Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-01-19
CALF FORN|k, SUN.
SHINES OWN
STOREHOUSE

II there is any place in the world
that can hypnotic a person, by its
climate, in better form than Califor-
MIA, | will take no chances by investi-
eating, for with snow two or three
feet deep in Wisconsin and the ther-
mometer disgustingly low no one of
you who have never tasted this eli
mate can in his widest dream, picture
himself standing on carpet of green
bordered with geraniums and a dash
of roses and carnations, looking thru
the heavily laden orange trees to the
white capped mountain an hours ride
away Yesterday was a dreary day
if one had time to stop and notice it,
which nobody seemed to do for all
appeared to have the same object in.
view, namely; dodge as many drops
as possible without getting off their
dignity. 1t was our first rain storm in
month and was welcomed by all
even myself though l had to run the
gauntlet in about the only heavy down
pour that occurred during the day
having got off the car with no con-
venient awning at hand.
Today was one of exceptional beauty
even for southern California for snow
capped Mt. Lowe showed up in sharp
silhouette against the blue sky back
ground, its low rambling slopes cover
ed with orange groves to the very
border of the steep ascent ON which
the live oaks seemed scarcely to
have a foothold and then upwards
the dark green sprinkled under meath
with the lighter green of the fern ant
the many colors of the wild flowers
and on until it blended with the white
blanket that had been spread there
as by magic.
From our door we have a view of
the Pacific from Point Fermin (due
south), behind which Santa Catalina
Island seems to jut great peninsu-
la, to a point almost due west, near
Longwharf, at Port LosAngeles, whicl
extends a mile out into Santa Mon
lea Bay, the largest wharf in the world
Today one can plainly see Santa Bar
bara Island, huge rock marring the
face of the Pacific and a menace to
sailors. 1t is fifty miles southwest
and can be more plainly seen as it
is distorted by mirage, which sell
dom occurs except On the desert wherC
you can see most anything your fancy
desires, from a beautiful stream of
water, If you are thirsty enough to
trade your soul for glass of water;
to a mountain where none had been
before or city where you knew it
was only. the unrelenting sands.
On the horizon, the division point
of the water and the great dome above
the line is sharply defined as ws
seldom see it and the dark green of
the water grows lighter and brighter
as the sun dips towards its resting
place, you can almost see the earth S
curvature in the long line that melts
into a blaze of light where the sun
seems to be swallowed up by the sea
a picture painted of the scene tha+
follows would not be classed work
of art with its tumble of color, some
perfectly blended, some sharply di-
yided; a light rose color merging into
pale blue giving a soft purple that
was never produced on canvas, ant
ether creations that only connoiseul
of art could explain with difficulty.
The Arizona sunsets greatly exceed
those in California and people soon
! begin to regard them a part of their