The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1919-07-10
HAZEL LABAR WRITES
ABOUT TRIP WEST
TELLS OF BEAUTIES OF THE
MOUNTAINS
Fruit and Flowers and Beautiful
Homes Characteristic of Golden
Gate State.

Through the courtesy of Mrs. M.
j. Boutwell, we are permitted to
quote portions of a letter, written to
her by her sister, Mrs. Hazel LaBar,
giving some interesting details of
the trip which the latter, in company
with Miss Mary Byrne, made to Cal
ifornia. Omitting purely personal ex-
periences, the items given are those
which relate to interesting scenes
along the way:
After detailing the start from Chi
cago, Mrs. LaBar says:
"At Cheyenne, WSo., we had a
stop of Is minutes and getting low
on the lunch you put up for us Gt
sure was good) thot best to buy
some more, so Mary was to buy the
fruit, while was to get sandwiches.
We ran five blocks in order to find
a good place and we just got back
on the train in time. At a little
town named Laramie, Wyo., we
took pictures at 7:30 p. nm. but sun
as bright as noon. The trip so far
was very dirty, impossible to keep
clean, but we all looked alike so
didn't mind. Passed acres and acres
of corn land it loked good) and
miles of ranches, with little ranch
homes, which from the train looked
as tho they were Axe #. Seeing the
first mountains in Ogden, Utah, we
changed trains and it seemed very
restful to get off. Just few hours
ride we were in Salt Lake City and
in that run we went through tun-
mel one and one-half miles long, so
the lights were turned on when we
got at Stalt Lake City.
Could look out from our window
in the hotel and see the Rockies.
Sure was wonderful sight, and mid
way up you would see a big "U"
meaning Utah. This city seems to
center among ranges Of mountains.
From the side walk to the pavement
was a gutter about foot wide with
water running all the time, which
made the town seem cool. 1t was
Rotary Club week, so the streets
were all decorated beautifully. We
walked all around the mormon
grounds, which occupy a block
square, with cement walls ten feet
wide. The grounds were grand, and
the tabernacle wonderful. We were
told the pipe organ cost $500,0O0.
Then we saw the monument in men,
ory of Bingham Young. We walked
along for a way and saw a sign,
''Women's shoe shining parlor run
by women" This aroused my curl
osity, SO we went down pair of
stairs and there, right under the
street, was the cleverest shoe shin
ing parlor, all in marble and sure
enough we got shine by a woman.
We followed the Lincoln highway
all the way from Chicago to Salt
Lake City and the roads were fine.
The balance of the trip was very
clean and very interestin. For forty
three miles we saw just one reg
ular town, but several little towns,
with perhaps a grocery store, lunch
counter and wooden hotel the size
of a small house home. But we
got off at these little places to buy
cones and pieces of pie and / took
pictures all along the way, which
will prove of interest to you when
| come back home Don't know when
that will be, however, for Pm crazy
about this city, (Los Angeles) all
ready. We went through the Mohave
desert, sand and cactus for miles,
The cactus are the funniest things,
twist in al shapes imaginable. Sixty
miles before we reached Los Ange-
les we began to pass orange groves.
It was real sight, and a very pret-
ty one, to see the fruit hanging on
the trees. The orange trees are about
the size of peach tree, only they
start to branch out three feet from
the ground and the weight Of the
oranges make the branches reach the
ground. The palm and pepper trees
provide sufficient shade and make
the streets very attractive. The mag
nolias are just beginning to bloom,
but being as high as the top Of the
houses, was unable to pick any.
Flowers Of all kinds; can buy car,
nations like the ones at home for
five cents dozen. Fruits and veg
etables of all kinds are very cheap.
Went to the California theatre last
night. Best in the city. Different
lines for the different prices you
pay. We had to drop in line half d
block back and others were still far
ther away. Fifty piece orchestra
some real music. The days are warm,
but as long as you are in the shade
you can keep cool. Wonderful
breeze from the ocean at all times
and the nights are cold, in fact the
: blankets feel very good. All along
the Rockies we would see big white