Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1891-09-26
A, PLEASURE TRIP IN CALL
F0RNIA.
ATHLoNE, CALL, Sept. 8, 1891,

DIR. j. Ii. RITCHEY,
McMinnville, Tenn.
Dear BrOther-On my return yes
terday found your letter of date
Aug. 9th, with several others. /
am in a poor mood for writing, hav-
ing been away from home more than
a week, rushing from place to place,
sight seeing. Would be glad if /
could give you full, complete dis
cription Of what we saw during our
visit to Pacific Grove, a celebrated
summer resort on the coast. We did
not have the pleasure of Alfred's
company. He had gone in company
with Mr.. Perry's family, who went
through in carriage and buggy, camp
ing out. We fell in by accident, with
Mr.. Wooton's family, Mr.. Skaggs and
Bye, also Joe and his wife, all having
arranged to make pleasure trip to
the coast We went to the city, San
Francisco, spent four days, saw many.
Of the curiosities and beauties of the
place, Golden Gate Park being one
Of the most attractive. There is 400
acres in the park. cannot begin to
tell you all its beauties. The nat
ural growth is pine and live oak.
The grounds are laid out in drives
and walks in every direction, border
ed with all kinds of flowers and
shrubbery, in the most artistic de-
signs. Play grounds for children,
speed tracks for driving horses, with
every conceivable device for the COM
fort and pleasure of visitors, and all
without charge, except refreshments
are charged for. There are some ami
mails kept in the park, buffalo, elk,
deer, seal, etc. While there / was
constantly wishing you, your wife
and Mary were with us. Among
other places of note we visited the
u. 5. Mint. We were shown all
through every department. There is
49, millions of gold and silver coin
stored in its vaults, mostly gold.
This is the largest mint in the world,
and of sufficient capacity to coin all
the gold and silver of the world. Our
conductor was very kind and obliging
to us for one hour. Only one hour of
each day is allowed for visitors. From
8 to 10 o'clock. We will visit it again
when you come out. We also
visited the Cliff House, where a
fine view of the Golden Gate is had.
We also visited the great cyclorama
of Gettysburg battle. That was Of
much interest, but would have been
more 50, had the scene of Mission
Ridge, Shiloh or some other battle in
which ] was engaged been up. When
the Battle of Lookout Mountain was
being exhibited the manager sent me
word, II would visit him he would
pay my r.. r. fare both ways and
give me free ticket as long as |
wished to stay, but this is the first
time l have visited the place. The
scene OF Gettysburg has been up for
some time and will be taken down
soon, and something else take its
place. Among other places, we WIS.,
doctor, in company with my daugh-
| ter Mrs. WUOtun, who has been treat
! ed by him for more than a year ut Il
cost Of $1,000 per week, without in
Permission. He thinks she is about
well and says he will discharge her
soon. He has performed some won
derfu cures, Mrs. WOOtOn's case be-
ing one of them. 1t costs her consid-
cradle money, but ! think her life
has been spared on account Of his
treatment. The Doctors Office is con-
tinually crowded during Office hours.
He probably examines fifty persons a
day on an average, charges nothing
for examinations, but if he treats a
case he charges $1,000 per week so
long as the patient uses his medicine.
On Saturday we went aboard the
cars for Pacific Grove, the great
health resort Of California. There are
many things of interest at that place.
Its surroundings are much like Alta
mont in some respects. The town is
located in a natural grove of pines,
only there are more of them to the
acre, The place is much larger than
Beersheba and buildings better. 1t
is new yet and will be likely one of
the most attractive places on the
coast. The place is owned by the
Southern Pacific r. r. Co. They
bought the land and built the R.R.to
it. They piped water to the place, Il
distance of % or 30 miles. This place
l il npar tho nIdnSt toUn IN tbo ciota