The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1914-09-04

there is but lush ferny smell
Ihere Is one native tree growing In the noun
lalns mat bears a blossom very unique and cell,
cately fragrant the chua. In it's time of full
poisoning the trees often stocky form presents
the appearance of huge crimson bouquet there
are such myriads of silky pompon flowers Per-
feet pompons they are, and very we'll made each
SIiken thread about as hard to pull out as a
thread Of manufactured silk from milliner's
creation. The flowers are woven into beautiful
garlands or leis as the natives call them, and
on the streets of Honolulu the stranger always
turns to look again at wreath of lehua blossoms,
the deep coloring, the character of the flower
being SO unusual And still more beautiful
mountain bloom, to my mind is that of the ohia,
cousin to the crimson blossom. This is of the
same shape but smaller in size and its shade is
the richest oldrose A party descending from a
trip mauka with each member sporting a lei of
lehua or ohia feel very lucky indeed, proudly
display this trophy of ascent to and dalliance in
a real mountain region
In Hawaii one need not go to the states to get
the tonic of the cold; one can take to a noun
tain hut and in mountain life arrive at invigora
ton. l write at this moment from mountain
retreat located at an elevation of 5000 feet; sit
clothed in khaki and sweater, and with great
doWny scarlet blanket cushioning my chair and
enwrapping my feet. Evenings the household in
dulges in fire of cracking, and pungent, eucalyp-
tus logs, and nights have on my bed from four
to six blanketSI This abode and the acres about
are stolen from a great cattle ranch on the
slopes of the mountain of Haleakala, and can
not but wonder how our host ever was able to
get any sort of slice from the great landed estate
Glad indeed | that he was able and that
am allowed to sojourn here in my present Clay
ing-oR" For the spot is of rare beauty-even
in this land where beauty is such common
place.
The little retreat lies midway UP the mountain,
a seven-mile ride by horse and the summit is
reached. But one has no call to take the slow.
arduous climb very often, for there is such raw
ishtng view from this viewpoint Most of the
island lies spread out below, rolling ranch lands
leading down to green cane fields with the sea
beyond, and over all dome so vast and blue one
thrills at the immensely and beauty On clear
days three islands float off there in the sea, and
behind US the summit stands out sharp land chal-
longing, long line with little or no curve or cut
On our deep, level lawn high clumps of gera-
NUNS and 'fuchsias glow richly colorful in the
mountain air. at the window blue hydrangeas
peer in down in the little garden Mareschal
Mel rose blooms riotously beyond our gates real
dandelions dot the pasture lands and there are
occasional purple thistes AS stroll about the
enclosure or ride without on the ranch marvel
that all these honey flowers and weeds this brac-
ing air, can really be part Of subtropical isles
MY present comparatively luxurious mountain
i1fe-hair mattresses, French china, Jap servants,
ETC., etc.-is very pleasant indeed but I was
equally at ease the time / spent seven weeks in
a cowboys hut In the Waianae mountains on
Oahu, where slept on fern beds, drank my coffee
(but good quality from an enamelware mug, sew
eral Of us shared the services Of one boy" In
the humber holiday there was the keen, pure
upland air; the beds of dry ferns, piled foot or
So high, were very comfortable; one clever China