Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-04-03
CURRENT AFFAIRS.
LUXURIANT CALIFORNIA.
Los Angeles and Its Wealth of Flowers.

Curiosities to be seen---The Cinnamon
and Their Funeral Rites---The state
Fair Exhibit.
Los ANGELES, Cal, March lS, 1891.
Editor Of The Vermont Phenir Upon
my first arrival here, not being ac-
quainted with Spanish words, very in
nocently came to the conclusion that
Lost Angels might express in English
the name Of this fair city. But as the
weeks have ripened into months, and am
still captive it were, charmed by the
varied beauties of the scenery, the almost
perfect skies, genial temperature and the
wondrous profusiou of ever blooming flow
ers, now know that The Angels were
never lost, but came here Of their own
sweet wills, and have staid ever since
This city contains about 81 900 inhabitants
extremely cosmopolitan, as probably every
state in the Union has its representatives
Being situated between two great natural
boundaries-the mountains at its head. and
almost bathing its feet in the placid cur
rents of the mild Pacific (which is distant
only about ~ miles, IA wealth os climate
aud soil is assured Rose bushes some
times reach the diameter Of three or four
inches aud are gracefully trained over the
roof Of a cottage or porch, while ON those
not Of the climbing variety flowers can
scarcely be reached on the top of a bush
| by person standing ON the ground. Cal
las are seen ON the sunny side of a lawn
with hundreds of blossoms at once Gera-
NUNS defy all attempts at pruning, and a
| plant three or four feet high with scarlet
clusters in superabundance almost dazzles
the eve with its snowy magnifcence. There
are many deciduous trees not seen To ad
vantage at this season Of the year. Among
the evergreen. one variety Of the eucalyp-
/ tus the blue grass-is a curiosity You
can see Young trees with square lower
twigs, bearing blunt oval blush green
leaves in pairs while the upper twigs Of
later growth are round like slender willows
/ and bear dark green leaves. curved to one
| side aud twice as long as the lower ones
| which they resemble IN no respect except
their pungent odor. The blossom is fibrous
: like that of the thistle but is white aud
bursts forth 10y swapping off cap strong
| ly resembling an acorn cup The old trees
shed their bark like sycamore, but the
leaves STAY through all seasons. Ii Is
very rapid grower and has been known to
exceed 100 feet IN thirteen years The eu-
calyptus and pepper trees are much used
for shade The latter is also evergreen,
and Is covered with long spray like foliage
among which appear clusters of red ber-
ries about the size of black pepper. Palm
and magnolia trees are common, as are, in
fact, many others from tropical climes.
Our unromantic elder bush becomes tree
a foot in diameter.
Even when All aimless walk has been
contemplated something is seen to instruct
or amuse For instance, In the Chamber
of Commerce there Is free EXHIBIT of
the products of southern California perma-
nrnt, because constant accessions can he
made IN this climate. will not speak Of
the wonders in fruits, grains, wines, etc.
but Of the tarantula, or black spider
mounted Toy the taNidermist on cardboard.
This spider sometimes measures three inches
from tip to tip of the legs 1t spins no
web, but Is most wonderful in its instinct
of self preservation, as seen in the con
structon of its nest, which is circular
excavation in "a sidehill three or four inches
deep, and large enough in diamater for in
gress. aud lined with dainty white silk
from ITS own loom. Then with silken
hinges, a sell CLOSING door fits as tightly as
the lid Of dinneT-pot. But the Skllful ar
tISan Is not safe, even when within its cta-
del ruthless hands invade aud capture
both garrison and fortress. Capitulaton is
/ only complete when the venomous insect is
turned upon its back aud further dealt with
until It finally appears as AN chronological
! specimen, selling at the stores along with Il
| horned toad, scorpion and centipedr on the
same card for 81, aud the spiders nest
| perfectly preserved for - cents.
In the old Mexican part of the town on
Feb. j, John Chimamau was seen in gala
dress. with queue heightened indefinitely
hy braiding m shoestrings lBy the way
the Chinese have set up their o Isehod
gods IN the old adobe houses, built 10y the
old setters) The sensation of the day
was preparations for the sacriiicial on sun
day, the day following, Feb x, which is
the Chinese New Years day. Their bur
| ial place is n curiosity. The personal ef
! feCts of the deceased accompany the body
/ TO the grave, which is only temporary
| convenience, as ultimately the bones will
| be transported to China. The effects
consist of old clothes, which according to
the heather usages of their country, are
treated to holocaust, the furnace stand
/ ing near the entrance, and close by the
candles and ioss-sticks are left burning.
| Food is left IN the grave for the disembod
led spirits to partake of, but the profes-
sional tramp, having greater need, with
out remorse picncs off the oblation thus
reverently placed and renewed at times.
| Provident in funeral affairs, as in other
matters, graves are kept ON hand ready
dug.
This is the last day of the state citrus
fair, which has been open for one week in
this city. 1t has been called the finest dis
play of these fruits ever shown in any
country. Fully 1000, 900 oranges were
used in the decorations, which are very
| elaborate and artistic. Imagine a pyramid
35 feet high covered with oranges, sur
mounted with crown, with banners bear
ing the inscription, The crown Of the val
| ley, and you see fair Pasadena's stately
exhibit as a central figure in the large pa
viion. Then Ontario with her street-car,
both unique and novel, with dummy horses
on the rear platform. The facts are, the
street-car road in the little city runs for
/ about seven miles to the foothills over
quite a steep grade, and the horses have
been trained to ride the same as the pas
sengers lOf course on the PLATFORM as the
the car descends by gravtation. The
horses are so pleased about "sliding-down
hill" that they hurry along to get To the
top of the grade Los Angeles shows her
miniature courthouse perfect as it can he,
and even when covered with golden apples
represents but mildly the cost of the
| splendid editice soon to be completed at a
/ cost of over $500 600 Strangers in this
city have been del GIFTED to look upon this
array of the wonderful resources of this
/ fruitful country and wish for her if pos
sbl-, stll greater future in the products
I of her Industries. FERY.