The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1911-08-04
"A SLEEPY OLD TOWN. :
Writes Miss Ferry of Sacramento
Calif.-No Fireorackers There
the Fourth.

| the Fourth.
/ have wanted to see California
for such long time that it was no
wonder that l woke early and locked
out with great curiosity as we neared
Sacramento, ! saw rather fiat land,
with mountains in the distance, only
a few of them snow capped, beauti-
ful blue sky unbroken by clouds, and
many grain fields, some harvested
and some not. The trees were all
strange to me; orange, olive, euca-
lyptus, magnolia, pepper and palm.
sacramento is a sleepy old town,
where On the fourth of July there
was not firecracker nor a 'sisser'
to be smelled or heard all day long,
nor were there any fire works in the
evening. We had slight earthquake
but unfortunately ! vase on a street
car and did not feel it at all. I
should like to feel little one We
had a bit OF excitement as we ap-
preached the city, because Of hold
up" the previous evening. There
were blood hounds on our train to be
used in tracing the outlaws. The
place was favorable for such thing
to happen, for the hills rise, steep
and heavily wooded, on either side,
and the country is sparcely settled.
We went through many tunnels and
the curves were so great we could
frequently see the engine and the
rear car at the same time.
| Los Angeles was our next place.
1t is certainly city of beautiful
homes. There the lawns are kept
watered, the grass is beautifully
green, but all the hills and neglected
places are brown and parched. There
are good many palm and pepper
trees, the latter is a very beautiful
tree, whether the long pendants Of
berries are either green or red. The
way the houses are built here in
dark woods, with low hanging roofs.
would seem bit gloomy anywhere
but here in the bright sunshine. AS
1t is the effect is restful and quieting
We took car rides in the loveliest
residence section where the ample
lawns were a profusion of flowers for
many a mile.
| l have met many friends and have
had invitations galore. Had a nice
visit with Mrs McCaughna and her
sister. Was entertained at the beau
4 tiful home of. Belle Gay Cryer, her
husbands fine lawyer, and visited
DR.. and Mrs. Shickle. Mrs. ShickIe
is perfectly well and can't say enough
IN praise of the climate, and what it
has done for her. They live in fine
part of the city and their home is
really elegant.
Florence and Dorothy Fletcher
| (my Boston chums) went with me ia
| Mrs. Roth's. We climbed step lad
ders and picked Valencia oranges
from trees so heavily loaded with
| fruit that they were picture Ia
themselves. Their lovely home is ip
bungalow style, in plain sight of the
mountains. Mrs. Roth served an
orange lunch, very delicious and
dainty.
One afternoon our whole orchestra
was invited to the fifteen acre home
of Miss Foy, president of the Los
Angeles Ladies Orchestra. We were
| given freedom to roam around under
the fine old trees, and among the
| loveliest flowers and picked berries
to suit ourselves, raspberries, straw
berries and logan berries.
| A Cafeteria supper was served
under the great live oak tree. oh
how good the things did taste. The
menu was very elaborate, so many
| IAI.
Their house stands on the edge of a
bluff overlooking the Arroyo Seco,
a madly rushing mountain stream in
winter, but bleached out, dry river
bed now. The hill sides are covered
with wild flowers and shrubs. and
have pretty winding paths, with ro-
mantle trysting places and tinp sum
mer houses all along. Along on the
other side were orange groves plant
ed in neat rows and pretty bunga-
lows nestled in among the trees and
way off behind this the whole range
of the Sierra Madras, with blue
mists fitting and changing around
them in a most interesting way We
returned in a big touring car and the
views we snatched from the hill top
were marvelously beautiful. For an
instant, just before sunset, "Old
Badly" showed phantom head, but
it quickly disappeared.
One evening / had hardly been
playing two minutes when glanced
over the audience and saw Mr.. and
Mrs. George Swarthout just coming
| in. They STAYED to visit after we
were through and invited me to go
sightseeing with them and to their
home to luncheon. They are both
engaged in play ground work. Mrs.
Swarthout has charge of the girls
and Mr.. Swarthout of the boys
After week in Pasadena we leave
for Denver, Colo. shall feel much
nearer home when / arrive there and
will get my letters in much quicker
time. Mabel Ferry.
Alhavt Goot0ap orrtyaI hare r~oofar