The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1917-11-29
Written for The Times)
% By Mrs. Chas. b. Counts oc

ed royalty, some people actually 90
ing out of their way to direct us to
our destination, with the exception
OF one time, and that was here at
the San Diago Fair. There was a
demonstration of cake cooking at one
booth and upon asking for "sam-
lple" the lady refused us, saying we
were not from California or the West.
We told her that was the difference
etweeen the Western hospitality and
e Eastern.
The next day which was the 7th of
August, we went back to Los Angeles,
had dinner and left at o'clock for
San Francisco. We had breakfast at
Watsonville and from there stopped
off at Big Tree station to see the "Big
Trees" which are in grove six
miles from Santa Cruz. Most of the
trees were named. There was the
Fremont, in which General Fremont
camped in 1916. 1t is large enough
for seventy five people to get in at
the same time, having a diameter of
% feet and a height of $50 feet.
Jumbo was so feet in circumference,
and 80 feet high. This tree had two
large knots or it which resembled an
elephant and a buffalo head. The
largest single tree was called the
Giant. 1t was 65 feet in circumference
land 306 feet high; rs feet was broken
| off of thn fNn hnuinor oc
a feet where it was broken. The Nc
Kinley was 40 feet around and 26O
feet tall. General Grant was 55 feet
around and 800 feet tall. This tree
was said to be 1000 years old. The
Roosevelt was dedicated in 1908, dur
ing ex-President Roosevelt's visit
there. 1t is 46 feet in circumference
and 275 feet high. The Tree
Graces were 63 feet around and 2S5
feet high. They are 5000 years old.
Sherman consisted of Is trees COM
bined, the number of feet around all
was 110 feet, and their height be-
ing 800 feet. Harrison was SO feet
in circumference and 285 feet high.
There were others named: Grover
cleveland, Bryan, Y. M. C. A., etc.
fFhe largest of these trees were red
wood. These trees were so pretty and
green. Nothing could surpass their
stableness and beauty, even though
they had been visited by the forest
fires. 1t seemed wonderful that such
large trees as these could still stand
there and put forth their soft fresh
leaves, when all the lower part of
their bodies had been burned out and
nothing was left but thin outside
wall
We left Big Tree station about two
o'clock in the afternoon. For miles
after leaving, the big trees could be
seen growing along the railroad, but
gradually became smaller as we
neared San Francisco. We went
around Lorenzo river on what is called
Horseshoe Bend. The mountains,
with their large boulders protruding
out over the valley, where every now
and then could be seen a pretty little
stream, were there to greet us on
one side, while the smooth, easy
flowing river was ever with us on the
other side.
We reahced San Francisco at six
o'clock and went direct out to the Elk
position grounds where we secured
rooms at the Inside Inn. We got sup
per at the Y. w. C. A. building.
Meals are served here on the Cafeteria
plan. Some time we had to stand in
line nearly an hour before those in
front of US had been served and our
turn had come. There was a long
table which had huge bowls on it,
each one containing soup, beans, po-
tatoes, fish, hot rolls and other good
things to eat. There was large list
of foods with their prices, hanging on
the wall, so we could know exactly
what we would have to pay for our
meals before the bill was handed
us. After getting everything we
wanted, we then would go find US a
table and eat our meals.
After eating our supper we went to
see the fireworks. This wonderful dis
play of fire works, bursting up in
the air and dropping down flags,
toy balloons, ducks, dolls, ETC., were
fired from boats out in the Bay of
San francisco, and afforded great
amusement to the thousands of people
looking on. Powerful searchlights
were turned on in fan-like array, leav-
ing series of ever-changing colored
beams, playing upon the night sky