The Yale expositor., 1907-10-25

10 him who III the love OF Nature nOluS
Communion with her visible form, she speaks
A various language; for his gayer hours
She has a voice of gladness. and SMILE
The long hot days of summer had
come, the fruit was gathered, the pack
ing houses had closed for the season
and vacation time was here. 1t is a
custom, or a habit, of the people of
Southern California to take vacation
as soon as the dull days of summer
come. Some hurry to the beaches where
they enjoy the cool ocean breeze, bath
ing, boat riding and fishing, others HE
away to the mountains where the scenes
are more primeval, and Nature more
generous and inspiring.
| have often longed to climb those
rugged mountains on the north that
overshadow our valley, and see the
wonders that Natures greatest tragedy
holds i'm store. They are the theatre of
the winter storms, and the home of
Jack Frost. They are our common in
heritance from God-the watershed
that which makes it possible for South
ern California to be the most highly
advertised spot on the map. They are
the climatic equaliZers, shutting off the
cold winds from the north and east,
and giving Southern California summer
when her northern and eastern neigh
bors are wrapped in the mantle of
winter. Making known my desire to
climb those mountains, had no trouble
in getting up party to make the trip.
All necessary arrangements being made,
the party, including Miss Ethel Morris,
a school teacher from Toronto, Canada;
j. Z. Confer, Ira NJ. TOothman, my
wife, Emerson and myself, started on
three days trip to "Old Badly" the
highest snow-crowned peak in the. San
Gabriel watershed of the Sierra Madre
mountains. We staged from Upland
to Seven Oaks, and from there were
compelled to take donkeys, as the road
short distance above this place
dwindles into mere trail.
The first four miles of the journey
was along the beautiful Euclid Avenue.
This avenue, beginning at Ontario and
passing through Upland TO San Antonio
Heights, is eight miles in length, and is
said to be one of the most beautiful
streets in the United States. On either
side are rows of large grevilla trees,
and many artistic homes in the midst
of wealth of orange and lemon groves,
while through the center passes an
electric line beneath the overhanging
boughs of pepper trees. Soon after
leaving Euclid Avenue we entered the
mouth of San Antonio canyon. This
canyon, for the first few miles, is con-
trolled by the Ontario Water and Power
Company. Here are located the power
houses that generate electricity for the
use of the "Model Colony" which in
cludes Ontario, Upland and San Antonio
Heights. Here the water of the canyon
is diverted from its natural channel
and sent hurrying through pipes all
over the colony for irrigating and do
mestic use. The Water and Power
Company still keep guard over an old
toll gate a lingering remnant of many
years ago. For fifty cents the keeper
unlocked the gate, and we passed on
and soon entered the cool woods that |
fringed the mountain stream. Here |
the journey became more interesting, |
the artificial beauty of the valley blends |
into the natural beauty of the mount |
aims. The noisy stream has grown |
boisterous, the hills have become mount- |
aims, and the vegetation more abund- |
ant, varied and beautiful The fresh |
ness of the morning still fingered be- |
meath the trees and few birds fitted |
here and there among the boughs, but |
they seldom sang. 1t is singular, in |
this land of almost perpetual summer,
birds are so few.
A few struggling tents by the road
side, and voices from the bank of the |
stream indicated that we were i'm the
suburbs of Seven Oaks, and few mo-
ments later the stage stopped i'm front |
of the little hotel. Here we were met |
by the manager, Mr.. Marker and con
Quoted to our camp "Minnehaha."
Seven Oaks, so called on account of |
seven large branches of an evergreen |
oak, is camp of furnished and unfur-
nished tents, established by the Ontario |
Water and Power Company for the |
purpose of accommodating the many |
people who desire to spend their vaca-
tion i'm the mountains. Here in the
shadow of the hills the air is always |
cool and inyigorating, and the water of
the streams, on its way from the snow
fields, is cold, clear and sparkling. The
grandeur of the rugged hills, the many
varieties of Aowers, trees and plants,
all tend to bring their admirer closer
in touch with nature.
While at Seven Oaks we visited |
Canyon, or the "Model
Colony's" picnic grounds. Mr.. Stod-
dard has fitted up the canyon at his
own expense, with everything conven-
lent for campers, picnic parties and
therefore pleasure seekers
who enter those private grounds are
small admittance fee. Here
the artificial mingle with the natural
beauty which makes the place attractive
and desirable. Artificial, such as shade
trees, croquet grounds, water conven-
fences, assembly hall, fruit trees and
3tvrs.t ts.I - -. 49,.