Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-02-14
In Sunny California.
"a letter rent 70 Mr.. and Mrs. 8. W. Durham
of West Paris by their con In California;

a letter rent 70 Mr.. and Mrs. 8. ". Dunbar
of West Paris by their con In California;
Los ANGELES, CAL, Jan. Is, 1908.
Four weeks ago yesterday we started
from home, since which time every day
has been day of pleasure. We stopped
of day at Niagara Falls and at Chica-
60, arriving in Pasadena, CAL, just in
time to see the Grand Carnival of Roses,
or Floral Parade, which they always
hold on New Years Day. No artificial
flowers were allowed In the parade, and
no turnout that was not beautifully
decorated. The floats were most gor.
geous with roses, carnations, callas and
smilax, one float having 1000 carnations.
1t was most beautiful. 1t took an hour
and ten minutes for the procession to
pass.
Pasadena is the most beautiful place
we have. visited. There are twenty
eight millionaires living on Orange Ave-
nue. and of course there are flowers on
every side. 1t was here that turned
into an exclamation point. You know
an exclamation point is that which ex-
presses wonder, surprise and admira-
ton.
After remaining here two days we
went directly to San Diego for one
weeks stay. 1t was here that we had a
lovely rest living out of doors all the
time, visiting Coronado Beach, bathing
in the surf, going through the caves at
La Jolla, etc.
We came here two weeks ago to-day
and shall remain here one month, and
it is an ideal spot for a winters vacation,
although to us it seems like summer.
In few minutes ride We can go to
city, country, seashore, or to the top of
Mt. Low 5000 feet.) We have already
visited the city parks, some of the most
famous Spanish missions (including San
GabrieD, The Chutes, China Town,
Hollywood, Glendale, Long Beach,
Ocean Park, Santa Monica, Soldiers
National Home, Ostrich Farm, Mt.
Low and the oil wells, and the "Home
of Ramona"
Yesterday we went to Catalina Island,
which is twenty-eight miles from here
out in the old Pacific, and if the ocean is
always rs calm it is rightly named
peaceful" At Catalina We went out
in glass bottom boats, and we could
plainly see vegetation growing in all its
varied forms at a depth of seventy-flve
OF eighty feet, SO clear is the water.
We could also see all kinds of fish, large
and small, some very beautiful, especial
ly the gold and the electric fish.
Of course the most interesting thing
for me is to 20 into the orange and lemon
orchards and see the ripe fruit really
growing on the trees. / can't get over
the feeling that they are just tied on,
MS have tied them on so many times at
Christmas time. / have heard people
who have been here say that oranges
tasted better picked right from the
tree. can see no difference. A good
orange in the East is as good as a good
orange here. | can buy good navel
oranges here for five cents per dozen,
better ones for ten cents, and the best
for fifteen and twenty. l am sending
you picture of us three picking oranges.
am also sending picture taken of the
when at the farm. Last week
we went strawberrying on nine.acre
patch and picked two baskets of the
best we could find, and tell you they
were luscious ones. We can buy them
in the market for ten and fifteen cents
per box.
They sell apples and pears here by
The pound, which seems very odd to
as all Fasteners are called.
Good apples sell for five and pears for
cents per pound. We eat lots of
oranges, nuts, figs and olives.
We shall visit Redlands, Riverside and
San Francisco next. Returning via the
Southern Pacific, we shall stop off at FL
Paso, (going down into old Mexico),
New Orleans, Washington, Philadelphia
md New York. We shall be in Wash
ngton when Roosevelt is inaugurated.
There are lots more things I would
ike to tell you about this beautiful
country, but time will not allow. l do
rope you both will come out here next
winter and see it for yourselves. have
,een writing this while sitting on the
south piazza, and it is now getting so
warm l must 60 where
t is cooler. 1t is now 10 A. NJ. During
The three weeks have been here have
not had even my rain coat on more than
our times. We have all been perfectly
we'll.
In closing, l must say that if l did not
rave so many relatives and friends in
he East, and a nice business already
l would like to make South
,rn California my home.
H. r. DUNHAM.