The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-08-22
&c s1AbDle q = mOnaEchy. wlthlh = 3

an exabpie Of monarchy. within re-
public.
Half Of Avalon Is q tent city. laid out sn
blocks. The California people who come
20 the island seek invariably the tent NE
many OF them bringing their own camping
outfits, others renting from the island
proprietors. To the credit OF the latter
It can be said that their charges for tents
and tent sites and Quits, and for freight
ing riyate outfits from the main land.
are moderate. Philanthropy, however
Is not the motive II their ehargeswere
exorbltant they would have no campers.
They are dealing with Californians. Lot
Chicagoans. or New Workers.
For six months in the year there is not
sprinkle OF rain at Catalina, yet no
midday during this dry season is ever
broiling or any night hot enough to pre-
vent comfortable sIumber.
The chief occupation of the genuine
Catalains--those who dwell lon the island
from month to months to 20 down to
the pier and see the boats come in from
San Pedro. They line UP on either side
Of the gateway through which the rev.
ttion to every person and to every article
of baggage he or she may be carrying.
Their opinions are not kept to themselves
but are spoken for the benefit of rhelr
own friends and for that of the victims.
A bright remark Is greeted by applause,
and the greater the visible embarrassment
caused by the shaft OF wit. the louder
and longer the laughter.
Landing at Catalina is much of an or
deal Visitors themselves soon come to
take an interest in the diversion OF the
venge on others fro what they have suf-
fered themselves. It is said that few pee
pie remain a week on the island without
coming to take a part in the 'guylng"
practice.
Aside from the plasure OF living In the
open air, the summer reaction seekers
devote themselves chiefly to bathing,
driving. and climbing among the hills, as
the respectable mountains are dominated.
and to rowing about the bay in glass
bottomed boats. These last are the tue
marvel of Catalina Glass boats might be
rowed as easily in any other bay, hut
probably In no other place would the ex-
ercise of muscle in propelling them be
repaid in pleasure, The waters about the
island are so clear that the eye can see
distinctly for depth Of several hundred
feet. Through the b ottoms of the bot
toms Of the boats the wonders Of a most
wonderful part of the ocean bed are vis-
IDLE.
In construction the boats are not com
pphcated. in appearance being large sized
row boats. The glass portion does not
cover the entire bottom. but a strip be-
tween two and three feet wide extending
to within a coDle OF feet of both stern
and bow. AS a guard against accidents.
sheathing extends upwards from the edge
of the glass to the level of the sides of
the boat. Were the glass shattered the
boat still would float.
The inmates of the boat gaze over the
box-like wall down throug the glass and
into the sea, where a panorama unrolls
before them. First II Is the forest of
more than tropical verdure. through the
branches OF whose sea weed trees pass
innumerable goldfish-not the diminutive
kind of the acquirium, but those of a ape-
Giles which attains a lenght OF ten and
twelve inches and a weight OF several
pounds. An occasional black sea bass two
feet long. or three feet or even longer.
shakes the trunks and startles the
schools of electric fish which float among
the twigs enarer the surface. II one
trails his hand in the water an electric
fish may run against It. giving a shock
which disturbs the entire system.
In the>bay of Avalon alone there are
said to be no less than two score differ
ent kinds of sea weed. The mountains on
land continue into the sea, the glass boat
view disclosing cliffs whose overhanging
rocks have been changed to grottoes,
whose canons have become huge water
museums. AS the boat recedes slope be-
comes more abrupt until the crystal
depth becomes measureles sto the eye.
The materialistic fishermen employ
glass boats to tel Them where TO cast
their lines-for Catalina is the abode OF
sportsmen who disdRin to fish except
with rod and reel. Nets are unknown. ex-
cept as a means OF capturing the gold
fish. The rod-and-reel fisherman who Is
daring enough may try conclusions with
the Jewish or black sea bass. frequently