The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1905-08-09
A CALIFORNIA LETTER

of space. In order to fully enjoy a visit
of this kind it is necessary to have sutfici-
ent time at ones disposal to relax. and
bask indolently in the pleasures incident
to this languid and sunny cline, free from
marrying anxiety as to whether or not one
may miss seeing some interesting feature
of the country.
On leaving San Francisco ever the
Southern Pacific railroad we passed
through some fruit and grain country,
similar in appearance to that which lies
east of San Francisco, it beiug also in the
Sacramento valley. In this portion of the
valley we traversed some very hot and dry
territory. that is the portion of the valley
lying inside of the coast range; it fact it
was almost tropical. After six or eight
hours we passed through seven or eight
tunnels through the mountains. and we
were then on the Pacific slope, with the
sea breeze blowing upon Us, and never be-
fore had l enjoyed breeze to such an
extent. The remainder of the trip to San
ia Barbara was cool and pleasant
| Santa Barbara is an ideal tourists re-
sort. 1t possesses beautiful scenery, old
missions, hot springs, splendid beach,
and magnificent hotels. 1t has semi
tropical vegetation, although the tempera-
ture is never very excessively high. The
evenings. in fact are comfortably COOL
and enjoyed the best sleep of my whole
trip at Santa Barbara Potter's Hotel,
at the beach. is one of the finest summer
hotels in the country, and the beach at
that point, lined with palms for about a
mile, is unsurpassed 1t also has the ad-
vantage of facing the south. The old
mission at Santa Barbara, at the outskirts
ofthe city, gives the place an air of an
tiquity. The mission was built in 1857 by
the Franciscan order, and it is still in
charge of monks of that order, who con
duct tourists through the old chapel and
gardens. Several hundreds of Indians.
and a number of fathers lie buried in the
| picturesque spot and it lends itself read
lily to romantic conjurings of the magma
ton. The mystery and obscurity of the
early days afford background for a story.
One can fancy theearly padras living here
their life of conservation, with only the
mountains to keep them company aud
| =, IS 4
| Pacific against the sand and rocks to dis
turb the silence of the wilderness.
But while Santa Barbara seems to be a
more charming spot for the idle tourist,
it lacks some of the advantages which the
larger city of Los Angeles possesses The
latter place seems to be the Mecca of east.
ern visitors to California. It'll rapidly be-
coming quite metropolitan, and since 1900
has nearly doubled in population, SO that
people. Consequently the city of Los
Angeles is more OF a busy part of trade
and commerce than summer resort II
is, nevertheless, a center from which many
interesting points are easily accessible.
Long Beach, the Ostrich Farm, Pasadena,
and numerous other points are connected
by car line with this metropolis of south
ern California The Ostrich Farm is a
place of some interest to those not famil-
lar with such an institution. On Cav.
ston's farm there are about one hundred
and fifty ostriches, including at this time,
some fifteen or twenty young birds, from
three days to three weeks of age. The
later are about the size of large Ply
mouth Rock chicken only infinitely more
homely and awkward. The grown-up birds
are stupid and ponderous animals, dis
tinguished for the value of their plumage
Their weight ranges from three hundred
and fifty to five hundred pounds. They
are valued at four to FIVE hundred dollars
each.
A trip usually taken by the coast visitor
| is that to Santa Cataline Island, some
twenty or thirty miles of the coast al
San Pedro. Barring the tendency to be.
come sea sick, which appears to be inner
ent in most people, the trip is one of un-
alleged pleasure. The island is owned by
three Banning brothers, and is about Six
ty miles in circumference. The village
of Avalon lies at the foot of the noun
tains near the little bay. which is the har.
Dor and point of landing for ships. The
island is a tourists resort and nothing
more. No industries are found there.
The fishing around the island of Santa
Cataline is the finest to be had anywhere.
l saw black sea bass suspended near the
wharf, about six or seven feet long, and
weighing from two to three hundred
pounds. This is not fish" story.
There are many seals in these waters, but
they are protected by law, as are also the
countless sea gull, whose chief claim tc
protection is their value as scavengers
There are some interesting mountain
climbs to be had near Avalon. One af.
ternoon l climbed to the summit of peak