Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1896-11-04
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.
For the Herald and Tribune.

For the Herald and Tribune.
The beauties of nature-In treating
this subject our aim shall be to sci
forth the beauties of nature. as seen
in every day life in Southern Califor.
mia alone.
We look around us and the objects
that would naturally call our atten ton
at glance are the mountains, the val
leys and the mighty ocean.
We will first notice, both in our
imaginations and in reality, the beau
full and lofty mountains. They range
in proportions from mere hills to lofty
peaks, some reaching the enormous
height of 12, 900 feet above the sea level.
Some of these mountains are covered
with trees and shrubbery. .sLet US as-
cend one of the beautiful canyons that
traverse our mountain ranges. We
find ourselves surrounded with giant
rocks, while beauty meets our every
movement and laughs at our admira-
tion.
We cast our eyes upward toward the
blue arch of heaven, and what do we
seer We see towering far above us
immense walls of rock, while here and
there an overhanging crag, or a bunch
OF stunted pine, while tiny birds fiy
from tree to tree like autumn leaves
on windy day.
We gaze in wonder; we are delighted
with the beauty of the scene, amazed
at it's magnifcence and magnitude, and
terrified at It's strength, for it seems to
say, beware, am mighty and can de.
stroy.
Yet we are fascinated by the very
power of the scene and withdraw our
gaze with reluctance to examine more
refined beauty at our feet. Imagine a
laughing rivulet with water clear as
crystal. with sparkling pebbles on the
bottom, and banks covered with green
verdure, with here and there beauti.
ful wild flower or tiny fern dotting
its surface like the shining planets in
the sunny sky. We might llnger, ad-
miring other beauties with which
these canyons abound; but let us pro.
ceed to the valleys. Here, with our
South American climate, citrus trees
OF oil kinds flourish, while flowers
bloom in the winter time, with the
balmy showers displacing the summer
neat. Although we grow used to the
magnificence with which we are sur.
rounded, and may say tired of it, yet
In reality we are living in second
Eden. This is most fully realized when
first we feast our eyes on it's level ex.
panse. Let US visit an orange grove
In the early spring, and feast our eyes
land also our stomachs) on the golden
Iruit with which the trees are laden.
How beautiful they look. What a
picture for an artist. Such q canvass
would be invaluable, and the hand
that traced it's beauties would earn
we'll deserved fame.
We now pass westward until we spy,
amid its volume of fog, the mighty
ocean. AS far as the eye can reach is
me vast expanse of sky blue water,
While along its edges, where the mighty
breakers chase each other in fiendish
,lee, the shining sand stretches for
niles as though they would encircle
he earth. Hours may be spent as we
ecllne on the sand, watching the ma
leuyers OF the waves, and we imagine
hat there is mighty furnace fred by
lnseen hands beneath the billows,
which causes the sea to boil and splut-
er; while again each wave seems to
10 gigantic monster, which rushes
wildly upon its foe as though to crush {
into atoms. They rush together,
ause an instant in deadly ombat, and {
hen retreat as rapidly as they came.
We see a wave far out from the
hore, and as we watch it becomes
arger and rolls higher as it approaches, {
'hen suddenly, as it strikes the sand, G
breaks with deafening roar, cast |
~ the spray high in the air. and rush 9
lg as far upon the beach as its force t
i'll propel it; turns and recedes until 7
is met by its successor. We now 6
ave the ocean and even nature itself, /
nd consider from whence all this
'mes. Much might be said, but we /
" but this, "Great and grand is ma 6
are, but greater and grander is its
aker and preserver, who is God" q