West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1895-07-04
A YIsIT 10 BAcHELoRs' HAVEN.
CAPTAIN GRANDE. School.
LAKEsfE, CAL, June 2l, 1895

ehSiS - oucH ~ pttcc as Lnc title OF
this article.
When told OF the existence OF real
paradise on earth where lives three old
bachelors, in beautiful valley watered
by crytal streams, where every variety
OF flower and bird seen in Southern
feet above sea level; where Winter
never shows his teeth and Summer is
always continual Spring. / say, on
hearing this, at once decided to go
Proceeding on an Indian pony that
could climb like gazelle, and with
one of the cleverest, most generous
men it has been my lot to meet in Cali
fornia, we set out FOR Bachelors Haven
The morning air was bracing, so our
ponies scampered up one OF the noun
tain ridges until we came to the pretty
cosy ranch of our guide. over four miles
from the school Here we halted until
after dinner.
Now we start down the slope three
miles into tho Rancho Valley, where
there is a prosperous Indian settlement,
from which number of my pupils
come; and rough trail it is. We feared
our ponies would turn n somersault so
we took our chances at walking part
of the way.
Now nine or ten miles, all up, the
Cuyamaca Mountain, we trailed our
way. Now STOPPING as we crept under
the branches of the live oak, and again
taking great leaps across chasms wash
ed out by mountain rains--ever seeing
something new and wild. The pure air
seemed to invigorate our steeds as
much as ourselves, and so we went
clambering on.
Now we pass ranch, as il were, in a
hole in the mountains. My guide told
me Mr.. ST. John lived there, and
from his description of the man, con-
cluded he was misnamed, for he moved
there some fifteen years ago, home
steaded that fiat, brought with him an
intelligent and refined wife and baby,
and he has never permitted his family
TO see the outside world since. His girl
has grown up in ignorance, with no
education, and knows no more of the
world than she does of the moon. He
takes and reads no paper, lives the life
of brute, and his family do the work.
lie allows no one to visit his family.
The gloomy thoughts created by this
recital were soon dispelled by the song
of birds and the scamper of the squirrel
to his hole.
Call it what you will-ozone, elixir of
life, or what not-a trip over these
mountains, well mounted, will infuse
more of the vital inspiring property
than any dosing OF doctors.
Now we come to level stretches on
TOP of the range, and suddenly emerge
into fertile vale, such as only South
ern California can afford. had learn
ed to be surprised at nothing since L
came to California, for one is liable to
see anything, but 1 could not help
staring with wide open eyes on behold
ing the neat, we'll painted houses, the
lovely flowers in the yard, and the gem
eral appearance of taste and comfort
that surrounded this Bachelors Haven.
for this is the place. There were herds
of horses, cattle, pigs, sheep, chickens
and at least a dozen cats and dogs,
helped to make us welcome. Large
fields of gram and alfalfa and fine
orchard met our eyes. The three bache-
Tors, ranging in age from 60 to 20, met
us and gave us hearty welcome, while
our horses were given to understand
the same
must say, that have changed my
opinion concerning old bachelors since
my visit to this place. / now know
that they can be civilized and take an
interest in the esthetics of life, though
fifty miles from railroad and society.
Ebenezer Howard, the oldest, tall and
straight, with a beard like wool. at
tends to the house-worlx, cooking, sc.
He is American born and emigrated
from New York. MIR. Justin Robinson
is of Scotch birth, small of stature.
affable, with voice and gestures like a
refined society lady. lie used to sing
with the troupe in which Jennie Linn
figured, and has had the honor of sing
ing before Queen Victoria. Mr.. Robin
49, 1890 Nt''C Va WIG y nOWtFot
chickens, dogs and cats. found him
feeding some orphan kittens with
spoon. lie said the mother cat had
died and he must take care of the or
phans. He said they had about fifteen
cats and seven dogs, but their stock
was decreasing in number and he must
look after them better. They have
little graveyard where they bury all
the dogs and cats that die, placing
headstone, and at stated times they
decorate their graves with flowers. DR..
T. ID. G. Myers, tho youngest member
OF the trio, is good humorcd, viva
cious German, came to America about
twenty-five years ago, a well read doc.
tor with fine library. He looks after
the stock ard outdoor work, employs
a number OF Indians 20 do the work on
the farm, and deals in stock and hogs.
Some OF the rarcst and most beauti.
ful flowers that ] have ever seen saw
there Many were imported from Eu-
rope. brought fine bouquet tied up
in moss and hung on my saddle for my
schOOl-roOm