The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1903-06-05
FROM A CALIFORNIA FRIEND.
Saratoga, California.

NOA "A S<aAAc OAsA>A<A AACA>A>'
Saratoga, California.
Why Saratoga rather than
Oroville9 For long time I have
made it my aim to be where I could
do the most good; and ! am always
ready to exchange good thing for
2 better. Therefore Saratoga now
instead of Oroville. ~|:
Before I came to Saratoga, I Won
dered what relation, if any, the
California Saratoga held to the New
York Saratoga; whether this were
attempting to build upon the repu-
tation of that; whether this were an
imitation of that whether this were
counterfeit Of that. But my first
visit here showed me that this Sara
toga is no. counterfeit, or imitation,
and has ~ need to build upon the
reputation of any other place. The
only relation Of Sarat: ga California
to Saratoga New York that can
find, is in the name, and in the fact
that both have mineral springs; the
New York So .'atoga being made
famous by it springs, and the Cali
fornia Saratoga having it's springs as
but one factor to make it famous.
The springs in both places are
named Congress Springs; but that
isn't the fault of the springs.
The Sweet Singer Of Israel side of
Mount Zion, Beautiful for situation,
the joy of the whole earth l think
l never entered more into the
spirit Of the enthusiastic Psalmist,
than did one beautiful moonlight
night since coming here, as I was
standing on the hill Of ''Three
Oaks" At one side were the Santa
Cruz Moutains, tree clad and grand,
rising range above range; on the
other side was the Santa Clara
Valley, stretching away from San
Jose twelve miles to the Southeast
clear to the San Francisco Bay on
the North. We could see distinctly
the lights of Oakland fifty miles
away and the lights of all the towns
and villages the whole length Of the
Valley, to San Jose with it's miles of
streets and avenues brilliantly light
ed. We could see the water of the
Bay glistening in the moonlight.
Such q combination of mountain
and valley and bay and sky, forest
and grove and an orchard, .''of blue
and green, and silver sheen" is not
often to be- found; But9I fancy l
hear some Of you saying, hold on
my friend. your California enthus-
iasm is running away with you
again.
My good wife and myself reached
here the night before Blossom
Festival. This is an annual in
stitution occurring just as the prane
blossoms are in their prime. As we
gazed out over the Valley, it
looked like one mass of billowy
white. The Blossom Festival
brought together some two or three
thousand. from the Cities and all
tho country around. The order of
tho day was music, speeches, basket
lunches, drives, and a grand good
time generally.
This is the greatest prune section
of the whole country. But there are
all kinds of fruits raised here. The
first are the cherries now rpeping.
Then will come apricots, peaches,
prunes. pears, grapes, apples, and Last
but not least, almonds and other
nuts. The whole Santa Clara Valley
is one vast garden and orchard.
But don't you think for q minute
that because We are in the country
we are out of the world. In one
week we saw and listened to, Dr..
Hotmeyr a. most eloquent South
Africa Boer lecturer; Charles NJ.
Sheldon the noted Topeka preacher
and author, and Theodore Roosevelt
the President of the United States.
Oh, come in out of the cold and wet
and lakewood, and live in a place
where you can see and hear some
thing worth while.
But must spin this yarn just
'ong enough, to tell you Of the
Minnaaota Picnic wa had last Satnr.