Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1901-04-01
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.
Mr. Editor:

1Ir. Editor:
think left you at Redlands in my
last. We now come to San Bernar-
dino. This, you will all remember is
the home of our old townsman, Mr..
BENJAMIN Mossman, and well he has
chosen for this certainly is the ideal
spot of all California. Mountains are
the dominant feature in nearly every
California landscape, and they COM
mand all approaches to the State and
as has been said, he who would gain
this garden Of the Hesperides must
first cross the desert and then scale
the heights. 1t may be said of San
Bernardino valley as Ceser said of
the Helvetians, ''They are hemmed in
on all sides by nature" Mountains
almost completely encircle this fair
valley. The San Antonio, San Ber-
nardino, and San Gorgonio, lifting
their noble peaks II 600 and u, 600 feet
into the sky make an imposing back
ground to this city and as you look
above and below you almost imagine
you are standing on holy ground.
This is a spot wherein the poet may
dream dreams, and the painter see
visions, and it ought to produce phi
losophers equal to ancient Athens.
1t can be truly called second Greece
for here stretches in front the new
vale of Tempe, while in the back
ground rise the heights of second
Parnassus and Olympus. In such
mountains as these once dwelt the
gods of Greece, and may we not in
time find here the inspiration of art and
literature which may rival that OF old.
He who is fortunate enough to visit
this spot in springtime when all the
country around it is a park of Arcadi-
an loveliness, will, think, declare 1t
the loveliest spot on earth. The
broad fields are covered with grain
and the hillsides with the waving
alfalfa, while the peach orchards with
their pink blossoms stand out in con-
trast to the white pear and waxy
orange blossom; the golden poppies
on the hillsides, the great hedges of
Gala lilies, the climbing roses and
myrtles in the yards making pictur-
esque combination of colOrs causing
wonder and Joy, while the blithe notes
of the linnet and red bird bespeak
rest and peace. Such is San Bernar
dino: it is place without comparison.
We next come to San Diego, the
southernmost town in California. A
little over one hundred years ago it
was the undisputed home of the Gndi-
ans. since then it has undergone
many changes. It was the pious
priest, Father Junipero who occasion
ed the first great change. He devoted
his life to the conversion of the Cali
fornia Indians; he taught them the
Spanish language, built the missions
and must have done a noble work
which will try and tell you something
about later on. San Diego day has
population of over forty two thou
sand inhabitants. 1t has paved
streets, public parks, street railways
and many places of interest to the
visitor and is quite a manufacturing
town. 1t is the banner country for
honey, olives, and lemons, and its
mountain region is famous for its
minerals, gold silver and copper are all
found in paying quantities and it is
the only place known where agricul-
ture. horticulture, stock raising and
mining pursuits are profitably prose
cuted on the same section of land.
Wild game is here in abundance and
can be captured in the open season
by the hunter with just exercise
enough to lend enchantment to the
sport. 1t has nice drives to the cars
and to Old Mexico where one can see
the native Spaniards and their manu-
factures. It has both high and nor
NAL schools, said to be the very best
in the state. It's Hotel Coronado
owned 10y the Santa Fe Railroad is
said to be the largest and finest tour
ist hotel in the world and is the only
place in the United States where open
air bathing isindulged in every month
in the year. 1t is to California what
Naples is to Italy and its natural har-
bor is no doubt the greatest in the