Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-09-08
A Week in Wonderland.
A Letter from Rev. Frank Mcdaniel.

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| sources are known as marvels seen by
| favored few. | believe, however, that
many would not continue in such igno-
rance could they control circumstances.
To see a wonder far surpasses to be told
of wonderful thing This conclusion
is the verdict Of my own personal expe-
rience.
The beauties and wonders of California
have been familiar to me through de-
scription for long time. lam thankful
that have enjoyed personal inspection
! of a number of these points of interest.
Leaving Salt Lake City, Utah, at 9 a.
m. on August Is, riding all day across
the fiat dry desert of Utah and Nevada,
we came during the night to the beauti-
full valley of the Truckee, which we fol-
! low for many miles. The ride during
! the day was across the Sierra Nevadas
and was one of enchantment. By heavy
climbing through miles of snow-sheds,
skirting fathomless precipices, running
through deep canOns. we at last reach
! the summit, from which we descend rap
! idly through the beautiful Sacramento
! VALLEY and arrive at San Francisco at
nine in the evening. Perhaps there is
no city in this country whose history
represents certain epoch of new devel-
opment as does San Francisco. 1t dates
its history practically from that period
when those gold nuggets were found In
! 1919. Its early history was a wild one
and it reads like a romance that from it
! has been developed city of fair aspect,
| the metropolis and seaport of the Pacific
! slope.
The first thing which impresses Wis
| itor is the site of the town. 1t is set not
upon one or seven, but at least score
! of hills. From anyone of them the view
of city and harbor is commanding and
| imposing. The system of cable-car SER
vice is well-nigh perfect and the reckless
| descent of hills, almost perpendicular,
held me breathless. The architecture
| Of the cityis motley Low-frame build
| ings were at first the rule, but now there
are several lofty and elegant office build
| ings which compare favorably with the
one with which your readers are famil-
| lar. There are some palatial residences,
notably those upon Nob's Hill, where are
the homes of such millionaires as STAN
ford, Huntington and Crocker.
The city is not without points OF in
terest Pre-eminent among these is the
| Cliff House resort This imposing and
modern house stands upon high bluff
which overlooks the Pacific Ocean and
| is a monument of the public spirit of
! Adolf Sutro. Immediately in front OF
| this house are the famous Sealrocks over
which scores of seals Chamber to the de-
| light of the small children. Golden Gate
| Park must not be forgotten-since it
| furnishes the tourist with wonderful
exhibit of rare trees, shrubs and flowers.
Who has not heard Of Chinatown?
Here right in the centre of the city is
community of twenty thousand China
men congested within eight squares. An
attempt at a description Of the scenes
witnessed would be most audacious.
The scene is of the Chinaman as he lives
in his native land and one seemingly
forgets that he is in the very heart OF
cosmopolitan city. 1t was my privilege
to explore this section in company with
the superintendent Of the missions OF
my denomination. This gentleman has
given thirteen years to mission work in
this community and by his fearlessness
has won respect. All phases of this com
munity, except its innermost domestic
life, can be Inspected by the curious.
The alacrity with which many persons
too severely condemned. Here can be
seen the largest JOss-houSe outside OF the
Imperial kingdom. The estimated cost
of ground and building is $4,000 and
let the Christians hear it, there is no
mortgage upon that property.
was much interested in the secret
society known as the High-binderS and
when | stood before their parent-house
could not repress the feeling of horror
which a familiarity Of their methods and
history created within me. Asis known
by your readers, this secret society,
which was organized two and a-half cen
turtles ago in China by a band of devoted
patriots. had descended few years since
into such a villainous, tyrannlcal, and
despotic society that the heavy mailed
hand of the law had to descend upon
it and now the society is practically un-
done.
1t was an unique experience for the
writer to be one of party to sing gospel
songs in narrow alley, surrounded by
the gambling bells and opium joints and
afterward to address the motley assem-
blage through an interpreter. That eX-
perlence will survive in our memory.
When one leaves Chinatown the ques-
ton magniies itself in the mind how
great are the powers Of assimilation OF
this nation? Is there not any danger
that the drawbridge may remain open
too long?
Having heard much concerning the
six lower counties Of the State, we ar
ranged to extend our tour into that cell
ebrated district Los Angeles is the me-
tropelis of this section of the State. 1t
is apropOs to remind our patriotic read
ers that although the glory Of the Span
lard has diminished, in fact has quite
faded away, this section of the land will
forever show his mark. In 1901 he
founded this town and named 1t Pueblo
de la Reina de los Angeles CTown OF the
Queen Of the Angels.) This city has
experienced a phenomenal growth and
the secretary of the board Of trade stated
with much pride that in less than dec
ade it had increased its population sixty
thousand. 1t is beautiful, up-to-date
town and its broad boulevards and COM
Portable homes challenged the admira-
ton of the visitor. The valley in which
the city is situated is fertile beyond i'm
agination The city is surrounded by
hundreds of cultivated and fertile farms.
Despite the fact that very limited |
amount of rain has fallen this year the
assistance of irrigation has made large |
crops The writer saw corn in stalk 1871 !
feet high and the first ear l3 feet from
the ground, onions weighing pounds, |
watermelons IS and so pounds and Gu
cumbers Is inches long and ~ in diam
eter. These products give one an idea
of the great fertility OF the district.
Before closing this letter, few words |
must be written concerning beautiful
Pasadena and Santa Monica. The first |
is located just outside the city limits.
Ny exploration justifies its name, which |
in Spanish means Threshold of Eden.
Every flower and fruit, shrub and tree |
known to Southern California can be |
found in this community. Never has |
the writer been so dazzied by the lavish
ness Of nature Here thousands OF tour
lists come annually in search of health. |
One of the features of the town is an os-