The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-26
A BEAUTIFUL VALLEY.

| The description of Napa, published in
Yesterdays CALL, was confined largely to
| an account of those industrial agencies on
which rests SO largely the commercial
prosperity of the people and which so elo-
quently speak for their pride and enter.
| prise In so short an article it was impos-
sible to include mention of the gracious
bounties which prodigal nature has Law
| ished on the valley. The most conspicu-
Gus and permanently valuable feature OF
the valley is that it is so distinctively Cali
fornian-so richly provided with an as
semblage of charms of which California
has peculiar monopoly.
1t is long, narrow valley, with the
broad bay of San Francisco at its lower
end, and the grim, gray old volcano of st.
Helena at the upper. Threading its way
from end to end is the Napa River, naviga-
bic as far as the city of Napa, to which
point there are regular lines of steamers
from San Francisco. The casual traveller
on the train which traverses the valley can
easily believe that he has found para
disc; for he swiftly flies past mile after
mile of orchards and beautiful country
homes and the daintiest of towns exquis-
itely shaded with trees and embowered in
roses.
But if he would see in all its glory one Of
the most bewitching of all the wonderful
pictures that nature has painted in Cali
fornia, he should drive over one of the
many pleasant roads that ascend the
mountains on either side of the valley.
Here will not be seen those awe-inspiring
marvels that have made the name of the
Yosemite familiar throughout the world,
but instead a scene so peaceful, so rich in
charming details, that the desire to become
at once part of the picture and a sharer
of the bounties and beauties that it offers
comes like a yearning for home. Far away
stretch the shining sinuosities of the river,
with here and there white sail resting on
its bosom; and stretching from the banks
on either side are rectangular fields and
orchards of every shade of green or russell
or gorgeous bloom, c1ambering in places
up the slopes of the mountains and
steadily eating their way into the forests OF
oaks and madronas that blanket the noun
tains to the SUBMITS, or rolling gracefully
over the crestsof the lower hills and descend
ing into the cool, still canyons beyond. In
group of ancient liveoaks here and there
nestle the white or gray houses that shell
ter the contented tillers of the soil, with
likely drooning windmill turning lazily
in the gentle breeze. At intervals of few
miles the houses are more numerous and
are compactly massed in towns and vii
lagos, whence may come softly the music
of church bells; and radiating in all direc-
tons are straight. broad roads, smoother
and cleaner than the streets of San Fran
cisco.
Upon all this scene of grace and beauty
the yellow sunshine falls like benedic-
ton, and throughout all the year balmy,
benignant climate pours out its blessings
upon all living things. What effect must
such an environment as this have on the
life of him who comes under it's influence .?
The people of Napa Valley answer the
question without using their tongues. 1t
could not be expected that in the forma-
ton of so large population there should
be some mysterious gravitation thither of
representatives OF a special type. AS
factors in the processes that have made
the settlers the embodiment of thrift,
industry, intelligence and the other quail
ties of the highest citizenship, the fine
character of their rural occupations and
the charms and graces with which nature
has enriched their environment cannot be
left out of the account.