Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1899-11-10

semicircle the city. Their natura
history, if investigated, would be foun(
to run back to the ice age.
| Every rivulet entering the Sount
near Olympia offers something worthy
of attention, from Percival's creek
where the salmon run to the De.
Chuttes river, with its beautiful falls
Olympia is not fairly before one, how
ever, unless something is known of it:
environing woods. Western Washing
ton has twelve million acres of woods
which are charming at all seasons o.
the year. The deep shade of the ever.
green spruce, cedar, hemlock and fiji
extends from the water line to the
timber line on the mountain sides
only broken, here and there, by
grassy and sometimes park-like prai-
ries or by clearings.
What emotions are awakened by a
drive through these forests filled with
the Odor OF pine! One realizes how
much there is to enjoy in the earth
without one effort being put forth by
man. In fact, when man does put
forth an effort here, it is to DESTROY
1t is truly pathetic to see these giant
trees that have possessed the earth
long enough to call themselves mas.
ters, that have held up their heads SC
proudly, almost to "high heaven" lie
at the will of man, full length upon
the earth among their less worthy fell
lows.
When man, full of the business
spirit, enters these woods, one turns
away, sick at heart, from the destruc-
ton and waste. Years afterward one
may visit a favorite spot that has
been thus desecrated and thank God
that he has caused kindly, if feeble,
deciduous vegetation to spring up and
lay gentle hands upon the tomb Of the
great.
In favorable locations maple, alder,
oak, poplar, cottonwood, wild cherry
and PROSTATE thickets OF beautiful
vine maple are found. Having once
seen the glory of the vine maple it can
never be forgotten! 1t is the lace on
the robe of the forest. The dogwood
is much finer tree than that seen on
the Atlantic coast. 1t often blooms
twice in one season.
Wandering through the woods one
frequently comes upon an old skid
road. In former times it led to
scenes of great activity and no little
swearing. Now silence prevails, only
broken by the squirrel cracking pine
nuts or those other curiosity -provok-
ing noises of breaking twigs, rustlings
and faint murmurs as of insects near
or voices far away. One investigates
thoughtfully his own attending
sounds-hears how the breath comes,
the foot treads, and learns. perhaps for
the first time, how much one person
contributes to the general clamor Of
life. The wild gooseberry, blackberry
and salmonberry have sprung up in
tangles everywhere, and the old cordu-
roy road leads down toward the Sound
through these green mazes. The
salmonberry. when in bloom, reminds
one OF thickets OF abutilon. Later, its
ripened fruit hangs from every twig in
luscious yellow caps. Coral honey.
suckle climbs over logs and stumps
(already hidden in twinfower and tea.
vine) and ambitiously reaches up into
the boughs of small trees.
The underbrush, so called, which
trespasses upon the very streets, is a
revelation of beauty. The advance
guard is the gorgeous broom with its
yellow blossoms. The rank and file is
made up of holly-leaved barberry. or
Oregon grape, which becomes flame
OF color in the autumn; the evergreen
shrub, salal, with fine LEAKAGE ard pur-
pie fruit, and the blue and the red
huokleberry. The latter when in
fruitage seems illumined with tiny
scarlet lanterns which twinkle in the
midst OF its fine, delicate leaves.
There are numberless plumes of rose
and cream-colored spirea and thickets
OF elder with cream.white blossoms
which develop into red berries.
Ferns, from the smallest specimens to
giants, spread everywhere, while q
multitude Of Towering plants, fostered
by mild climate and abundant mois-
ture, grow prodigally. These wild
things straggle into town and face all
the pretension and magnifcence of
the yards and gardens. They bring
with them subtle suggestions of their
journey. Looking at them one can
see the stretch of prairie, the deep
shade of the forest, tho steep bluff,
and the gentle brookside where they
call themselves at home. This vegeta-
ton is tropical in its abundance, and
yet, how much does the boat or train
imprisoned traveller passing through
the country know of all this luxury
and beauty
Puget Sound gives more to Olympia
than its addition to the landscape.
The best oysters on the Pacific coast
are found in the Olympia beds.
There are number of species OF edi-
BILE clans, the most remarkable being
the geo-duck. 1t weighs sometimes
ten or twelve pounds. Think of or
dor;p0 ono clam for a fop,;l, J;r,ar,