Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1899-01-16

cool air rushes into the valleys low
ering the temperature until some
times frost is formed. This forces the
warm air upward, making possible the
cultivation of citrus fruits at a high
altitude, when they could be but i'm
perfectly produced in the valleys be-
low. Consequently this whole noun
tain slope was crowned with the glory
of fruit tr ees in blossom and in fruit.
tits said grapes, plums, peaches, ap-
ricots, prunes, pears, apples, olives,
figs, cherries, oranges and lemons at
tain rare perfection here. English
and the largest almond orchard in the
world is located here. A beautiful
driveway winds round and round
among these sky scraping orchards.
San Jose is an attractive city with a
population of twenty five or thirty
Thousand. Tt has broad, cleanly kept
streets, with handsome residences
and fine public buildings. This is the
metropolis of the Santa Clara valley.
1t is not only surrounded by fruit
trees without, but has many within
the city limits both for ornamental,
shade and use. We were told that a
trip through this valley in March,
when the fruit trees were in bloom,
was never to- be- forgotten sight.
So we were somewhat prepared for
the sight that met our gaze, but the
beauty of the scene far exceeded our
expectations. From this place we had
a fine view of Mount Hamilton,
crowned at it's summit with the fa-
nous Lick Observatory. Height of
mountain, 4443 feet; distance from
San Jose, 26 miles. The trip to the
top of the mountain is made by stage.
The ascent and return is completed in
one day excepting Saturdays when
the opportunity is afforded for re-
naming at night to view the wonders
of the heavens through this power
full telescope. The trip I'VE purposed
to make, but the 50 miles mountain
climb and descent seemed a great un-
ed ourselves with viewing it from a
distance, as other attractions less fa-
tiguing were beckoning us on.
Our next stop was at Palo Alto to |
visit the Leland Stanford Jr. Univer-
sity. The University estate contains |
1921 acres. The buildings are stu
ated in the open country and cover |
over large area. They are patterned |
after the old adobe missions, built of |
stone similar in color, one story high, |
with tiled roofs and broad, open cor
ridors, facing the large inner square
around which they are built. My
first view of them was a little disap-
pointing, but as we went from build
ing to building and noted the advan-
tage of not having to climb stairs to
class rooms, the blessing of pure air
and light from the open country with
out, and the large open square within,
the wonderful facilities here provided
for. acquiring an education dawned
upon me by degrees, until [ came
away with the impression that the re-
markable youth who planned this
must have been heaven-inspired as
his face indicates. There is a won
derfully lifelike painting of him in
the art department. I visited the
young ladies' dormitory and was
shown about by one of it's attractive
occupants. 1t seemed charmiugly
cozy and homelike. There is a SINH
lar one for young Emen, but the ma
iority of the students live or board at
Palo FAlto about a mile distant. A
art museum is within the
grounds, stocked with many rare
treasures, but we had only time for a
passing glance at this. Our last look
here was at the beautiful mausoleum
where rest the earthly remains of this
remarkable son, who planned this
noble scheme, and the kind father
who executed his plans. 1 could think
IF neither of them as dead for the
whole atmosphere of the place breath
I'd of their presence, and they will
i've on and on in the hearts and lives
If the young in years to come. The
wife and mother is still living to see
his noble work perfected, and thous-
lnds of students enjoy it's privi-
eyes. MRS. J. N. WEBSTER.