The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1892-03-11
MANKATOITES IN CALIFORNIA.
ARROWHEAD SPRINGS, Cal,
March 3. 1892.

| The trip from Dan Dlego 10 Los
| Angeles is full of interest to the tray-
eler. The Santa Fe road skirts the
ocean beach for fifty miles or more,
and the roar of the serf is often heard
above the noise of the train, as it
beats upon the sandy shore. Wecould
distinctly see small sea lions, a variety
of seal, playing in the white lines Of
the serf, diving and reappearing, and
| now and then the backs of large sea
fish are decernable. Acres upon acres
of wild geese stood upon the grassy
bank back of the sand strip. unterrified
by the passing train, and California
buzzards and large hawks wheeled
and circled above, while large gulls
and other sea birds flew about. The
first stop north of San Diego is Old
Town, a relic of the past, containing
the chapel where Pomona and Ales-
sandra were united in marriage. The
scene of Helen Hunt Jacksons great
novel was laid in Southern California,
and there is scarcely home in the
state without copy of the work, AS
in many other towns in the state,
Oldtown contains several adobe
houses and Mexican population.
Then comes the beautiful Mission
Valley, containing the San Diego Mis-
sion, the oldest in the state and now
little better than heap of ruins.
Half way to Los Angeles the train
passes the huge ruins of the great
Capistrand Mission, which was erect
ed by the Franciscan Monks lao years
ago, and which was overthrown by an
earthquake 112 years ago. Some OF
| the thick adobe walls and arches are
standing, and new uchapel in use
in the center. The road passes not
far from the old San Luis Rey Mission,
and near Pasadena is the well pre-
served San Gabriel Mission. At Los
Angeles is another mission, and also
one at Santa Barbara.
San Diego, though not much larger
than MankatO, possesses a paid fire
department. Each company is sup
piled with finely built horses. which
are maintained at cost each of zoe.
a day, and are used for no other pur-
pose. They are daily exercised with
the trucks and for two hours are kept
under harness. Each company has a
driver who receives $50 per month,
and ten call men, who receive $40 per
month and sleeping apartments above
the hose room. These work in the
neighborhood, but drop everything
upon the sound of the bell. The en-
gineer receives 500 per month. The
entire cost of the department is Sl5,-
900 year.
The country about San Diego is we'll
adapted to fruit growing, and lemons
do especially well. The oranges are
large and juicy, but as in all districts
near the coast the orange trees suffer
greatly from the scale.
Cy Thurston is spending the winter
at the Hotel Josephine, on the PENN
sula of Coronado.
At Los Angeles we met Asa Graves,
who is conducting Lucky" Baldwin IS
Hotel lakewood, at Arcadia, not far
from Los Angeles. Mrs. Graves is
improved in health.
We were surprised to meet Dr. and
Mrs. z. G.. Harrington upon the street
at Los Angeles. They had just re-
turned from old Mexico, and reported
having spent two months there most
enjoyably. They visited the City of
Mexico and all the cities of interest
on the Gulf coast, and are enthusiast
tic over the trip and the climate, and
have stock ofexperiences which will
entertain their friends after their re-
turn to Mankato May 1st. They soon
leave for San Diego and from there to
Santa Barbara by sea.
Mr.. Sherk and 1 had our first ex-
perience with an earthquake at Los
Angeles, upon our first night in the
city. Fortunately, we had not retired
and had the full benefit upon an up
per floor. The building swayed, the
window panes ratified, the heavy chan
delier swung back and forth, and
everyone was startled. At some of
the hotels the guests rushed into the
! streets in dishabille The quake has
been favorite subject of conversa-
tion ever since
We visited the Chinese theatre one
evening, and enjoyed a scene which
battles my descriptive powers. Suffice
to say that Chinese play continues
for months, the thread being taken
up each night where it was dropped
the night before. WeWere well salts
fed after listening to the orchestra
and actors for half an hour. There
are twelve lottery companies in the
city. and we invested dime each in
order to understand the routine. The
Chinese is the greatest gambling race
on the face of the earth, and all are
| investors in the lottery. and often