Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1905-10-10
WHERE THE PALM TREES
GROW LENGTHY Boards
"oREGoN oZoNE's" COMMENTS
ON LOS ANGELES
Some Palms Are Shaved-Washnqto
Tree at Arcade Station-Varietes
of Religion Are Many and confus-
ing-EuIogy of an Eastern Man

The first thing you see when you get
off the train at the Southern Pacific
depot in Los Angeles is the Methusaleh
of the palm family. 1t stands just out
side the station, where you board the
street car. This tree is surrounded by
small plot of grass and an iron fence.
1t is old and has to be protected 1t
looks as if the SHOWS of centuries have
descended upon it, but they tell me that
this city never permits snow to fall,
as that would interfere with it's reputa-
ton as snowless, frostless climate.
Consequently 1t may be dust instead of
snow that whitens the head and whis-
kers of this aged palm tree. Yes, truly,
palm has Whiskers. Usually the
whiskers are of a muddy gray denot-
ing age. Now and then in Los Angeles
you will find palm tree that has been
shaved. Somebody has informed me
that this sort of tree merely has the
appearance of having been shaved, but
1t is really of another species than the
bearded palm. 1 cannot say as to that;
am not up on palmistry. My inten-
ton was to study this venerable palm,
as 1t was the first I had seen of the
sort in Southern California. 1 ap-
preached it to read the tin placard
tackled to it's trunk. The fact that it
bore placard and that it looked so
ancient proved that it had a history.
W AtSi' eau IllS llISl WOIu VI Ile III
scription L turned sadly away. The
word was washington" No doubt
this is one of the many trees under
Which George Washington took COM
mand of the army. 1 have been shown
dozen OF them in the vicinity of Cam
bridge, Mass, but it is going to be a
difficult matter to make me believe
that Washington took command of the
army in Los Angeles. There is a statue
near by that looks like Christopher Co.
lumbus from distance, but I am de-
termined not to approach it. These
people will have a hard time convinc-
ing the undersigned that Columbus dis
covered America by setting foot on
Santa Catalina island, instead of San
Salvador. L am from Oregon by way of
Missouri.
There are more religions in Los An
geles than one can find anywhere else
on earth. They are all here, from the
most ancient to the one that was pro-
mulgated at 5:15 p. m. today. There
are Pagans, Sun worshipers. Christians,
Holy Rollers and holy terrors here. 1t
appears that whenever any orthodox
preacher decides to become unortho-
doX he comes to Los Angeles and Is re-
ceived with open arms and open purses.
Then he keeps open house and has
large audiences. But the orthodox
brethren are here still, preaching in
stone palaces, adobe missions and
theaters. On the front of a large tent
at one of the outlying beaches is a
sign that sounds somwhat startling. 1t
reads: Jesus is coming. Services
here tonight"
Los Angeles needs no eulogies. Never
theless, man who came here recently
from the east and settled down is said
to have written back to a friend:
II ought to be happy, but I am not.
1 shall have to die some time, and I'm
afraid L shall be disappointed in
heaven "-Robertus Love in Portland
Oregonian.