The San Francisco call., 1910-01-08

night their fragrant, PINK DloOHl VIII
enliven the canyons where already the
pussy willow unfolds its furry fuzzy
catkins. Fine physical exercise as
walking is, it's charm increases with
compound interest as one acquires
more knowledge of natures open books,
bound on one side by rock ribs and
above by blue Sky and floating clouds.
FRUITvALE TO JOAQUIN MILLER's
Juniors and grownups, too from San
Francisco, can take the Horseshoe
train from Oakland pier to Fruitvale
station, from which they should con-
tinue two miles up the beautiful ave-
nue. to Dimond postoffice, to which the
Alameda county contingent can trans
fer Turn to the right up a steep hill
for a block then to your left up
road lined with eucalyptus and acacia
trees. This long lane has its turning
a mile up, where it twists around the
foothills for half a mile farther, wind
ing past weeping willows to group of
cottages You are now "On the Hights'
Gas spelt by the poets) and are 'front.'
ing the estate of Joaquin Miller, "Tho
Poet of the. Sierras." A hundred thou
sand young trees planted by his hands
are springing sturdily up the rocky
slopes, each a living monument to the
genius of Cincinnatus Heine Miller.
This was the name Joaquin's parents
gave him nearly 70 summers ago. Be
fore gold was discovered in California
he crossed the plains to Oregon with
an emigrant train, and at the age of
IA tramped across the Siskiyou noun
tains and was adopted by the kindly
Shasta Indians. Twenty years later he
told the ta'e Of their unhappy fate in
his Songs of the Sierras," under the
title "rhe Last Taschastas," which be-
gins with these simple but haunting
lines:
THE hills were brown. the heavens were blue
woodpecker pounded pinetop she'll
While partridge whistled the whole day
through
For rabbit to dance in the chaparral.
And gray goose drumm'd, AIS well, airs
we'll"
Here in one of his cottages, called
"the Temple" he often lies until after/
noon, clad in his fur robes and think
ing out the themes he sets to verse.
Perchance you may see him stroning
about his pine plantation, and II so
do not hesitate to pay your respects
to this good gray poet" whom you
Will hnd lover of out OF doors boys
and girls as well as his fellow man.
UPWARD TO REDWOOD PEAK
At the entrance to "The Hights"
you were 500 feet above the bay. Con-
tinue up the road nearly 300 more
when you will arrive at saddle and
stile. Turn in through this fence to
little meadow whose eastern wall is
bristling with young pines. Up this
flank a trail winds directly up 10 the
summit of Redwood peak, nearly mile
distant. You are now on the head
waters OF DimOnd canyon, down
through which trip will be more en-
joyable a month or two hence. AS
you ascend the course of a steep little
stream you will see beautiful Wood
wardia ferns down in a dell, while
glossy huckleberry leaves brighten the
shadows of the redwoods. Up you climb
through the second growth of Sc
quotas which hide the stumps of the
giant trees that fell so years ago. A
new forest OF pines and cypress planted
by the Realty syndicate is growing
rapidly along the ridge to the north
ward. Al am elevation of 1900 feet
You win come to road that leads into
the private grounds or John Cias-
sen. He is keen nature lover and