The herald., 1895-05-22
Paper on California Scenery
Artistically Viewed
BY MRS. ELIZA A. OTIS
Read by DR.. J. 6. Fletcher-The Won
derfuI Yosemite
And Other Places Not So Unique but Advan-
tageous to Artists Here-Hr.
Judson's Talk


evening in the Art association rooms, 1lC
lightful paper by Mrs. Eliza A. Otis on
California Scenery Artistically Viewed.
The paper was read by Rev. J. q.
Fletcher who also presided.
After few graceiul,words OF tribute to
Mrs. Otis, who, as awriter. has done so
much for the climate, scenery and flora
of California. and expressing the pleas
ure he always feels at seeing anything
from heI pen, Mr.. Fletcher turned to
the paper. which opened with brief ref
eIence TO the impossibility of doing ade-
quate justice in a word-pain1ing to the
wonderful grandeur and sxtent of noun
tain and valley; to the varying land
scapes, with their play of light and
shade, or to the great whole of natural
environment in California, which is so
full of inspiration for the true artist. In
no part of this continent OF mighty
distances is there section where the
kinship of the artist with nature is more
fully expressed; indeed. natures great
art realm is so unfolded here and is so
vast and inspiring that California may
Justly be regarded as the masterpiece of
the Divine Artist.
Mrs. Otis the, drew graphic picture
OF the sublimity of the majestic Sierras.
with their varied leaves that can ne yer
be monotonous; their marvelously peau-
tiful effects made by the winds over the
fields of grain, and the wealth of color
that millions of blossoms give to the
hillsides; of the Alpine grandeur of the
high Sierra regions, where greater nr1n-
Der of peaks rise above IS, 900 feet than
are to be found in the Alps themselves,
where forgotten crevasses and rocky crags.
dead craters. mighty avalanches and
crystal waterfalls abound; of the wealth
OF material for the artists hand in the
very heart of the Sierras. where mead adows
are green through the long summer.
where gigantic forests sweep away into
tempting silence and mountain lakes
mirror the solemn and majestic beauty
about the m in their placid waters. Mrs.
Otis next sketched IN the gray vastness
anI strange stretches of desert that are
not dull but impressive, with their Sc
crets sacredly guarded by the tall cacti
which stand about like inert sentinels;
their flaming spots of wild flowers max
ing a whole which, though grim, has
elements Of beauty.
The many and varied pictures which
lie all along the coast between the noun
upon; the fertile valleys bordered by
beautiful foothills and blossoming with
orchards and vineyards, the frozen SHOWS
OF mountain crest looking down upon
the petaled SHOWS of the orchards bloom,
while blue veins of rivers connect the
which roll the waves of the majestic sea.
Turning from the abstract of the land
scape in general to the concrete instance
of that unique and inspiring miracle, the
Yosemite, Mrs. Otis drew magnificently
vivid and impressive pen picture of it
as valley carved out of granite JOCK, set
around with gigantic plnnacled peaks and
time worn extinguished volcanoes. Un-
told and undetermined forces of nature
have carved the mountains into vast ca
thedrals With reaching spires, Titan
forms lifted into the eternal silence OF
upper air. and heaven and earth seem to
have met i'll the vastness of space. Seas
OF mighty forests sweep around the base
of these gigantic peaks and grass-clad
meadows lie at the foot of glaciers. All
these form the upper rim of Yosemite;
the valley proper is sunk almost mile
down in the earth's heart. The rocky
sides are carved into fantastic shapes, or
cut into the rarest beauty of architecture;
domes. minarets and towers. cathedral
by unseen hands, and solemn organ peals
are heard in the thunders of descending
cataIacts and leaping waterfalls. The
Bridal Veil seems u silver film; Yosemite
appears to leap from blue air and makes
its mighty plunge of over 2000 feet into
the valley below. Mirror lake lies still
and cool. rejecting the rock built firma-
ment, and from Vernal and Nevada falls
rush the waters of Merced river; rainbows
span them and tall trees sway in the
baptism of their endless spray. Great
boulder-lined canyons yawn for the
streams to pass; grandeur and vastness
encompass the scene on every hand.
Every portion of the valley is sublime.
the view from every direction seems al
most infinite and fathomless and from
every standpoint it looks like new crea-
ton. Following the description Of Yo-
semitic. of whicn this is most made
quate outline, MIS-. Otis pictured Mount
Shasta which stretches upward a sheer
two miles and the poetic paper was closed
with references to the unusual advantages
offered the artist here in the transcend
ent atmospheric effects, the broad sweep
of horizon, the mellow dawns and golden
sunsets. the whole finished poem in
rhythmical coloring.
At the close of the paper MIR. W. /.
Judson made few informal remarks on
student life in Paris. The art students
in that fascinating city are an institution,
they hold an important place in politics.
There are about 10000 of them living.
mostly in the Latin quarter A short de.
scription was eiven of the peculiarity or
life there of the daily life and art of the
ateliers. of the habits, manners. morals
and customs OF the place, and Mr.. Judson
closed with number of amusing anec-