The record-union., 1895-08-30
THE BEAUTY OF SWEBlBRIAR CAMP.
A Charming, RestfuI Place on the
Upper Sacramento.
Rev. r. NJ. Stevenson Relates Fish
Story About Tom LOTUS Las
sofng Salmon.

EDS. RECORD UNION: | am sitting in q
hammock and above me the pines lift
their heads 200 feet or more. In front of
me are two other hammocks, to my right
is the tent, and at my back, about 200
feet away, is the fast-siowing, crystal
clear Sacramento River. Now, at 8
o'clock a. NJ, the sun has ust crept
above the hills enough to send some of
his bright rays down through the
branches Of the trees upon our camp.
From q bubbling spring not two min
utes distant we get our drinking water,
and it is like that which comes from an
icebed for GOODNESS, and like that clear
as crystap water that is sldd in the last
chapter OF the Bible 10 flow from the
throne of God, 4 few minutes walk
brings us to Artists Point, from which
the lofty, snow-clad shasta Jan be seen in
all his majesty.
But while we seem so TAR away from
the haunts of men, it Is not i've minutes
walk across the bridge 10 the railroad
station and express office, and we have 4
POstollice within half mile.
Here We are resting! Ne wander over
the hills or along the stream by day, and
gather around huge camp-Ires III the
evening, with song ana game.
y group OF US were excited TO a lofty
pitch the other morning as we watched
one OF the campers battling with big
salmon. ii had taken d spoon hook on d
trout line and 4 bamboo rod. 1t was q
question whether fish more than three
ieeG long and weighing over twenty
pounds could be landed with such tack le,
but after thirty minutes struggle. dart
ing now into deep water and now on the
rapid rifle. II sought the quiet water and
was safely landed.
But L. j. Lotus is the fisherman OF
fishermen. We saw him do o thing the
like OF which no one ever saw before, nor
may ever see again. We saw him lasso a
salmon by the tail. But il is when fish
ing tor trout that he is seen at his best.
The grace with which he can cast fifty or
seVenty-hYe feet away, and Keep his flies
bObbing on the water, is interesting i'll
the extreme. Among other fish which he
landed a few evenings ago was one that
weighed two and quarter pounds and
was about eighteen inches long. II was a
beauty, and being worthy tie artist was
sent by express to Berkeley. Maybe,
some Of these days you will see it in an
art gallery.
The best catch made by your humble
fisherman, the writer, was sixteen in a
couple OF hours one evening.
delightful change this from the city.
Feet that have tramped cement walks by
the month rejoice in the mountain trail
or bank OF moss. Eyes that have grown
weary with looking upon the pages of
books month after month, are rested as
they look upon the lofty cedars and pines
aud the leafy oaks. AS one looks upon a
straight and mighty pine. standing erect.
with It's head IN the sky, II pictures to
him what a man should be. AS one
looks into the clear, pure waters of the
Sacramento he is reminded of what it
must have been as it flowed by the Capt.
tai City in the days before hydraulic min
ing, and what it ought TO be to-day. Or,
he asks himself why Sacramento and the
cities about the Bay could not com bine
and bring common supply of pure
mountain water sufficient for all.
AS he wanders in the forests and sees
hundreds, aye, thousands, of cords of
wood going to waste, giant trees prone on
the earth and rotting away, he wishes
this wood might be brought to the poor
in our cities.
If you wish delightful retreat, with
modest expense. away from the fashion
and farces OF the watering place, let me
commend to you Sweet Brier Camp.
August Il, 1898. Il. VI. STEVENSON.