The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1906-10-04

urban lines operating on $50 miles; 10
public parks of 1920 acreage, with u
banks, 40 churches, 81 school build
ings, l0 theatres and innumerable
lodging houses and hotels; two Of
which, the Alexandria and Angelus,
being considered among the finest in
the States. Los Angeles cannot be
called a clean looking city; far from it
at present, as during the past two or
three years it has been taking on an
unprecedented "boom", continually in
creasing, and there is scarcely street
one can pass along but is more or less
torn up and in wild disorder with the
huge piles of dirt, sand, cement and
pipes, where gas and sewer systems are
being improved, streets mrcadamlZed,
and, too, nearly every street has one or
more fire and earthquake proof build
ing in all stages of construction; i'm
mense frames of steel sometimes
covering a whole block. There has OF
late years been big Oil boom here.
and most peculiar sight which great
ly impressed me, as it does all eastern
ers, is the forest of Oil we'll derrlcks
within the city limits.
The midness of the winters permits
the most delicate plants and vines to
flourish in the open air, and all the year
long there are hedges everywhere OF
Gala lilies-a truly wonderful sight to
my eastern-bred eyes; geranium bushes
and fushias ten feet in height, hello
trope covering the side of house,
while Jasmine tuberose and orange
blooms make the air fragrant with
their perfume. Giant bananas wave
their graceful leaves in the breeze, fan
and date palms grow to mammoth pro-
portions and roses of thousand Varl-
cites run riot. The favorite shade trees
are the graceful peppers, which grow to
great size, the eucalyptus, grevella, and
magnolias with its huge creamy white
flowers sometimes measuring foot
across. | very fortunately arrived
here in time to witness Los Angeles
great flower fiesta, which is called LA
Fiesta de la Flores" and the whole city
was given over to merry gaitles much
like the carnival of New Orleans. This
year the "Order of the Mystic Shrine
held their great convention in this city,
and entered with great gusto into the
amusements of Fiesta week, the 1000
visiting 'Shriners" added to the home
lodge made an interesting feature OF
the parades. Two evenings were oc-
cupied by the flower parade, and the
electrical parade, and they were GER
tainly the most beautiful of anything L
ever witnessed. One day was given up
to the flower show, another the great
horse show, and grand balls, dinners
and other events filled out the week.
Among the interesting sights OF the
city is the Chamber of Commerce, where
an immense free exhibit is maintained
of all the natural and manufactured
products of the State. This exhibit
occupies two floors in its own seven
story building, and is visited by thou
sands of people yearly, the average
yearly registration being 16o, 600. Every
afternoon at three O'Clock there is a
free illustrated lecture in the lecture
room, firstclass stereopticon being
used, followed with fine collection of
moving pictures representing scenes
and incidents in Southern California.
Among the several celehretles l have
had the pleasure of seeing and listen
ing to in Los Angeles is one who for
many years has stood high on the ladder
of popularity, both east and west
Robert J. Burdette, humorist, lecturer,
soldier and,story teller. He is now one
! of the leading divines in the southwest.
| Through the combined efforts of Mr..
! Burdette and his wife an immense
Temple Auditorium of Baptist faith
has been erected on Fifth and Olive
streets. Their home is mansion
with park-like grounds, called Sunny
crest"
A novel form of entertainment to me
is an occasional evening spent in the
churches of the "Holy Rollers" and
"Holy Kickers," two highly absurd
factions of religion OF which l had
heard, but whose antics l had never
witnessed until now. The ''Holy Roll.
ers,' as the name indicates, roll wildly
about over the floor and up and down
the aisles in their paroxisms of relig.
ious frenzy, but laughed the heartiest
at the "Kickers." Sunday evening ex.
ercises open with a lengthy song ser
vice, when men and women alike
prance gaily back and forth before the
altar and in aisles. singing, shouting