The herald., 1897-03-24
THE MERRY
MAIL MEN
Excursion Around the Kite
Shaped Track
FRUITS AND FLOWERS GALORE
DELIGHT OVER THE HOSPITAL
ITY EXTENDED
FRUITS AND FLOWERS GALORE
The Train Departs From La Grande
Depot Amid Wild Cheers From
the East to the South

At Z p. m. yesterday the Special train
of seven Pullman sleepers steamed out
of La Grande station with the postal
clerks of the railway mail service on
their return trip to the far east.
Possibly no excursion party which has
ever visited the coast has left Southern
California more wildly enthusiastic than
this party of 800 members of the railway
mail service, who spent Monday and
Tuesday Of this week in Los Angeles and
vicinity.
A large party was at the depot to see
the excursionists off, and Postmaster
Mathews. Inspector Flint and Chief
Clerk Johnson were simply ubiquitous,
lending their services in every way for
the comfort of their guests.
THE PARTING GIFT.
Just before the goodbyes were sail
each member of the party received n
ange crate containing two Washington
navel oranges with an appropriate in
scription upon the box.
When the train pulled out scene Of
wild uproar took place. Three cheers
anu d Tiger were given Tor LOS AHSe :
les-for the Los Angeles postal clerks
for Southern California-for the ladies'
for the oranges-indeed for everything
the party could think of, and then amid
waving of handkerchiefs and n chorus
Of goodbyes and last expressions of
pleasure in the warm hospitality Of
Southern California the train disappear
ed and the holiday was ended.
AROUND THE KITE.
The trip around the kite-shaped track
yesterday was a revelation to most of
the party. The day was perfect, the
mountains dazzling with snow caps, the
orchards filled with bloom or full Of
ripening fruit the air clear and mild,
and from the start every one seemed
full of enjoyment. At La Mirada q de-
lay of half an hour gave the party a
little outing. The spring hanger of the
engine dropped and 1t was some time
, before the trouble was rectified but SO
good natured crowd cared little for
the delay, and everybody strolled up to
the pretty depot and around it's vicinity
until the engine was repaired.
COLTON'S GIFT
At Cotton a large crowd awaited the
train, and two boxes OF blood oranges
were placed on each car which luscious
fruit was appreciated by everybody.
Here also great clusters of poppies were
presented the guests and the Reclands'
badges of broad white satin, ribbon.
Every one adorned himself a nd when the
party arrived a Redlandsit looked like
an anima ted flower garden. The breast
of every man. and woman was simply
plastered with. badges and flowers.
Many wore great clusters of the carna-
tfons received at last nights reception.
To these had been added sprays of
orange blossoms and big burohes of
poppies, and no one seemed to feel that
he could overdo the matter, even if
obliterated behind the flowers.
AT REDLANDS
The stop at Redlands seemed to fill
the cup to overflowing. Here the citi-
zens again showed the warmest hos
pitality. The drive to Smiley Heights,
the showing of all the residence portion
of the city was supplemented by boxes
containing fifteen hundred oranges,
which were brought down to the depot
for distribution just as the train left
Each one acted as If intoxicated and
filed into the train carrying their gifts
with excited mein and extravagant ex-
pressions, intensely amusing to a resi-
dent of the orange belt
COMING HOME
The ride home through the beautiful
country, past fruitful, orchards, ver-
0dihS SaiAcy ~ OAoSooiiiiA6 tiCCC aAQ Qis-
tant mountains, throughllohg' stretches
of absolutely perfect country, seemed to
simply enchant the already excited
party.
When the party arrived in Los An
geles words failed and silence spoke
volumes
There were five brides on the excur-
sion, who considered this the red-letter
day of the bridal trip.
SOME OF THE INCIDENTS
At Coltom a mysterious fiat package
was brought upon 1.-THE train with let
ter to Chief Clerk Johnson. This upon
opening proved to be the little drop win
dow of the pos,tofflce. the first window
ever used In the Cotton postoffice. In
this was fastened some imposing look
ing legal cap. and the letter
asked for the autograph of every mem
ber of the party for the Cotton post
master.
Superintendent Samuel Flint and
Postoffice Inspector Erwin also had
mysterious flat boxes with them, which
were found to- contain beautiful gifts
of table service OF 1z0 pieces in Spanish
leather cases presented them by the
party in recognition Of their services.
Many other pleasant incidents might
be mentioned OF this, the first, excur-
SION to California OF the postal clerks,
but this outlines. at least, some OF the
events Of the week.