The Republican journal., 1915-02-11

In two or three hours we are in the
Sacramento Valley. where flowers are
blooming, birds singing and everything
is lovely; surely great contrast in q few
hours time. We soon reached Sacra-
mento, the capital of the State, which is
beautiful city. Before reaching there
we passed over the Sierra Nevada Noun
talns, and saw some of the widest,
grandest and most majestic scenery in
this country. The road winds and twists
around like serpent, and in one place
we go seven miles to get ahead one mile,
the road is so winding, to avoid the steep
ascent. Bonner Lake, a beautiful sheet
of water, is nestled among the noun
tains with many other beautiful lakes
and rivers and the scenery is grand. We
cross from San Pablo Bay to Suisun Bay
on one of the largest ferry boats in the
world and soon reach Oakland and cross
on the ferry boat to San Francisco. |
now part with my fellow passengers
with regret as | had made some very
nice friends to whom was sorry to have
to say good bye. Our personal conductor
was very nice and attentive to US, made
US acquainted with each other, showed
US all the points of interest along on the
road, and was full of fun and stories. He
was the life of the party and there was
hardly dull moment. But the best of
friends must part, so we go our several
ways, to my son, who has a pleasant
home in the city.
San Francisco, which eight years ago
was laid low by an earthquake and fire,
has nearly all been rebuilt with larger,
better and more substantial buildings
than before, with fine wide streets and
stately structures. The industries and
entertainments they claim are surpassed
by no other city. They say it is the Paris
of America for life and gaiety, and it
has the greatest variety of nations, ways,
manners, dress and customs, of any city
in the country. 1t is said that 150, 900
people pass back and forth every day
over the ferry to and from the different
cities and towns across the bay There
seems to be never ending crowd going
and coming all the time.
Christmas eve they had great concert
on the streets to advertise the California
climate, which will admit of an outdoor
concert while the cities of the east
are shivering in snow and Ice. John
Mccormack, the great Irish tenor, and
Nine. Bernice Pasquale, the great Ital-
ian soprano, were the special attractions
of the evening. A urge stage was
built at Lotta's Fountain in Market
street, the street cars were all stopped
and an immense crowd blocked the
streets for long way up and down.
There was choir of 1900 children,
bands and orchestras and music galore.
With the sweet music, gay crowds, bright
electric lights, dazzling search lights
and every thing attractive to see and
hear it seemed almost like fairy land.
The next day, Christmas, they had
Christmas tree out on the Panama Pa
cific Exposition grounds. An immense
tree was brought from the National For
est on two fiat cars and there were no.
900 presents on it for the poor children
of the city. There was an immense
crowd on the Fair grounds all day. There
was everything for the entertainment
and amusement of old and young seven
bands of music, several military COM
panies that went through their drills,
dances and flowers. There was parade
by one hundred Chinese girls, dressed in
their native costume, singing by 1000
school children, solos and duets by ia
nous singers, circus clowns, ETC., JAP
anese daylight fireworks, airship flights
in hydroplane, which would fly over
the heads then dive down to the ocean
and sail over that long way, then arise
into the sky up, up out of sight. 1t
surely was great day of thrills and ex-
element.
New Years eve we went down to the
New Years Carnival. They claim to
have the greatest New Years celebra-
ton here of any city in the United States
and l guess they do by the appearance
of things. There was an immense crowd
all up and down Market street for a mile.
and overlooking into the side streets
was solid mass of humanity, ringing
bells, blowing horns, throwing confetti.
streamers and serpentine over everv
one until the sidewalks were ankle deem
with it. At the St. Francis hotel thew
had ninety musicians, clowns and merrv-
makers. Everyone was jolly and good
natured, all were out for fun and excite
ment and l guess they had it. At 12
O'Clock all the whistles blew, the bells
rang land the fun grew more fast and
furious than ever as they ushered in the
glad New Year.
There was steady stream of automo-
biles passing up and down all the time.
gaily decorated with flags and streamers.
and bands of music of all kinds. It was