs. Colonel Whiting opened the pro-
gramme with a delightfully."- informal
talk dating back to 40. 1t was then
her husband caught the gold fever and
left her, young bride. to cross the
plains with party of fifty, spending
eight long weary months on the way.
In year it was decided she should
follow. After attending her own fune.
raj, in the tears and lamentations of
friends, and amid wild forebodings of
evil, she started.
Cholera was raging on the isthmus,
a labor strike was in progress, and the
air full of strange excitement. In a
most sensible and charming Bloomer
costume, astride wild but sure-footed
mule, amid hairbreadth escapes from
cholera and anacondas, the young bride
crossed the isthmus triumphantly.
Twenty-one days were consumed in
the VOYAGE to San Francisco. In those
early DAYS that city was all sand and
wind, a Babel of tongues, sea of faces
of all nationalities, strange. wild con-
fusion. Here the young husband met
her, transformed from the delicate in
valid to bronzed, robust. healthy man.
The early days of housekeeping were
most wildly described, but all trials
were made light by the chivalrous at
tention and care OF the noble men of
that early day. Among her associates
were Captain Farragut, General Wool,
General Sherman, 7. Bulla King. Gov
ernor Foote and score of other talent
ed lawyers and active merchants.
Mrs. Whiting paid most glowing
tribute to these pioneer gentlemen.
Full of nerve and ability, with noble
characteristics, generous and brave,
they bore the burdens, shielded the
weak and made those early days full of
beauty, romance and lovely memories.
The next number on the programme
was paper by Mrs. Margaret Hughes,
entitled Impressions of Los Angeles in
1874. In April, 1874, with her young
son, Mrs. Hughes LETT Philadelphia for
Southern California. The good ship
Constantine brought her from San Fran
cisco to Wilmington. Here the first
things that attracted her were the great
bars of silver bullion from the Pana-
mint mines, the bags of wool and grain,
80 = "A ~ alI
brought from Los Angeles to be shipped
to San Francisco. Great herds of
branded horses, or broncos, as they
were called. roamed over the hills.
Spanish horses OF Arabian descent,
brought to California by the Spanish
conquistadoros. Fields OF California
peoples and great acres of mustard dot
ted the wayside. Here and there were
Mexican hachlees, with tule roofs, and
long strings Of chill colorados hanging
from the sides.
Willow hedges, orange trees, walnut
orchards and lemons, vivid with color
flashed by. On past the Wolfskill
orchard, (now the Arcade depot, stop
ping at last at the Alameda-street depot
in Los Angeles.
Mrs. Hughes here gave vivid sketch
of the hotels, business houses and land
marks of the early day.
At the corner of Main and Arcadia
streets, where the Baker block now
stands, WAS the large adobe "casa" OF
Dona Sonora Arcadia Ban1ina de
Stearns, (the widow OF Don Abel
Stearns), who was known and celebrated
through the state for ner beauty and
wealth. The casa" with double
wooden gates, a beautiful court,
galleries and fountain was the scene OF
much festivity and brilliancy in those
early times.
On the east side of the plaza two
story adobe, with a large gilt cross on
top, was the Sisters school, once the
official residence of the governor of Cal
ifornia.
AT this time many Indians, (the gem
tie Pueblo Indians employed in the
yineyards), were seen upon the streets.
Great wagons, drawn by sixteen mules
through the streets, freighting to the
mines, Owens river, Arizona, New Mex
leo and Utah.
On Fourth and Sixth streets were
great corrals for the accommodation of
horses and teamsters.
The first graduating exercises of the Los
Angeles high school We're held in the
old Turnverein hall, in 1875. Governor
Downey presented a gold chain and
locket to the young girl who made the
highest average in her examinations.
This prize WAS won by a daughter OF
Milton Thomas.
The old Jewish synagogue was con-
sidered the finest edifice in the city at
the time.
rhe Old round house, with its two
immense cactus trees in front, was one
of the features OF Main street.
The town was full OF business, enter
prise and thrift. There was good soci-
ETY., and many eminent and literary |
people residing here.
Edwin Forrest, the great tragedian,
once said to Mrs. Hughes: Madam,
you will be charmed with Los Angeles.
In fifty years from now Southern Cali
fornia will contain larger population
than any portion Of equal size
Of the United statesj and from thenaA
wifi come olr great Gators, painters,
actors and singers"
Mrs. Walter Moore read the last pa
per, Social Life in an Adobe Town:
life in Los Angeles on
pillow, my early recolections are not
very vivid. My girlhood was not event
ul. When / began to know something
# social life, Los Angeles was full OF a
men hearted, sympathetic, lively peo-