The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-05-24

assracrons. II n the commercial, political
and social capital % the province. and this
fact naturally attracts within its limits
superior ard desirable class Of csttzsnst
The eqsas,e climate and beautiful scenery
enhance the pleasures Of home and family
life 90 no small degree. A large majority
Of the people Own their homes, and take
pride tn the Improvement and uainte-
rance OF the property sach A. could not
b. expected from even the best system
Of Fsrdsortsnip. The better class Of people
have enjoyed good educational facilities.
and the constant contact Of the city with
Europe and the world at large guards II
against provincial crudities Of thought ana
Manners The business men have learned
or perhaps never uniearred, the art OF
~kinr life easy They have become
proverhsaI for q comfortable distribution
of time between Office and home. q method
of life which, as has been justly observed,
makes both home and business more at
tractiye. ana which contributes much TO
the charm OF Victoria society. The social
pleasures OF the city are entered into and
added TO by the continuous presence OF .
number OF naval officers. whose uniforms
are 50 common on the streets As to at
tract no special attention These gentle
men are ever ready to assist In any fes-
adspts they are in such matters, Tniie
perhaps fashionable society best appre-
ciates the value Of epaulettes IN ban
room. All these elements. backed by .
solid financial prosperity. give TO the w
of Victoria all the advantages which So
ciety could crave.
supplementing the graces OF the draw
ing room and the home circle are the
social clubs OF the city. three in number,
whose quarters are furnished with true
English substantial comfort. occupying
n. nasosne buildings, Bearing In every de-
tan the stamp Of open-hearted hospitality,
and famous for their courteous treatment
of visitors 70 the city.
Nor In life IN Victoria less ENJOYABLE 10
the men and women who care nothing ior
elubhouses and bathrooms. and Who 90 NOT
form nor wish TO form part OF the great
world Of fashion. Many snug cottage
tells Of the loving family circle WITHIN.
ard as the houses are built for comfort
rather than for show. so the lives OF their
owners are filled with solid enjoyment
The parks, which have been aptly termed
the poor mans lawn, and the pleasant
walks and drives about the city remove
many Of the disadvantages TO which the
poorer classes are subject In overcrowded
cities. and the open climate renders the
pleasures Of outdoor life. on both land ana
water. available 70 all classes 1T all sea-
sons.
The facts Just referred to help to account
for the fondness Of Victorians Tor outdoor
sports. and the extent TO which these have
been developed Football, cricket. tennis.
yachting. lacrosse, rowing. hunting ana
horse racing all have their hundreds OF
votaries. Some Of these sports find eort
OF natural elimination during the festivi-
ties OF the queens birthday. as the reports
OF yesterdays and tomorrow's events will
show. The latest amusement 10 ind
lodgment In the heart Of V.ctorians Is
cycling, and just at present their fond
ness for II amounts almost TO mania. II
has been Of sudden growth. but from all
appearances II has come 10 stay. Last
season there were very few bicycles In the
city. Now the streets are crowded with
them They are visible at all hours of the
day and in almost every imaginable place.
Their riders embrace all classes Of the
population, three Chinese being the latest
additions to the cycling force Sturdy
bankers. staid and venerable men. regard
the wheel as no impeachment OF their dig
n.ty. Women have taken kindly to the
new fad, and a considerable number OF
them have donned the accompanying
boomers Society at first was shocked by
tho advent Of these. and uttered Its pro-
test: but the protest was Intellectual, and
the fair riders continue TO bloom" TO their
hearts content. Boys and girls OF course
are among the patrons Of the wheel. b.
cycle shops for the sale. renting and re-
pairing OF wheels are to be seen on every
SIDE. The art Of advertising spurs itself
TO the most enterprising efforts to make
known the virtues and advantages OF some
particular machine or tire or handle-bar
or saddle. A new model or a striking BIZ
cycle display In a show window attracts
crowd quite as quickly as the arrival
~ 80 efv
the supreme achievement OF Victoria mil
liners and taiiors just now. and brave
show they make rs they fash along the
streets or go circiing out along the coun-
try roads. And at Beacon Hlli park-there
Is the paradise OF the cyclists There is a
mile track for speeding. and there are
countless avenues for quiet riding. and
there are long tempting slopes for coast
ing and scorching. The cyclists are there
all day. They come and so in endless pro-
ceSsion. During the lovely moonlight of
the last few nights, while the air IN the
park was balny and the fountain was
playing like molten silver into the little
lake. scores OF riders were cut on the
track. and the long. sweeping evolutions,
watched from some quiet nook amid shrub
berry and flowers. made a sort of Informal
carnival
Discovery. Settlement. Growth.
situated. is simply the largest OF the
group OF islands In the archipelago ex-
tending along the west coast OF the main
land Of British Columbia. This was un-
douhtedly ~ one time part of the main
land Itself and represents a submerged
range OF mountains. of which the ridge
along the center Of Vancouver island con-
stitutes the apex. This important dtyt-
sion OF the province, at one time a dis
tinet crown colony. and the first orranix-
ed section % the Coast. Is about so miles
long. running northwesteriy from the
Straits OF Fpca, which divide the most
southerly point from the continent. and
has an average width OF about fifty miles
IL vas on the southern end OF this island
that the Hudson Bay Company establish
Cd its headquarters after abandoning It's
southern posts rs the result Of the
change % boundary. or rather the fixing
Of g. As a consequence, together with
the important discovery Of coal at ana
near Nsuaimo. the island obtained ana
maintained a political and commercial
asccndeucy.
The island has some essential rhs-ae-
tersstics in point OF economic resource.
II has extensive and valuable coal aspoS-
It's and immense timber a-eas besides
building stone. marble. claws, etc In roln,
Of agricultural capabilities though no.
possessing any considerable areas of tfl,-
able isnd- there are numerous tracts Of
good quality. The southern portion NJ
the Island. and contiguous islands. are
peculiarly adapted 60 fruit growing. Tns
climate Is very favora HE, with less rain
faA thar On tire adjacent mainland. In
t.isuy localities. notwithstanding that the
depth % soil IS IeSs as rule than in the
Westminster district the soil * usually
a dark. rich vegetable naaid suitable for
tire growth q cereals. vegetables and
tru.t. al % which do weil. Their are
several large fArmiag districts. such as
samich. CoNichan- CcnoN and Aiher-t
Wiss-h have A very rsr.e-,, fSt-,- s.,...,. -