The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-11-12
THE BLESSING OF THE RAINS

I nth the weather and the rains falling
w gently but in prolonged showers there have
come brightness, freshness and new stimulus
to everything in California, from the minds OF men
and women the grass upon the mountain sides and
the flowers in the gardens OF the cities.
Prosperity has been with i'll the past season and
our orchards vineyards, grain fields and pastures
have yielded harvests bringing into the State
golden revenue to repay the husbandmen, but there
is now an assurance OF greater prosperity to come
All apXiety.lest there might be another drought like
that OF recent years has vanished Thus far the rain
fall in the northern and central parts OF the State has
greatly surpassed that OF the corresponding period OF
last year, and, while the south has been so for
tunate, yet the prospects even there are good.
The blowing has begun with an activity
which recalls the Astounding energies of boom years
All reports agree there will be a larger acreage
planted than before in the history OF the State
The great grain farms will be worked to the limit
and the most improved and potent machinery will be
employed to speed the task. There will be new
orchards and vineyards out, and the cultiva-
ton of olives and of nuts will be undertaken on
more comprehensive scale than ever. 1t is to be
year Of progress for rural industry and every sec
ton OF our diversified State from mountain sides to
valleys will exhibit evidences of the beauty and the
thrift that are to follow industry.
It is not in a material sense only that the rains
have brought US blessings They have revived the
bloom and the verdure OF the landscape and infused
beauty into every rural vista that fail to have
its effect upon the minds of the people The tourist
who comes to California now from out the threaten
ing skies of the East, where morning frosts and chill
blasts forebode the coming Of billiards and dreary
drifts Of snow, will find himself as he descends the
western slopes Of Our mountains entering something
like an enchanted land. From the purple glow upon
the mountains to the emerald green OF the grass
covered hills and valleys there will be before his
eyes as rich combination OF gorgeous colors as
ever an artist dreamed or and through il all will be
seen the homes OF prosperous people, powered in
vines and fruit trees, grdcd with orchards, adorned
with innumerable blossoms-roses with thousand
buds or blooms to the bush, caas illuminating the
air with their white splcndor and geranums climbing
almost to the caves OF the cottages and brilliant with
scarlet flowers.
In such land, with such a season. there is no room
for the disconnected suggestion OF anything save
rejoicing The people have in their hearts already
begun the thanksgiving OF the year. and the celebra
ton of the estal day viii be but the outward iubiant
expression OF a feeling which is already making
radiant the faces Of all 1t is to be Californian year
in the full sense OF the word and through all of its
seasons will show our Golden State worthy the love
Of its people and the admiration OF the world
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