Morning journal and courier., 1894-01-16


 shine Without Disagreeable Rain and Fogs-A Trip to the Famous Lick Observatory and q Look Through the Largest Telescope in the World.
 BELMONT. Cal, Dec. IS, 1893. To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER.
 As sit in my study and look out of my window, this beautiful sunny morning, upon the beds of violets. roses, nastur- tiums, petagoniums, calls lilies, marguer- ites, fuchias, sweet peas, carnations, helio- tropes and panuies, all biossoming In the open air, can hardly realizs that in all probability way back east In the old Nut meg state the thermometer is ran dng be- low freezing, and the ground is white with snow instead of wearing oosr of bright green ss is the case here. Tut I explain this change from the oolf of an eastern winter to the mild warm h of an Indian summer by recollecting that am in Cali tornia, the 'Land of Sunshine and Flow ers." This truly is 4 remarkable statei I am passing the winter In this little town nestled In green valley among the hills, only twenty Ave miles from San Francisco, and although the mornings are frosty and foggy In the Golden Gate city, yet here we have almost eternal sunshine. It rains here ss in other places, but generally in the night, and clears of very early in the morning. While you good people in New Haven are going about the streets bundled up in your overcoats and closks, and toast ing your feet over the grate- fire, we are running about out doors bare-hesdsd and gathering punches of flowers. This Is only a sample of the climate throughout central California, and ss for southern California, where the orange and lemon trees blossom in the winter months. need say nothing, since 1t has been so thorough ly described by tourists as to be widely known as the Fl Dorado of America.
 But 1t is not my intention to dwell sole ly on the climate of California, as wish to describe some of the sights and places of interest to e tourist. Let me advise everybody coming to California to take q nous Lick observatory. The elegant drive of eighteen miles from San Jose, the beau tiful scenery along the Coast range, and s peep through the mighty telescope at the wonders of the heavens, furnish an amount of pleasure that can seldom be equaled in 90 short c trip. On Saturday, December 2d, friend and myself left the depot of the Southern Pacific railroad, corner of Third and Townsend streets, San Francis co, at . quarter past eight in the morn- ing. and after a delightful ride through the suburbs of San Francisco, along the coast, passing many beautiful homes of wealthy city people, through the village of Pslo Alto, where Is situated the Le- land Stanford, jr., university, the lasting monument of the dead senator's son, we arrived at the charming oity of San Jose. Repairing at once to the Vsndome, which by the way rivals any hotel in any east ern city the sizs of San Jose for elegance and good accommodations, we registered, and having partsken of 6 hearty dinner, started in the Mount Hamilton stage company's four-horse wagon on our long drive to the summit. And what 8 charm ing ride that wssl Passing rapidly through wide, shady streets, we came out upon the country road which runs along by numerous well-kept vineyards and or ehards, and then into the hilly country ct the base of the Coast range. As we ascsnded the mountain itself We began to get c magnificent view. Far away In one direction could be seen San Francis co and the lannon's Golden Gate, which overlooks the placid waters of the Pa cifc. Across the hsrbor, which spsrkled with the rays of the brilliant ean like a great polished mirror, could be seen the city of Oakland, and then at our very feet as 1t were, but in reality some twelve miles away enugly nestled in little val ley, was San Jose. At about four o'clock we reached Smiths creek, the half way point, where we had an excellent supper, and then the real climb began. As We gradually ascended higher and higher ve began to feel the shsrp mountain air and our overcosts were very acceptable The sun was slowly setting and we had a last glimpse of the thrifty vineyards dotiing the vallIes below, and in many cases ex- tending we'll up the mountain tides. It was with great difficulty that we could be- lieve, ss we gszsd upon this civilized and prosperous region, that only thirty years ago 1t was the retreat of despersdoss and outlsvsl Yet such is 6 fact, and when once these fugitives from justice gained the hidden recesses of this range pursuit was useless. We were very losth to have fast falling night shut out our view and to be obliged to consigu ourselves to darkness 
 the buildings of the observatory about half past six, and after s few more turns we drew up at the main entrance to the obssr- vatory itself and alighted. We were re- ceived with great cordislity by the numer- ous officials in charge and were at once ushered into the visitors room on the left of the hall as we entered, and after regis- tsring we passed down a long corridor beautifully paved with marble and up into the smaller dome, where we proceeded to esze ct the stars through the little tele- scope. After listening to very interest ing talk by the obliging professor In charge we went into the transit room. and were | shown all the instruments used in taking | sidereal time, observing the sun, etc. We
 then visited the library, which is probably | as complete with works on astronomy ss | money can make 1t. We found here works on astronomy in Russian, Ere nch, German, English, Arabic and other languages. Per haps our obliging guide Intentionally took us to the larger dome last, where we could gaze through the largest telescope In the world. It certainly was fitting climax to
 this very interesting trip of ours. As we looked upon this mammoth magnifer we II Il l. .-ls