Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-08-14
BEAUTIFUL BAYFIELD,.

''ris a long and weary road from the
Florida mesa at Bayfield, hot and dus
ty. up grade all the way and through
a waste of sage brush. shrinking be
meath parching sun. There are
three or four houses along the road
looking deserted. The lands tina,
have been fenced off for ranches are
desolate and barren, the bitches are
dry, and no cattle. even, cheer the
scene except at either end of the
way near the towns. where forests OF
spruce trees begin.
But having passed the first few
houses of the fertile Pine river region
and coasted. if one is bicycling, down
the long hill and over the bridge into
| beautiful Bayfield,. the WEAKNESS of
mind and body passes away like an
| evil dream before the scene of rural
delights that is spread out in all the
| glory of summer.
Entering the town. we pass fine
building just now in process of con-
stfuction; then Mr.. Hartman's pretty
reside ice and mill and. on the other
| side, Coulson Bros. fine department
| store. which seems to be doing a
| thriving business, and Is the evening
rendezvous for many of the townsInen
who Ike to gather at the most com
portable and convenient place to talk
| over the events OF the day and the out.
look for the future. Mr. Schroeder's
| house and store are situated near by,
and he, too. appears to be enjoying
he good things of life and especially
Of the town of Bayfield,. Mr.. Lange
has n well-provisioned market just be
yond and Mr.. Fowler and several 9th
er merchants add to and partake of
he general prosperity of Bayfield,
There are supply stores for all the
needs of life, barber shops, feed
houses, etc, but not a saloon. Three
| churches dispense the Gospel truths to
| the community. Methodist. Presby
| torian and new Union church in
which latter, thouhg not quite COM
plete and still lacking paint. regular
| services are held on Sunday. Mr.. Bar
| tholomew, in his new blacksmith shop
| on the hillside. with the brook run
ming past. will shoe your horse or re-
pair your wagon. and do 1t well;
while on the same street, few doors
away you can rest comfortably and
get a good substantial meal at Mrs.
Brinkley's hotel. Though small, and
boasting neither style nor great pre-
tentions. this place carries out the
| ideal plan of hotel. 1t reminds one
in way of the ancient hostelries of
made merry, for in front of 1t are
| hordes of sweet, bright flowers. pinks,
hollyhocks. sweet peas and saucy sun
| flowers laughing at the golden orb
above; and at the rear large garden
| full of vee tables lies green and flour
iShing and chickens revel in it. Every
hotel in the land, large or small should
have its own garden, farm or ranch.
Where it is not possible. as in the
case of city hotels, to have them ad-
Joining. their wide acres should be
cultivated in some country place near
| by. and the produce shipped in for
daily consumption. The hotel that
gives its guests all the fresh picked
fruit and berries in their season, the
sweet summer vegetables with the fla
vor of mother earth still clinging to
them, the pumpkin pies, and plum pud
dings and spongy cake that we used
| 70 get at home, and milk and eggs and
| cheese right from its own dairy-that
| is the hotel which everyone will pat
ronize, and its contemporaries may
close their doors. Bayfield, has such a
hotel. in part, though as yet on too
| small a scale; and connected with it
| is the postoffce. One could find en-
| ioyment for several evenings just in
watching the people from town and
| country. coming in to the little post
Office after their mail, or bringing
sacks of letters from outside stations
| for Uncle Sans big delivery system.
| They come on horses, bicycles and
afoot, mostly ranchmen in their rough
| working clothes. strong limbed, rugged
and healthy, the noble tillers of the
soil Drowned by the hot sun and
| hardened by honest labor. Ruddy,
freckled faced boys in big straw hats
and overalls are frequent messengers
and sometimes little. rosy-cheeked
girls, barefooted and sun-bonneted,
bear away to the blushing sweetheart
or loving mother. sister brother or
friend in the country, the precious mis-
sive from an absent one. How often
| Uncle Sans eyes would twinkle If he
could penetrate those innocent look
| ing seals and how often he would
look grave, or frown. or turn away to
hide the tear of sympathy aroused by
the contents of these letters?
But the beauty of Bayfield, lies not
in her streets. or houses or stores how
ever worthy they may be of praise. It
lies in the glorious rural scenery,
which touches the heart of the home
loving easterner with warmth and
love which the most sublime mountain
| peaks. the grandest river canons fail
TO arouse. Admiration, wonder and
awe are common sentiments, in this
country of marvels both among the
peaceful valleys where calm rivers
How, and the golden sun smiles down
upon wide green fields and orchards
ana pretty rural homes-here the
heart opens, fills with love and beauty
and song and rests in the quiet con.
lfentmcnt of home