Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1915-07-27

| Is III UOMu
But for some reason, the alligator
| farm interested me more than the
ostrich one. although the amphiblans
are uglier to look at and do not pro-
duce anything so beautiful as ostrich
J plumes.
The lecturer here gave us some
very interesting facts, among them
that the alligatOrs live to be 500 years
of age They lay from 20 to 80 eggs
per year and lay them all an one day
One of there It's years old, laid 76 eggs
one day this summer. AlligatOrS have
80 teeth, and grow a new set every
year. If that were the case with us,
there would be no profession OF den
tistry.
The Selig Zoo interested me. We
were in time TO see the wild animals
fed, which was ferocious as we'll as
interesting sight. They have many
lions, tigers, leOpardS, etc. We were
also in time to see the elephants
perform, and thought some of their
stunts quite remarkable. This is the
firm that makes the Selig moving
pictures. By the way, l never knew
before that nearly all the moving
picture firms in this country are
located around Los Angeles. Even
that wonderful "ClanSman" was
made there.
OF course, l took the trip up Mt.
Lowe, with it's wonderful ''incline
plane" which | haven't time to tell
of. Enjoyed the trip to Catalina
Island, with it's flying fishes, abalOni
shells, deep sea divers, baby seals,
and the beautiful marine gardens
seen from the ass-bottomed boats.
l had seen and heard so much that
[ was nearly used up, and had to go to
Balboa Beach for an absolute rest of
three days to restore equilibrium.
And now at last, am in beautiful,
wonderful Yosemite Valley. Came
in by the new Horseshoe Route, "
leaving the S. P. r. r. at MADEIRA
and coming by automobile all the
rest of the way. We spent several
hours in the MaripOsa grove of big
trees on the afternoon of the first
day, staying all night at WawOna and
coming on into the Valley the next
forenoon. Those Sequoia Giganted
or big trees fairly stagger one. They
are found only in the high Sierras,
and are not considered "big," unless
they measure, at least, fifteen feet in
diameter. The "Grizzly Giant" is
the largest and oldest tree in the
world. L forget its dimensions, but
remember that it is 5000 years old
l walked slowly around it with
hushed, aWed feeling, as considered
that it was full-grOwn tree when
Abraham went down into Egypt, anC
before the pyramids were built.
Of course, our auto had to drive
through the opening cut in the tree
WawOma, that we have so often seer
pictured with the stage driving
through it.
Never shall l forget my first view
of this Valley from Inspiration Point
There was the real Bridal Veil Falls
Ell Captain, Half Dome, ETC., just as
had so often seen them pictured; but
the real was so much more beautiful
than the picture.
| [ have now seen Mirror Lake
Happy Isles, Nevada Vernal, IllillOu
cite, Bridal Veil, Yosemite anC
Ribbon Falls. No one has really seer
the Yosemite Valley who hasn't beer
up to Glacier Point. L dreaded the
trip up there, but took it on horse
back. We went up the long trail
eleven miles, and came back the
short one, four miles, but it seemed
like forty. Coming down was mucf
harder than going up.
But | felt well repaid for the money
and effort spent, as a view of th'
entire Valley with all its waterfalls
etc, is seen from this point, to saI
nothing of the grand snow-cappeC
Sierras, not visible from the Valley.
While Yosemite Falls are the high
est in the world, Vernal Falls are tht
most beautiful, with Nevada a clos'
second. Some even put Nevada first
Both are in the mad Merced" river
about a mile and half apart, Nevad;
being the higher of the two. Th,
Merced has that indescribably beauti
full greenish tint never seen except il
mountain streams.
1t is peculiarly beautiful as with
deafening roar it fOams and daSne
over the rocks around Happy Isles
No pen can do justice TO the beaut
of this place. l have treated mysel
+ to the luxury of a week here. Wis
, might stay month and loaf ant
: invite my SOUL" as the Good Ora
, Poet would say.
But | must leave inside Of an hou
, lbv auto for Ell POrtel, where l take
= Pullman tonight for San Francisco
> arriving there at 1870 tomorro'
> morning.
! [ am rather dreading Frisco, a
: everyone has told me how disagre'
ably cold it is there. But I'd rathe
! be frozen than roasted. 1t is rathe
! warm here in the sun in the middle
: the day, but the nights are very coo
? I've not suffered any with the hea
! this summer except crossing th
. Moiare Desert, the last day or N
westward journey.
i / enjoy the weather here. There
|. such a certainty about il. If you pla
a going somewhere or doing somethin
!. on the morrow you don't have
: reckon with the weather. You ca
/, lust bank on il that there won't
f any rain nor storm Of any kind.
o like that, it gives one such a con
9 Portable feeling. This is a gres
country for automobiles, and the
roads are a delight TO motorists fro
n other states. They have one calle
: the "El Camino Rear' or king
!. Highway" running from San Diego
: San Francisco. AT certain interval
. guide posts have been erected su
mounted by a bell in imitation