The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-07-11
REV. Il. SHADES TRIP TO CALI
F0RNIA.

and Denver, we must say that we we're
| greatly interested, as we're all who list
ened to his glowing descriptions Of
the many places, and the engaging and
delightful scenes he visited.
He had been wishing for many years
that he might make the tour to that
golden shore as he had it pictured to his
mind. and SO was prepared to take it all
in, and enjoy it to perfection. as he tells
! US he did.
He told of the rugged mountain seem
cry of every grade and character brought
to his attention as he went and came,
almost from his setting out from the Both
of March to the time of his return, the
last of May. and how he felt that he was
never to go clear of mountain passes, and
canyons, and gorges, certainly magnif
icent. and worthy to be classed among
| the greatest wonders of the world, more
than sufficient to repay for the journey
across the country to see them. He told
of miles of these majestic gorges with
the roadbed lying much of the way upon
shelf, on the verge of vast precipices
cut out or blasted from the solid rock
just wide enough to allow the train to
pass.
His rising over mountain peaks, and
in and out of rooted terraces and snow
sheds, and through dark yawning
chasms and tunnels, was Of great inter-
est to him, and he attempted making us
see the many enrapturing sights of ex-
traordinary interest; the natural won.
ders OF hill and valley, Of cascade and
waterfall, grandly majestic, and combin-
ing all in picturesque view of startling
effect; but did not think that any ton
que or pen could ever quite describe the
imposing grandeur of such scene. To
be fully appreciated it had to be viewed.
He related much of the different places
he visited in the more southern portions
of his travels, and the many alluring
and delightful wonders in profusion of
trees and shrubs, and plants and flow
ers, and fruits of every description. at
Redland and Riverside, at San Diego
and San Bernardino, going to Old Mexico
and many points of historical interest
out from these.
He gave descriptions of the climate in
country without winters, and practi-
cally without frosts, the finest in the
world, where people scarcely know any
thing about seasons, and where rose
bushes grow and grow, till they grow in
to small trees.
He thought there was no fairer coun-
try in the world than Southern Califor
mia, with everything in bloom in Janu-
atty as in June; that it was land of per-
petual sunshine and flowers. The flow.
ers we're simply immense. with carloads
to give away.
He felt forced to remark upon the
friendly character of the people, evinced
in various ways, in answering your many
questions, and in their manner Of insist
ing upon going with you and pointing
out any objects of interest you might bs
wishing to know about.
But Pasadena was his own most favor
tie spot of all, and he said at once as he
came to view it, "This is the place of all
places, for beauty, and glory and sur
prises. 1t was paradise of tropical
plants and flowers, and a wilderness of
beauty. 1t was his ideal of a resident
city, seeming to him exceptional in the
high character of it's people, and being
extremely cultured and refined, and
fairly entitled to the name it bore. The
Crown of the Valley"
If anything was needed in this regard
to immortalize the town, it was 1.-THE
Pasadena" or Lowe Mountain Ra |
way" connecting it with the summit of
the Sierra Madre, the elevation of which
was 5000 feet above the level of the sea.
He had no stint of praise for 1.-THE Echo
Mountain House," blazing at evening
with light from top to bottom; "The
Worlds Fair Premium Search Light"
thrown upon the valley below; its cult.
waited fields and gardens, and homes of
its citizens so incomparably grand, and
transcendently beautiful. He thought
that all Boosting aside, there was no
such other view anywhere in the world.
with gardens, and grottoes, and hamlets;
with city and mountain height brought
so close together, the White Chariot or
Mountain Car creeping up to that other
city on the hill and letting it's light shine
down right at ones door, making the
whole city garden Of delights, beauti.
full in appearance. in situation, in soil,
in productions, realm of perfect
beauty and enchantment. He was sure
that Pasadena must grow for it was hav-
ing reputation all over the world.
After this he went to Los Angeles.
Santa Barbara. Oakland, San Francisco.
and last of all, 10 returning home to Salt
Lake City and Denver. To the first Of
these he conceded growth that was
phenomenal. outrivaling our own Chi
cago even. Here was witnessed by him
their annual La Fiesta, floral festival
in the design of it, a sort of annual
flower show, representing great variety
Of scenes with wealth of costly beauty
that money could not purchase in any of
| - 1870 o,tsoe Gonfa porhnro could