The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-28
A SUMMER CHANGE.

If it were not for the wonderful variety
of climates in California at all times of the
year, our people would be denied one OF
the most precious gifts that nature has be-
slowed upon the State. 1t is SO generally
the fact that one cannot tell the truth
about California without seeming 70 tell a
lie, that it requires n certain degree of
courage even to tell what is true. Califor-
mans themselves know the truth, and are
aware that comprehension of it is impos-
sible to a stranger Thus, what person
who has not lived here can understand
that at any season of the year climates
peculiar to all the four seasons elsewhere
may be found in few hours travel? On
its very face it looks incredible that these
radically differentand opposing conditions
should stand shoulder to shoulder almost
from one end of California to the other.
The California liar" win never become
extinct until he ceases to tell the truth.
He is as absurd creation in Eastern eyes
as the casual traveller who writes about
our State is in ours.
And yet very many localities in Califor-
MIA have their transitory local discomforts
again, particular place may have eli
mate that is good for one person and bad
for another; still again, locality may
have climate agreeable to one person at
one time of the year and disagreeable at
another. But this is the one great fact to
keep in mind: Any person under the sun
can find somewhere in California, at any
time of the year, climate that exactly
suits him.
The close contiguity of these various con-
ditions has produced in California pecu-
liar social habitude. This is seen in the
form of kind Of seasonal migration, and
it is the wisest thing that Californians do.
The residents of the coast, for instance,
after winter" of balmy, soft, yet highly
stimulating winds from the tropic seas,
long for the crisp, dry heat, brilliant sun
shine and raretied air of the mountains in
summer; and during the growing season
of summer. when there is nothing to do on
the farms and vineyard and orchards, the
residents of the great plains of the interior
desire to escape from the heavy, palpita-
ting heat of their homes and come over to
the coast, where constant breezes are fresh
and cool, and where sleep beneath pair
of warm blankets is infinitely sweet and
do GdIcSSItiS It's bHc SSHtIS StIOhS VI oOlllS
good angels hand on the weary brow.
But the finest of all these gentle pleas
ures is camping in the summer, whether
on the coast by residents of the interior, or
along the mountain streams by jewellers
on the coast; for the change of climate is
as valuable as the novelty of the outing.
The Coast Range north and south of San
Francisco is the favorite and proper resort
for this pleasure, for there the noble,
solemn and mysterious redWoods abound,
with streams which are riyulets of sun
shine and pearls. There, too, we find the
rhododendron, filling all the space with it's
exquisite perfume; the dogwood blossom,
big, white and bold: the tiger lily, luxuri-
ating in its gorgeous panoply of splendid
colors, and innumerable more modest
blooms holding up their dainty lips to re-
ceive the suns bold kiss.
There is no danger of rain in these long,
shining months. A drowsy fog may linger
now and then in the mornings, but it only
makes the bed feel more luxurious and en-
ticing; and when it passes away the great
sun empties its very soul upon the earth
and pours its richest treasures into every
human heart open to receive them. And
so slips away this glorious summer in the
woods, where natures unshackled limbs
are stretched lazily abroad in the sun
shine and men have foretaste of the
peaceful life that lies beyond the ends of
the Garth