Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1920-09-16
CALIFORNIA LETTER No. 3.

In my last letter, closed by referring
to cost of living in the Yosemite Val
ley Potatoes l2ac per pound I'VE got
: four moderate sized ones for 25cl, string
beans, tomatoes and peache, zoe, 8
moderate sized apples for ST, bacon SOC
per pound sliced butter 75c, eggs 75c,
the finest kind of bread at zoe for a
good sized loaf. There is good meat
market with beef at moderate prices.
But one need not pay these egtrava-
giant prices, for you may send an order
to one of the big mail order bonses at
Fresno and get anything at legitimate
prices, and you can rest assured that
you will get a square dealt there is
one cent coming to you in change it win
be returned. The parcel post rste from
there is one cent pound
One is prompted to feel tina, Uncle
Sam might consistently look u.o the
matter of profteering right in a
branch Of his own household here is
a bakery here too. We priced pies and
the clerk asked us 40 cents for one the
size of saucer without battinc an eye.
There is barber shop. news stand, art
studio and many other conveuie1ces.
The most desirable time to come here
Is in July or June, as later in the sum
mer many of the beautiful water falls
are dried up; but there are plenty of
wonders to see at any season of the
year, There are cavalcades of mules.
burros and pack horses going out for
long or short trips into the mountains.
There are endless scenic attractions,
for back of these high walls that sur
round the valley are heights OF from
ten to thirteen thousand feet. entirely
inaccessible except in summer The
cost of a saddle animal is IS for s hours
or $3 for half day or less These cav
alcades have guide at all times There
is wonderful variety of scenery right
in the valley We took a stroll through
the pines where the ground is as smooth
az floor for long distance At one
point in crossing a quiet byroad, we
came upon romantic spot wild enough
in appearance to accommodate any kind
Of wild beast There were rocks SO
close together that the pines he'd simp-
ly to crowd up between them. The
rocks looked like great drove 4 sleep
ing elephants.
The birds around ou: tent interest us
very much, especially the robins and
blue jays. The former arc very num-
erous and so tame they hop al around
US, into our tent and perch on the
rounds of our chairs. A pair Of them
hoped into our breakfast skillet to
sample our grub. Dogs or cats are not
allowed here so the birds are uumolest-
ed. | am reminded right here Of how
we used to welcome these little feath-
cred friends as the harbngers Of spring.
There are many kinds of wild an
imals in the higher elevations. including
wild cats and mountain lions. They find
their way into the valley only during
times of deep snow when food s scarce.
Since writing my last letter re have
had an experience of a mountain thun-
er storm thunder, lightning, rain and
hail more of such in this 0ae storm
than we had experienced in the last
twenty years. Blind Boone might have
had such a storm in mind when he com
noanf his ma utar D,.t.
the sun is smiling down upon -, every
thing is washed free from tie summer
dust and the evergreens are shining in
their green glory.
There is remnant Of the Pinto tribe
Of Indians here This tribe conquered
and nearly exterminated the Yosemite
tribe in about 1858. THE wonderful
valley was discovered by Capt. John
Bowling in 1851, while persuing band
of hostile Indians.
There is a nice little church edfice
here which may very consistently be
termed a union church, for the Cath
olics hold forth in early morning, union
services at II a. m, and the Christian
| Scientists in the afternoon. all expect
ing to make a safe landing on the
shores of the Eternal City. This church
is under the auspices and patronage of
the army and navy Y. M. c. A.
WILLIAM GoLDsWoRTHY.
Sidney Shepard, Jr.. md Bert