Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1898-10-10
FROM SAN FRANCISCO.

One of the leading attractions of San
Francisco is the Golden Gate Park. 1t is
not as beautiful ssssome other parks, espe-
cially where the mastery handHof Frederic
Low Olmstead has left its impress, but it
is none the less interesting on account of
the variety of it's attractions.
The first and highest point of vantage
would be view of the whole from the top
of Straw berry Hill. There you would won
der at the labor and expense of converting
so many acres of shifting sand dunes into
such verdant forest and flower bedecked
pleasure ground. From the top of the hill
a pretty cascade goes tumbling down it's
rocky bed to supply an artificial lake below.
The distant views from this point are also
delightful. On the south rise the evergreen
hills; on the east the bustling city, with
San Francisco Bay making beautiful sill
yer framework to the picture, while Mount
Diablo's snow white peak is seen in the
| distance. On the north the Golden Gate,
| the Marin county shore with brown Tamal
| paris sentinel head for background. At
ter descending from this eminence you will
want to visit the extensive conservatory,
the children's play ground with its merry
go-rcund, and lawn on which were swings
and everything ingenuity could devise for
| the amusement of the little folks. Stu
! dents of ORTHODOXY might travel thou
sands of miles and not find such a variety
| of birds as are to be found in the aviary.
tried to get the dimensions of this but
could not from resident or guide book.
Suffice it to say that this huge wire enclo-
sure, which I should presume would cover
| fI1pH with al troa
shrubs. flowers and running brooks in
such profusion that the dear little song
sters did not seem to realize that they were
prisoners. They would fly about, build
nests, twitter and sing with all the aban-
don of our rowing birds. There was anoth-
| er Enclosure for squirrels, on smaller scale
! fitted up in such manner as to make it
| seem like their homes in the wildwood.
! They too seemed happy and contented.
There were also homes for many other
small animals which would interest the
children. Then there was the buffalo pad
/ dock, the deer park, and a grizzly bear i'm
closure. The Egyption Art building would
entertain art connoisseurs for a long time.
| This museum was told was built by pop
ular su Inscription, but that the expensive
art treasures with which it is stocked were
purchased from the proceeds of the mid
Winter Fair, also that many of the park
improvements were made from the same
source. The protector of this great fair
gave time, brain and money to make it a
grand success and then turned the Pro-
ceeds over for the public good. An object
lesson for our county fair committee to try
fair of more elevating character, dis
wit l. + ao, Lo+
of expenditure; turning floral hall into
bower of beauty with all of natures lowell
ness with which it might be decorated in
the autumn time; having the dance hall
changed into a children's exhibit, with
comfortable seats provided for tired moth
er's to rest, etc. Some such first class fair
might attract such numbers that the man
ayers conld afford to give some of the pro-
ceeds toward library building or some
thing for the elevation of our young people.
So you see the east can learn some lessons
from the west, and California can learn some
from Verne MT. For there the hydra headed
monster of intemperance stalks abroad
unchecked, and especially in San Francisco
we saw more faces, made in the image of
God, distorted and bleared by that horrible
frequent occurrence. One look at face
ike that ought to make total abstainer
of every one who was not already in bon
dage to this most merciless tyrant. If the
north and the south, the east and the west
would emulate each others virtues and
shun each others mistakes what a grand
and glorious country this might be.
The Presidio or garrison, government
reservation of 1910 acres, may also be classed
among the pleasure grounds. The Post
buildings comprise officers quarters, SOL
diers' barracks, cavalry stables, ammuni-
ton magazines, etc. A cemetery, church
and chapel are within the reservation, also
the U. s. Marine hospital. The regular
drill is in the morning, from eight to nine;
monthly muster the last day of each month
at nine O'Clock in the morning.
I was greatly interested in the Mark
Hopkins Institute of Art. The home of
this lti-millionaire was bequeathed to
the city as treasure house OF art. AS did
not happen to strike that period when they
have their semi annual loan exhibitions I
did not see as fine collection of paintings
as I have seen in several other art museums;
but the house itself is a marvellous work of
art Here the art association maintains a
school of design, for instruction in draw
ing, painting, modelling, etc. I had always
wanted to see what great wealth, com
bined with artistic taste, could do toward
the interior EN- BELLS menl of home, and
here was my opportunity. I went from
room to room in surprised delig ht, with
out coveting, for surroundings like this do
not always bring happiness. In every
large city we visited so me such palatial
residence was shown US, where the owner