The age-herald., 1897-09-22

cared for in San Francisco by MT.
 Hooker at the Occidental hotel. Each
 lady had a choice basket of flowers sent
 to her room. On leaving a good-sized
 basket of fruit and a handsome boquet
 was sent to each lady. We started out
 by visiting the standford university and
 the beautiful hom= of Mrs Standford at
 Polo Alto. It is the most munificent gift
 ever bestowed by one person. All this
 has been done in memory of their son
 and only child, who died in Rome at 16
 years of age. We visited San Jose, | where we were met by >tally-hoes drawn
 by six horses, and lunched at the Van l Doene hotel and then driven many miles ] to sea the fine prune orchards, peaches, 1 olives, grapes, figs and the large can
 ming factories and drying fruits. That 1 was the hospitality extended us by the l people of San Jose. At Santa Crews the same hospitalities wsre extended, with one fine feature added. During our l drive the ladies took charge of our two l Pullman coaches and decorated them l most george ously in their bright and i fragrant flowers. The scene was bril- l liant, and when each of us were seated 1 photographer took the picture. Our next point was Del Monte hotel, nsar l Monterey. This place has only one
 rival, and that is Ponce Da Leon hotel.
 The grounds were laid out by a crazy i German. Surely he was sane on this | subject, as it surpasses any point in l California. The bathing in the Pacific l ocean was fine. We took the famous eightesnmile drive from Monterey on l the coast. One tress is pointed out as l the sacred spot where the first holy com | munion was taken in California, under | the shelter of the brances of that trae 1 We visited the big trees of red wood,
 the proportions being so great I modest
 ly decline to tell of.
 We arrived at Fresno at o'clock in
 the evening, were taken into talleyhoes
 and shown the coun,Ty. The roads were
 wide and lined on either s.de with palms, l oieanders, roses and hedges. Miles and miles of graDefelds, fig orchards and 1 other fruits. At the largest. winery,
 owned by a syndicate, we saw the larg- | est wine tank fn the world, holding 90,- GOO gallons. We were invited in large
 mansion, where banquet had been pre- 1 pared for us. Tall roses holding their choice fioweis grapes of all sizes and colors piled on plates, wine of every brand, caks, etc. On leaving, each of us
 was presented with a bottle of their
 best and oldest wine, which we bring home among our California collections
 At Santa Barbara we received the same l ovation by the citizens as at other
 points. Flowers in elegant bouquets at
 the hotel, where the largest rose vine in | fbo world ic h1Oap,iror O,,1xy <t1, ,or
 place is So famous for roses, and that Is
 a town in the south of France. We were
 driven to the old mission built by the
 Catholics 110 years ago. The Indians
 brought the stone from the mountains
 and worked on this bu hing. We reached
 Los Angeles and stopped at the elegant
 Hotel Van Nuys. Next morning our l party was taken in talyhoes, and each l horse decorated at the bridal with white
 and yellow p@mpas plumes, and shown | the town by the amber of commerce,
 and then given reception at the charn-
 Der of commerce. After leaving Los An
 gelcs, we went to Red Lsnds, new city
 of 10, 900 irlrah taGts The orange groves
 are fine, the city a marvel of beauty. | We next arrived at Riverside, a coun-
 try only populated eighteen years ago. i This is the Florida of the state Mag
 nol5a avenues extending many miles, streets lighted by electricity for miles along these orange groves. Each grove
 has name, such as Beulah, etc. An English syndicate has beau,ified, plant ed and built. We bade our party good bye with many regrets as they returned i, home by the Sunset route and pass through our beloved Alabama. We earn
 estfy destred to point out to them the 1 advantages of our own state, and when i they reach Birmingham we trust some | attention will be shown them by our ! chamber of commerce. My husband and 1 myself return to San Francisco to give
 some days to our near relatives who
 await our return. I will have more to
 relate when my stay has been prolonged l in this grand state that Prog{ dence has 1 bestowed with such a liberal hand all
 things needed here below. found great pleasure in meeting the far-famed beauty, Mrs. Mark Lewis, who was the queen at the May feista at this city. l She lis now the most beautiful woman i'm 1 California, and I am proud she lived in l Alabama before making her home here | | have spun out long letter, but half l has moi been told. There is much to be written in song and story of this fa- vorcd land. Most affectionately, l TALLELAH BLANKHEAD.
 DudvarI Lir1iup and Marlx Twoi