The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1905-12-08
RISING SUN TO SETTING SUN.
Trip Across the Continent to the
National w. c. T. U.
Convention.

National w. c. r. U.
Convention.
On Tuesday, October II, 1906, at 1890 O'Clock,
party of about forty persons, mostly W. G. T. u.
women left Philadelphia on the Black Diamond
Express for Buffalo The day was perfect and
the scenery could scarcely be described as we
sped along thro' the Lehigh Valley. the ever
varying change ofthe foliage showing the touch
of frost and the beautiful sunshine of the autumn
day made an impressive sight-the scenery being
particularly fine at Wilkesbarre. We arrived at
Buffalo at 1875 p. M, and there we changed into
our sleeper, from which car we never changed
until we arrived at Los Angeles)
About 6 o'clock the next morning we passed
through tunnel under St. Clair river. at Port
Huron, which is over mile long and marks the
boundry between Canada and Michigan. AT 230
p. m. of the same day we arrived in Chicago, ana
there waited for the delegates from the Eastern
States to arrive. At $3.50 p. m. we left Chicago IN
two sections each section having eight sleepers,
one diner, and baggage car. Not needing any
.ssmokern as we numbered four hundred women
and few husbands and brothers. Our Train was
called "The White Ribbon Special" The first
section carried the National officers, and my party
was fortunate enough to be with them.
1t was jolly crowd and whenever the train
stopped long enough you could see some OF our
party running along the platform. singing our
own W. C. T. U. songs and waving handkerchiefs
and talking with the people along the way, view
ing scenery and finding out about the new coun
try. We crossed the Mississippi at Burlington,
Iowa, in the night-on our homeward trip we
crossed it at Fort Madison, Iowa, in day time.
On we went to Omaha Nebraska, where we tar
ried short time, then on to Lincoln, next to
Denver, thence to Colorado Springs, where we at
once took the excursion train which was waiting
to take us up the mountains to Cripple Creek gold
Mines The scenery can never be described,
going up and up and still up through the noun
tains for 46 miles, and going through nine tun-
nels It was a wonderful trip, and took all the
time we had in daylight. so we had only BIRDS
eye view of the city. In the evening, we attend
ed reception rendered the White Ribboners at
the '.Alta VISTA, beautiful hotel in which there
is no bar. We left Oct. 2lst at 2.20 a. m. AS
morning dawned, we watched for the Royal
Gorge in the Rockies-here again language fails
to tell of the sublimity and grandeur OF the seen
ery nor of the beauty Of the rocks as they tower
ed above us and the river winding along the rail-
road track, making 1t so picturesque. AT p. M
we passed through the Canyon of the Grande
All that day we had continual feast of wonder
fnl mountain scenery. On we journeyed to Salt
Lake City where we spent sunday-arriving in
time for church. Some of our women were met
and taken to different churches to speak. OF
course not the Mormon church. Some of us at
tended service in that great Mormon Tabernacle
which is over $50 feet long, cost three hundred
thousand dollars. will seat 10000 people, and
contains one of the finest organs in the world.
At p. m. our w. C. T. U. women held Mass
Meeting in the FIRST Congressional church, which
was we'll attended, and royal welcome given by
the Utah W. C. T. U. women.
We left Salt Lake at midnight, coming on down
the State into Nevada. Stopped while at
Moapa, Piute Indian reservation, talked with
the Indians, and here husband and wife had
driven twelve miles from the Logan Valley to
ioin us and go to the convention. On we came to
Riverside California, arriving at $50 a. M, Oct.
oath. There we were given a free drive by the
w. c. T. u. ladies of that beautiful city, and each
lady was presented with a bouquet of roses and
an orange.
It was a delightful change after having spent
seven nights on the train. One almost thought
we might be in fairyland as we drove along
gazing at the beautiful homes, great wide aven-
ues lined with the pepper palm and other beau
tiful trees. At this place they claim to have the
finest cultivated spot in the world-their orange
groves cover 1900 acres We were sorry to leave
their beautiful city, but once more we went back
to our car and sped on to Los Angeles. arriving
at p. m. of the same day, having spent one week
in crossing the continent
That evening we were given fine reception at
the Chamber of Commerce Next day some of us
visited Santa Catalina Island which is thirty-ive
miles out in the Pacific ocean. 1t Is charming
spot-neyer have frost and the climate is delight
full. The ocean there is a natural aquarium. We
went out in glass bottomed boat and could see
q forest of seaweed in all the colors of the rain
bow growing in the bottom of the ocean, also
plants with flowers on them. In the branches of
these plants float beautiful fishes being the home
of gold perch and emerald fishes, star fishes and
scores of jelly fishes of every form and shape 1t is
a strange and fascinating panorama.
On Thursday we visited Pasadena-it Is the most
beautiful city of Southern California. and has no
saloons 1t is place of much wealth. number
of millionaires living there To add to the pleas
ure of our trip was the companionship OF some of
the bright minded. noble women of these ULited
States.
On Friday, Oct 81, the Convention opened with
5tl delegates and officers. the largest Convention
ever neld. The hospitality of the California
ladies' and the floral decorations beyond any
thing ever known at a National Conyention.
There were luncheons, drives and excursions for
every day for week after the Convention adjourn
ed After leaving Los angeles we went to San
Franciscoa distance of 4s6 miles, stopping on the
way at Santa Barbara. Del Monte. Monterey and
Palo Alto-at the latter place visiting the Leland
Stanford University. the greatest University in
r-ns O. 4. -
night. Nov. 9Th. by the Santa Fe route. visiting
the Grand Canyon of Arizona, Albuquerque and
Les Vegas, in New Mexico. reaching Chicago
Nov l2th and philadelphia NoY. l4th. having had
q most glorious and successful trip
MRS. CHARLES s. PYLE.
Inauguration Day In April.
The last Thursday of April was de-
cided upon at the meeting of the national