Amador ledger., 1900-10-12
GEO. A. GORDON'S TRIP
At the San Jose State Nor
NAL School.
THE HISTORICAL MISSION At SAN CARLOS
A Trip Over the Bay In a Glass
Bottom Boat. Points
of Interest.

The last account l gave you of m,
whereabouts, reported that l had ar
rived in San Jose at p. m., Saturday
Sept. l. The following day being Sun
day attended church in the morning,
and in the afternoon we'll | was II
San Jose and vicinity. Monday visit
ed the San Jose State Normal School
and assisted some of the Amador coun
ty misses in becoming enrolled as SIN
dents of the Normal, brought about al
adjustment of affairs of some forme,
students of Amador county, met seyera
OF my old teachers (those by whom
mad been taught and made the &C
qualntance of the new President of the
San Jose Normal, Professor M. E
Daley, and made, also, the acquaint
ance OF other members of the faculty
OF the said institution of learning.
Many changes have been wrought al
This school since my graduation in the
year 1884. A large building in which
instruction is given in the industrial
arts, has been erected at the real
OF the Normal proper. There
has also been erected upon the grounds,
at the expense of the city of San Jose,
a magnificent three story and basement
High School building. This visited.
In the afternoon of Monday, Sept. Sd
l visited the San Jose Notra Dame
Convent, and was conducted through
every department of this vast, magnid.
cent, splendidly equipped and excellent.
ly governed institution of learning.
On previous date visited the Santa
Clara Notra Dame, which presents
every Indication of being under excel.
lent management and unquestionably
affords superior opportunities to its
large roll of students.
Taking the 1920 Marrow Gaupe
train at San Jose, Tuesday, Sept. 4th,
and passing through the vast fruit belt
OF the Santa Clara Valley, through the
beautiful town of Los Gatos, through
six tunnels that pierce the Santa Cruz
mountains (the two largest tunnels be-
ing about II miles and the shortest
about miles long, down the pictur.
esque canyons, past the great powder
works; we arrived at the city of Santa
Cruz at or near II m.
AS the train out did not leave for
Monterey, our destination, until 4:3O
p. m, we had about four hours
and 70 minutes to do Santa Cruz.
This is the way we did do it: One hour
spent upon the beach and in the curio
stores there, the street cars failing to
connect With US, We hoofed it up Main
street thine consumed 80 minutes) until
we came into contact with a tomale
restaurant. Here we stopped awhile
for refreshments; thence we proceeded
up Main street to Court House Square
where We paused as | presume eyery
visitor to this model little CITY does
pause to admire the handsome build
lngs on the square, as we'll as those
surrounding it. | was favorablv inn.
pressed with the people of this place.
Ihey are sociable and obliging, will
answer questions, asked in civil way,
Tree OF charge. From the square we
proceeded up Main street to the bridge
that crosses the river, then turned to
retrace our steps. We arrived at the
depot inst in time to take the train.
The 40-mile trip around Monterey
Bay from Santa Cruz, took us through
Aptos, Capitola, Watsonville, Paiero,
and Castroville and landed us al
Monterey at6 p. m. The kind of ac-
commodations that you secure at the
latter named place and the amount YOU
have to pay for them depends very
greatly upon the kind OF fish the per.
son with whom you are dealing takes
you to be. We were fortunate in Sc
curing quite desirable accommodation
at the Pacific Ocean House at $1.25 per
day. | was informed by local dealer
that the season for suckers was about
closed. Sunshine and briny at
mosphere are enjoyed actually free of
charge. Upon the morning of Sept.
9th, we arose from our slumbers and
were down upon the beach before sun
rise, After spending half an hour
there we went up to the monument
erected to the memory of Junipero
Sierra, by Mrs Stanford, upon a promi-
nance overlooking the Bay. From the
monument we visited the first State
Capitol wherein the first State Con-
stltutlon was signed, thence to the first
Custom House which has recently been
decided to the Grand Parlor of the N.
5, u. w. Both of these State build
lngss are in very good repair. From
their quaintness and their relation to
the earliest history of California these
buildings commanded the attention of
the visitor.
After breakfast we walked to San
Carlos Mission. This land mark of the
activities of the Franciscans is sacredly
protected alike from the vandal and
the elements and presents an attractive
appearance. Two of the bells whose
knell announced the passing of the be-
loved Juplpero Sierra's spirit into
eternity, still rest in the old belfry
Tower. We were charged so cents for
the privilege OF viewing the interior
OF the church which has been fitted up
In accordance with modern ideas, it
having three beautiful altars, up.
holstered pews, carpeted floors; tinted
ceiling and stained glass windows. In
an apartment at the rear of the edifice,
are kept many of the robings, the chal-
ice, the censer and the gold and silver
candlesticks used by the Franciscan
Fathers. There is also an old iron
bound safe that was brought to Alta.
California, early in the 18th century.
n this safe is now kept locked many
OF the relics of the time of the Mission
Fathers. We were fully two hours at
this Mission and yet we were won't TO
linger. From the Mission we walked
to the Superb Del Monte where we
strolled through the grounds feastine
our eyes upon the almost innumerable
attractions. Thirty-fve years ago |
remember having seen in nv primer,
the picture of swan, yet had never
seen the real bird until | saw both the
white and the black swan upon the lake
at Del Monte, and stately birds are
they.
At 1890 o'clock, taking the street
car at Del Monte, we rode back to
Monterey. After dinner we got upon
the street car at the door of our hotel
and rode to Pacific Grove a distance of