The herald., 1895-07-23

and gentlemen on the pier at San Pedro
eager to embark upon the staunch ocean
steamer Hermosa, vessel owned by the
Wilmington Transportation company,
which transports passengers and light
freight to and from the naturally protec.
ted harbor of Avalon, the chief port of
the island, which in a length of twenty.
five miles and a width OF from one half to
eight miles contains as near the require
ments of the scenery seeker as is possible
to find in any part Of the globe.
But few moments pass before all are
on board when the lines are cast off and
we are en- route for the oasis in mid
ocean. The character Of all on board was
of a mrthful nature. but soon ''that tired
feeling prevailed to such an extens that
a chance to pile up in the cabin in rev.
erie of whether the ailmen. was only
passing fancy or dreamed-of tribute
from Neptune of those who brave his
realms resulted in establishing the tact
that tribute was being eXacted and paid
in most generous donations. young
gentleman firmly grasping stanchion
with both hands. his head extended
overheard in his offerings to the follow
ing whales, porpoises and smaller fry of
the finny tribe, is not an object to create
admiration in the heart of his best girl.
who laughinglv asks him if he is pretty
near through.
quiry comes little later when the young
lady begins to look weary and scans the
cabin and guards for place to at least
sit down. her ears begin to whiten, her
lips change from rosy hue to leaden blue,
and finally, with a whirling head and re-
bellious stomach She too grasps the
stanchion and brings up as food for
fishes all she has eaten the previous
twenty-four hours. Midway between
the mainland and island but nalf dozen
of the 200 passengers are able to look un-
concerned, and even they are not over
keep them up until Avalon is reached.
After run of two hours smooth water
is again reached; few moments lat er
the steamer rounds Sugar Loaf into the
beautiful harbor. the pier of which is
covered with hundreds of people looking
for friends or desiring to see how the pas
sengers stood the voyage. The relief of
getting there is panacea for all the trib-
ulatlons and the gangplank hardly
touches the wharf until all try to look
happy, even If they are not. The howl
lngs of the hotel representatives awaken
me to the fact that it is 6 o'clock D. m.
and that dinner is an absolute necessity,
to be fOllowed by scouting quarters during
my sojourn on the island. The Island
Villa pretentious hostelry fronting the
beach, was decided upon as an abiding
place. and the dinner served proved my
selection wise one. AS manager we
found Mr.. Fred Wilding at the helm,
with II. Wilcox as chief clerk and Percy
Wilding as assistant clerk and bookkeeper,
trio able and willing to give guests the
best of everything.
After dinner desire to be shown to
my room was answered by bell boy,
who started up street, saying Come
on" | went to learn, il nothing more,
A short walk up street and my room, No.
Ill, was found, composed of an Sx1O
striped tent, fitted up with carpet on the
floor nice furniture--in fact. all the re.
quirements of first class hotel room.
Hearing most beautiful music reminded
me that Professor, Charles Jones with his
famous Catalina Island band was there.
A moments walk backward and the
band was found in well built stand.
where, with twenty musicians, each an
artist. selections were played as only this
band can play them. Professor Jones is
one OF the most noted musical directors
on the coast He has the distinction OF
organizing the finest musical combina-
tions ever sent out from the Golden state,
and has done much with such to attract
attention to Southern California. After
the concert the band, followed by the
thIong lining the beach. adjourned to the
pavilion, specially constructed building
adapted for musical, dramatic and other
entertainments, where young and old
danced as they willed until II p. M, at
which time the day on the beach ends.
good nights rest in my canvas room
brought me up, not with the larks but
'ne 70 the beach, where the only string