The Newtown bee., 1904-05-06

June, and then they expect 800 guests. An electric plant provides the power needed and many cottages are pro- vided for private families. A post office Idlewild) receives and dis tributes the mail, and one can be as free from the outside world as one need wish.
 We drove abou t the valley, ate our lunch by 3 little mountain stream, the sand, saw the grandest mountain tow ard our camp, which we reached at 3.3O, cooked our dinner, did up our work, lighted our camp fire and sat around 1t till after o'clock. Under very threatening sky, we marked out to shift our camp until Monday, also deciding to spend Sunday quietly in camp, instead q of using it as 8 day for pleasure and sight seeing. At bed time we rolled ourselves in our blankets to sleep the third night under the open sky. Our drive on Saturday was through Hemet valley and over to Thomas ranch. In Hemet valley is an immense reservoir, held In reserve for irrigation purposes by an immense dam of solid masonry 100 feet wide at the base, 30 feet wide across the top and 15O feet high. The flow of water from the reservoir is regulated by the watchman. Being high up in noun tain canyon, the pressure Is immense as the water flows through a Hume 12 miles longj to the valleys that lie stretched out miles in extent.
 At Thomas ranch we found MT Thomas, g ''forty-ntner." who came from Saratoga, N. Y., when 8 boy, his a<>%1 I>~~~ Srar Asrf ago. His ranch is all valley land and he can see it all from his door. It is fine to look upon but will suffer soon to such an extent if no rain falls, that he will have to reduce his stock. His ranch comprises 1880 acres and some years he has had aS high as 2O00 head of cattle. His rule Is to raise and fat ten all his stock. His wife is Spanish woman, self-made, and very interest," ing in conversation. She was born in Santa Barbara, Cal, and her ancestors before her. She interested mo much in her talk about the Franciscan fathers who so faithfully labored here centuries ago. Their memory IS held very dear in the hearts of the present generation of those of Spanish descent. Helen Hunt Jackson staid in their home three days when she was gather ing material for her story, Ramona. '' We found the old couple interesting and hospitably inclined and our call almost heightened to visit. MT Thomas said he was Episcopalian, but his wife was Catholic but very liberal, and if Methodist or any other came there to hold a meeting she was al- ways glad to have them come, and heI once in about six weeks. The school
 house is four miles away, their nearest
 neighbor is two miles and the next nearest neighbor is 10 miles oil. Sc much for California distance.
 l We returned to camp in time for an
 early supper, and at o'clock were
 rolled in our blankets for the night Sunday morning ice was again th1cb
 on the water in the pail, and we vert getting the chill from the snoW-clac peak. The sun rose clear and soon be gan to warm up the air. We were iI the heart of the mountains, lifted Ia! communion with the outside world. But that was no reason why we shOult put aside our desire to show due rever.
 ence for the day of days, and we used the day in reading, thinking and rest
 ing from everything save the necessary
 duties that belonged toIeach ones self
 The party were all in good spirits 8 nt
 good condition, with plenty to eat anc
 drink, with no misgivings as to thu
 ability to endure the sleeping in thu
 open air save your correspondent who
 recalling the three months' e1perienc!
 in the early winter with Sciatic neural gia, began to wonder if, at his distanc
 from home, it might not be we'll to us'
 some precautionary measures. Ther
 was an old deserted ranch house in tn
 valley not far away, that had 8 bil
 stone chimney and hugetopen fireplace
 to which myself and good wife for m
 sake, betook ourselves with our bet belongings for the night. Perhaps ou
 letter is too long already; l fear SC
 and will let the next tell of our slee
 in the old ranch and our homewar journey.-[E. l.. Johnson.