The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-02-03

what rough, but uneventful. In San
Pedro harbor we noted again something
on which we had frequently commented
all along the Pacific coast, namely, the
absence of shipping, more especially the
absence of small yachts and motor boats,
which are so plentiful in eastern waters.
This is no doubt due to the fact that the
coast of the Pacific is almost entirely
lacking in the safe, snug harbors with
which the Atlantic coast, especially that
of New England, abounds.
Los Angeles is infested with sight-see-
ing autos as we'll as trolley cars, and
their insistent agents fairly mob one on
the street in their anxiety to set forth
the superior attractions of their own
particular trip. If one refuses to listen
they are far from being dismayed and l
am sure we should have needed an extra
suit case for our baggage had we accept
ed all the literature that was pressed
upon US. We selected one of the most
Hattie as guest and cicerone, started
early next morning for tour about Pas
adena and the Busch gardens We drove
for miles over splendid boulevards Dor
dered with orange and lemon groves. The
harvesting season was at its height and
the golden fruit was piled on the ground
OK iojy
ly from the boughs. We noticed, how
ever, the irrigating trenches between
the rows Of the trees, an ever present re-
minder that we were in country where
water is precious.
AS we passed through the residential
districts, the streets were bordered with
palm, acacia and California pepper trees,
as we'll as the familiar eucalyptus. The
acacia and pepper trees seemed to me
most beautiful, with their graceful,
feathery foliage. Some of the bunga-
lows, which seem the characteristic type
of California architecture, were literally
covered with roses and bourgainvillea,
while prolific Towering geraniums were
so common as to seem hardly worthy of
mention. They were even in some cases
trained into hedges. Everywhere was
semi tropical profusion of flowers and
riot of colors. Purple bourgainvillea
climbed on the same trellis as red ard
pink roses, while scarlet geranlums
elbowed each other for room at the foot,
and apparently no one objected to the
color scheme. We were introduced to
lippea, or Clay mans lawn" so called
because its thick growth is close to the
ground and needs no moving.
The auto stopped at the:famous Busch
sunken gardens, which under certain re-
strictions are open to the public, and
were personally conducted" through
them by our guide. 1t was like trip
through fairyland to wander about
amidst rare trees and shrubs imported
from the tropics, over the terraces and
lawns chat abound in this triumph of the
landscape gardeners art. Here and
there in little glens and under trees were
groups of queer little figures represent
ing some we'll known fairy tale-put
there so we were told as a quaint con-
ceit to amuse the children of the million
aire owner. The grotesque cactus gar
den was interesting even in its ugliness,
but my enthusiasm was most aroused,
as always, by the beautiful rose gar
dens. Here in the Busch gardens we
met merry company, bride in her
wedding gown and veil, groom in even
ing dress. and all the attendants in gala
attire. 1t was not until we were close
enough to see the obvious "make up'' on
their faces that we realized that they
were some of Los Angeles many
movie actors, staging a wedding
scene.
After leaving the gardens we drove
through more acres Of orange groves to
the Cawston Ostrich Farm, where we
made only a brief visit, as 1t was very
similar to the Los Angeles farm, which
we had previously visited. My interest
conferred in the first specimen of yucca
that ! had ever seen. This beautiful
plant bears a spike of creamy white
flowers several feet high. The speci-
men saw there was q small one, per-
haps four feet in height, with its spike
OF flowers in full bloom. Much to Aunt
Hattie's amusement ! went close and
tried to smell of it. only to be warned
away by 4 savage prick from the clus-
ter Of stiff. sword-like leaves at the
base of the flower spike. realized then
the appropriateness of its other name of
Spanish bsyonet. The tough fibres
of these sword-like leaves are used to
make kind of cloth, believe.
By previous arrangements the auto left
US at q junction of the Pacific Electric
car lines. where we made connections
with the trolley for San Gabriel. After
q short ride through the beautiful San
Gabriel valley we reached our destina-
finn in tiyna IN anatrh a warn hsstv 1,,r~h