The Portland daily press., 1894-01-20
GLORIOUS CLIMATE OF CALIFORNIA.
While We are Freezing Pasadena is En-
SOying the Warm Sunshine and the
Flowers.
Extract From a Private Lettssa

Pasadena, Jan. IL, 1894.
We talk of our griefs, from
selfishness, or natural craving for sym
pathy but of our pleasures, in order to
share them with others. 1t is for the
latter reason / write this to my eastern
home, which is at present white with
snow and daE cling ice; beautiful to
look at, but shivery to think of, with
this contrast before ne. 1 stand in my
open window at the Raymond" and look
down into the beautiful valley below,
with its orange groves and vineyards,
and see the farmers clearing and blowing
the ground The air Is full of the en-.
chanting notes of linnets and hooking
birds, and feel that to live and breathe
is a delight
Pasadena is rightly called the crown
of San Gabriel valley and want to
say that the Raymond" is the topmost
jewel in that crown. II stands on high
ground, and it's winding approaches,
brilliant with scarlet and white flowers
(Raymond colors and tropical foliage,
prepares the new arrival" for the burst
of glory at the doorway. Two great
masses of poinsettias stand eight feet
high on either side, and back of these
a thick curtain of passion-vine hangs
across the front verandah, loaded with
scarlet blossoms Whether this especial
variety was made for the Raymond can
not say, only ! have never heard OF red
passion flower before, and it is as strange
as it is beautiful; 70 ses, heliotrope, gera-
NUNS, are growing abundantly on all
sides. AS we sit on the verandah,
reading Kate Sanborn's Truthful Wom-
an,n the hooking birds saucily perch on
the passion-vine, and send forth burst
of song, beguiling in its melody and
so astounding in its nearness that one
actually fears the fate of the maid in
the garden hanging out the Clothes"
Inside the Raymond one instantly
feels at home. Those who know the genial
manager, Gen. Wentworth, must feel as
sured of his efficient help, and the atten-
tive service his guests receive. This IS
the country for outdoor life, riding,
driving and walking.
The almond trees are in full blossom,
and under them the sound of the bees is
almost deafening. The ruby-throated
humming bird is also whining about
disputing with the bees, over the honey.
The orange trees are laden with golden
fruit, and bear blossoms at the same
time. Sounds and odors everywhere are
of spring and summer, and lind 1t
difficult to believe that my calendar is
correct and instead of June the January
days are here. and the thermometer
running down SO low at home, that it
almost slips from the hook"
We see many fine turn-outs, the most
attractive is the italy )" with its SIX
"high steppers," magnificenly groomed
and harnessed Its running gear is yell
low, with dark. green body, and bears
tn Raymond coat-of arms 1t holds
thirteen people. The driver and position
wear an English tweed livery. With a
merry party of ladies and gentlemen.
this attracts much notice along the route
the music OF the horn sounding its APP
proach. The roads are excellent, and
bordered with the graceful pepper trees,
or the tall. naked eucalyptus. Naked,
because instead of shedding it's leaves,
at certain seasons, the bark falls, and
the tree, which is green and beautiful
with feathery blossoms at the top, looks
ragged and bare at the foot.
This is truly glorious country. and
fascinatingly beautiful today, growing
more SO every hour now, for the foot
hills will soon be covered with verdure.
and the fields with peoples. not the red
ones we have in some gardens. but vel
low; indeed we would not name them
peoples at all. They are really the
eschscholtzia.
C.S.