The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1917-11-22
Written for The Times)
% By Mrs. Chas. B. Counts 0C


1915, our party of five left Lexington,
Mississippi, to take in the Worlds
Exposition at San Francisco, Cal, and
other points of interest West of the
Mississippi river.
We reached New Orleans at 8:15
o'clock Tuesday night. After getting
lunch we took in the business section
of the city, also went upon the roof
garden of the Greenwald Hotel in or
der to get a view of the city. From
there we could see the great old Mis-
sisissippi as she ran out into the Gulf,
and the little sail boats standing still
as if resting from a hard days work.
At 1870 we left for Los Angeles
Our train with all its passengers were
taken across the river on a boat
There could never be prettier sight
than what we saw as we were cross
ing the river. The full moon was shin
ing down in all it's glory upon the Mis-
sissippi.
We arrived in San Antonio, Texas,
at 8 o'clock Wednesday night. Hav-
ing forty-fve minutes to wait there
we went to see the famous "Alamo."
There was only a portion of the thick
old walls left. One could not help from
shuddering to think how those people
must have fought for merely exist
ance itself.
Just before reaching Ell Paso we
passed through a little town called
Fort Hancock. The soldiers were en-
camped there in little huts covered
with brush and sage. There was a
long fence which ran perpendicular to
the railroad and the soldiers were en-
camped on the other side. After leav-
ing Ell Paso we crossed the Rio
Grande river at an early hour in the
morning. The scenery was lovely
The river bed was wide and sandy
surrounded by large rocks and hills on
each side, but the stream was very
small, due to the lack of rain in New
Mexico.
When we reached Arizona there was
decided change in the temperature.
The winds were blowing the hot sandy
until there was no comfort in sitting
by an open window. For miles there
could be seen nothing but sand, low
shrubbery and cactus. The cactus are
of different sizes and variety; some
are tall, some small with long stems;
others round and flat. The houses
are mostly low and small, built in the
shape of box with double roofs, so
as to knock off the rays Of the sun as
much as possible. The Ranchers'
houses are beautiful. Most of them
have their own water works-the wa.
pumped up by wind mills. There was
quite a number of Indians at most of
the small stations selling beads, crock
cry, rugs and other quaint articles
made by hand. We tried to take their
pictures, but all in vain; they would
turn their backs at the sight of a
camera.
At India, California, we saw some
date palm trees. The dates were
hanging off in punches and were about
the size and color of olives. In this
part of the country could be seen much
sand but the winds were cooler. There
could be seen many small cedar trees
scattered about in punches, and large
white stones.
We rode about 80 miles along the
bank of little sea called Salton Sea,
which is % miles long and 16 miles
wide
AS we neared Coachilla, Cal, we
began to see pretty trees, grasses,
ETC., which was quite a contrast to the
barren desert lands. At Coachilla 7
saw my first pepper tree. There were
numerous red balls which, when dried,
turn black and are ground up into
black peper.
From Coachilla to Los Angeles we
passed many beautiful orchards,
orange groves and palms.
1t was 9:30 o'clock Friday night
when we got to Los Angeles, so we
went direct to our rooms at the Rosa
lyn Hotel. After getting breakfast
Saturday morning we went out to
Bush's Sunken Gardens. These gar
dens were given to the public by the
late Anheuser Bush, who is the in
ventor of the famous Anheuser Bush
beer. His son, Alolphus Bush still re-
sides there. Upon entrance into these
gardens one has to walk down steps
which wind in and out among the
ferns and springs There can be seen
fish, ducks, cranes and pigeons where
ever there is a nice cool stream. Tn