The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1898-05-07
SIGHTS IN CALIFORNIA.
Another Interesting Letter From
the Pen of a Lake Superior
School Teacher.
CENTRALIA, WASH.

Editor L'AHsE SENriNEL.
My Dear Readers:
Confession is good for the soul.
Therefore | confess. Never did |
realize that | was a thief, with the
proclivitives Of a thief; that was a
kleptomaniac with the desires of a
kleptomaniac, held in check for want
Of temptation until | passed through
southern California. But SO it is
with our weak human nature. We
do not know our own failings until
we are tempted at some weak point.
Never discover our own frailties un
til there is something we greatly
desire. The golden apples of Cali
fOrnia tempted me, not to eat, but
to pick. Whenever | went through
one of the beautiful groves with the
lovely golden fruit, shining amidst
the glossy leaves of the orange tree,
i had an Itching palm" u desire
almost uncomfortable to get OFF the
car and pick for myself all could
carry. The flowers also were a.
temptatiQn; ,iolets were within the
T ach of my modest purse, the gold,
en- poppies were; IN the arms OF near
" all the tourists. ! wanted some,
but it was the roses above all that
tempted me. I've always had a
weakness for roses, but in California
il was nearly a sin, for in passing
the lovely vine-clad homes, with the
beautiful roses in bloom, never bud
hung temptingly near but that
thought, you can pick that with
out being seen. The swiftness with
which the trains passed through the
orange groves prevented me from
SHINING in regard to the oranges. It
was only by the exercise OF great
will power that was able "to keep
my hands from picking and stealing
the rose buds Through the kind
ness of friend friend living in
Pasadena | was enabled to satisfy
my desire to pick oranges and
lemons from the trees. | told he..
of my temptation and she at once
led me out to her trees, which We're
used as ornamental shrubbcry, say
ing, ''pick all you want. picked
oranges and lemons and at once felt
relieved. That, however, did not
relieve me from being sore beset
with the desire to rob every rose
bush or vine which passed before my
vision. Speaking with my landlady
about the difficulty | had to keep
from stealing roses, she said: why
that $ nothing, everybody steals
roses here. | remarked: "Such
being the case, l II go out and see
ii there are any in bloom. Find
ing lovely bud, | picked at once
from our own bash. was glad to
be relieved from the burden of temp
tltion AS for the peoples my Pas
sadena friend took me out to the
Poppy field where picked and
picked until weary, carrying back
TO Los Angeles all that three of us
hid picked These flowers cannot
b described satisfactorily to those
who have not seen them, and those
who have had the pleasure of seeing
the beautiful poppy fields spread out
like VIVID picture, bright golden
flowers, under the brilliant sunlight
of southern California, can see them
without the aid of my pen.
Beyond the fields rose the noun
tains which were little disappoint-
ing to me at first, but a closer ac
quaintance with them proved more
satisfying Owing to the rarity of
the atmosphere, however, did not
enjoy them as thoroughly as | ex-
pected. Climbing one of very
moderate height to see the view, /
was so exhausted that | could hard
ly get down again. A most delight
full scene was spread before me. All
of the Pasadena valley lay smiling
in the vivid sunlight, and the sun
light is vivid and penetrating, al!
most too intense for one who prefers
Lake Superior bracing climate to
any other.
Having been constantly on the
qui vive for several days, this last
feat proved the last straw and for
two days | was really ill-greater
part of the time IN bed; was obliged
to forego the pleasure of a tally-ho
ride that | had been invited to take.
| was very sorry not to be able to
do so, for | had acquaintance and
friends who were of the party and
on their return grand time was the
report.
After two days, however, ex-
pressed my determination to ascend
Mount Lowe. All of my friends
had been there lately, SO | declared
my intention Of going there alone.
1t is not at all the lonely trip one
might imagine for their are
many tourists who "do California"
alone. On this occasion | CHANGED
to meet lonely female from Yer
mont, so that we were delayed by
the incident am about to relate, we
felt comforted by each Others So
ciety. The incline railway Of Mount
Lowe is one OF the feats of civil en-
cheering, having grade at one
point of sixty two per cent; at
others it is less, but plenty steep
enough to satisfy one who has seen
what the steep grade of the Summit
is capable of causinga locomotive to