St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1892-06-04
Editorial Correspondence.
STOCKTON, CAL, Nuy 10. 1892.

We met the excursion at San Diego
on Monday, and took in two side trips
arranged by the good people Of San
Diego. One was TO Tia Juana, where
about $50 of us stepped over the line
into Mexico and greeted the Mexican
Custom officers. The other was a trip
about the beautiful bay Of San Diego
At night there was grand ball at the
Hotel del Coronado, and at II D. NJ. the
guests left the hosts, legretfully, for
San Diego people had treated them hos.
pitably, generously and heartily, free
rides, free cars, free ferries, and all
that, but no free refreshments. How
ever, hotel rates were cut down third
aud the guests were thoroughly we'll
satisfied.
Well, on towards midnight NO were
all tucked up in our sleeper berths, and
aWOke at 6 a. n. at Riverside, that
dream of beauty and paradise Of the
orange, where of the marriage OF land
and water have been born wonders of
wealth aud loneliness. At Riverside
good breakfast at II fair price, and then
a reception at the opera house, bands,
badges, banners and carriages, and a
drive over miles and miles of avenues
that no pen can adequately describe,
but where all that art can do to improve
Nature has been done.
But it was hot at Riverside, aud the
hospitality of the people could not call
attention from it. Everyone rode free
on the railroads, and so the train in
three sections went Whirling in and out
about the kite e-shaped track to various
points. But the next visit of impor-
tance was TO Redlands, where 4 drive
to sthe heightsg beyond disclosed one
OF the most beautiful prospects the eye
ever rested upon. Very kind were the
people of Redlands, and very proud of
their fruitful valley.
From Redlands we were wLilled to
Los Angeles, hot, tired and dusty for if
Riverside was hot, Redlands was hot
ter, and Los Angeles hottest. On the
road Mayor Hazard met us with q COM
mittee of citizens, headed by the Presi-
dent of the Chamber of Commerce. In
Productions followed all around, and
soon guests and hosts were in unrestrain-
ed converse. The former were delighted
with all they saw. enthusiastic over the
beauty and especially the cleanliness of
Southern California, and charmed with
the attentions shown them.
In Los Angeles II reception at night,
where products of the soil we're shown,
and flowers from gardens of Los Angc-
les, and especially II carload of floral
beauty from peerless Santa Barbara
were displayed. There was music and
social chat and early dispersal. The
next day, Wednesday, citizens came
out with their carriages and drove the
guests to points of interest, served them
a lunch in grove, and some went on
trip to Redondo Beach, but most of the
guests were released to the good people
Of Pasadena, where the greatest and
best of all hospitality shown was mani
fest. The town is a marvel of beauty
and cleanliness.
The Pasadenans turned out with
brass band aud regiment of carriages
and took the whole party, on drive
through lovely streets and gardens, here
and there pausing to let the ladies serve
lemonade and ices from beneath bowers
of roses. Then the procession went on
to Raymond Hights, where n view Of
tue San Gabriel Valley was had. Rich
floral gifts were made to the guests, and
their portraits taken in group. Here,
too, refreshments were served in great
plenty.
On returning to the train it was found
that the ladies of Pasadena had decor
ted every car with hundreds Of boQuets,
bnskets of flowers, clusters of oranges
and floral wreathes, evergreens, etc.
The surprise of the guests was so great
that they could find no words sufficient
to express their delight.
The day had been hot at Pasadena,
hotter still at Los Angeles, and even
the night in the latter place was sultry.
At 8 .. N. the guests bade the City Of
Angels farewell, and the Joint Califor-
MIA Press Association and Southern CAL
ifornia Editorial Association General
Executive Committee took charge Of
the excursion.
The Southern Pacific Company now
took the trains in haud. Its skilled
agents equipped them with powerful
engines, and at o'clock Wednesday
night the trains thundcred out of the
Arcade depot at a rate of speed that
meant determination to keep to sche-
dule time.
The three sections arrived at Fresno
yesterday at $3.50. Near Bakersfield the
Mayor OF Fresno and the Local Recep-
ton Committee came aboard and cor
nOunced the programme for the day.
Badges were given out, free tickets for
a lunch and the guests told where to 90
to get good breakfast at fair price.
After breakfast many we're taken on
rides through the raisin- grape lands and
visited the chief plats where irrigation
has worked marvels. Fresno greatly
pleased; it's clean streets, handsome
buildings and evidences Of thrift and
energy won for it hearty commenda-
ton.
The run to Stockton began at 4 y. NJ,
In the meanwhile the California Press
Association members and the General
Executive Committee visited their
guests and got into cordial relations
with them. Badges were given out,
books of authoritative character distri-
buted, giving the facts relative to CAL
ifornia, and accompanied by maps, the
whole issued under the seal of the State
Board of Trade.
AS the guests came up the valley they
were greatly pleased and marked the
change to broad green plains, immense
fields OF growing grain and the land
scape dotted here with orchards of de-
ciduous fruits and also the great size of
some OF the vineyard plantings, the
beauty OF the distant snow-capped
One Of the striking features of the ex-
cursion is the mingling of the newspa-
per men and women of the extreme
North and South, the Yankee and the
Southr0n, the cool headed Eastern
coast people and the impulsive West
erners. They fight over old battles now
in the spirit of humor and good fellow
ship.
1t is to be noted that ninety eight per
cent. Of the delegates are owners of
mainly of cities and towns
other than metropolitan centers, though
the great cities have representatives.
AS President Cappeller puts it, "There
is not Il lazy man in the lot, nor a de-
pendent, not one who is not straight.
forward. clean iu life, vigorous and