The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-10-13

centre There L. always some smoke
coming out OF its surface. and In an
eruption from near the middle the
whole lake seems to burst Into the
air. The noise - accompanied by
rumbling and as ] have said the VOL
ume OF vapor otter carries with It mud
and stones. The vapor often assumes
the shape Of an umbrella. and the
ashes have been carried far out In
the Pacific Ocean. On fine days II -
possible to get down into the crater
lake, but this was not 50 during our
stay.
Leaving the active volcanic like. we
climbed ! 900 feet further up the noun
tain to the Laguna Fria or cold lake.
and there stopped for our lunch OF
lam crackers. canned tongue ard bis
cults. The upper lake IL OF about the
same size a. the acid crater below,
but the water Is as pure as that OF
the Adirondacks. and without sour
taste. The water OF the first crater
tastes Hike strong vinegar.
In the Tropical MosataisA
wish could show you the vegeta-
ton through which we rode on our
way over Poas. The fountain 10 COW
cred with magnificent trees. some o.
which are a. big around as hogs
head and $50 feet high They are
mostly hardwoods. and are knotty and
xnarled with limbs twisting about In
everv direction. The air 10 90 moist
that the trunks are covered with moss
OF bright green an inch or % thick.
and great boards Of frosted silver moss
hang from some Of the branches. When
the sun shines upon these they seem
incrusted with diamonds.
And then the bamboos. the ferns ana
the palms! There were ferns OF q
hundred varieties. some as nne a. the
maidenhair and other tree Ferns. each
a single stalk as big around As
mans arm at the btceps. rising to
beiQht of fifteen or twenty feet and
bursting out into iacelfke green fsohos
a. the top. There were gorgeous now
ar. the names of which I know not
On. mad. me think OF cross between
our roldenrod and the sunhower. The
blossom Of this on its long stalk was
even with my eyee a. I SAT on my
pony. pulled some now ana snen-
The scent was delicious.
Among the floral beauties we've the
orchids and other air plants. There
were tens If Thousands Of bushels OF
these aristocrats OF the plant world
TO be had for the taking. They Gov
cred tn. dead limbs and nestled in the
1oints OF the live ones Many OF the
trees were entirely covered by them.
ana IN some places the orchids were
in flower, forming q mass OF purple
yellow or white blossoms OF the most
EXQUISITE Shapes. There were also
uanas. which fell straight from the
branches hundreds OF feet ana fooseo
themselves In the earth
There were thick vines when
wrapped themselves around the huse
trunks az the snakes wrap the LAGOON
In the famed statue at Rome SOM
OF the vines had vanished leaves INV
the holly and some bore mowers
The mist added to the beauty OF the
woods. a. the perpetual gripping t.o"
the trees reminded me OF the WONDER
full rain forest Of the victoria taus on
,ha Zambezi, the African Niagara
There were also open places during the
-,de and at these the sun came behind
-. .na painted little rainbows on the
,,is. some OF the rainbows were not
more than 200 feet long and l feit hke
whipping M ny pony 20 md the Gags
| OF gold 1T their eos
AZ = Costa RSesD Dairy.
commins down the mountains. We
.,o,ned n, the Lecheria. outside which
-. had expected TO sleep In our bags
| ~ IN case Of rain. 60 have taken 2
bed on the boards within II - lucky
we chose San Pedro. The rooms ~ers
aIied With dirty cows anc tne noo's
were unspeakable. A sucking ca"
tied on the porch Of the sned: sno
near II n razor backed hog sapped ssos
| vh,,e we slipped our coffee. The miix
| 20 scarcely sanitary and the sneo
vss not % good nor - clean ~ tne
ordinary pig pen Of our country.
| W. made our way from here down
.. s.n pedro. and there had . fairly
| 800 dinner. Il consisted OF soup. an
o,neles- n roast chicken custafd ana
/ . ~u, az hot coffee The soup was o.
| -heese- mscaroui. rice ana eggs ~
| rn,xed together. and the omesct VA
.nnc~has nat ana . BIT ieafhery. The
4 ...ei vas sauced with hunger, bow
- sn6 =, was not At ali bad sstci
our ieue, Dong day IN the sadie. W.
800 ,h~r. mat night, the wards 10
| some magic wy chaneeo
ssgue % the ride INTO
e~ds. and In the early morn'ns roo'
4! bach, 90 Ala,uela- where ws 49,
FRANK q. CARPESIEE
,Ccpysieha 1919 ~ FssnH o. Ss"
teri
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