The Land Of The Angels

[Throughtheklnaneasof D. M. Joatln, Eq. , of Unadilla, we are permitted to oopy the followlng letter wrltten by hls brother, glving ome Interestlng facts reiatlve to the Paolflo coast.- Ed.j Yo wished me to write of wUat I have seen and of wUat I know about Southern California. I catmot write nnicli in detail, out will give you a superficial glance - as It were - of aome of the places we have seen, and sonie of the things. First, this Le8 Angeles - meauiiig the angels - is a city of about 35,000 inhabitants. lts locatlon is on the Lea Angeles ï'iver, in Les Angeles county, and 18 miles from the const. San Pedre la its seaport town, at a distante of 22 miles, connecteü by rail. The nearest polnt to the beecb is Santa Monica whlch is a fínat seaside resort, ut all senaon of the yrar, but particular In the suminer when everjbody goea to the coast, for the cool breezts and lm t lis. This la a growing town, tlie metropolis of Southern California and we think destlned to be a large city. It ia one of the oldest places in the state. Dropping down as we did into Les Ang'cs in January from the snow-bound wagons of the northwest, we found herc a thermometer from 75" to 80 above zero, with the flies bu..ing around, as in a June day in Michigan, the mountains, hill-tops, valleys and lawna in perpetual green, orange and lemon trees ladened with golden fruit, and tlowers and orange blossoms perfuming the air. The transition was jrreat, and its effects grand. We should judge outside of its rainy season, the climale of Southern California to be delightfnl; during the rainy season which comes In the winter, but not contitiuous) uuless onc has a good deal of vitality, It is disagreeable. The dampiicss pervades everything and the faciliities for fires here are liiuited, but when the rain is over the sun shines with a fiood of light, which brightens tl landscapes and gladdens the In-art. One pccullarity bere is, ho wever warm you may be while out in the sun, step in the shade of a tree or building and you become very suddenly cool. Most people prefer to be out in the sun. TUis cllinate does not suit every one. Borne invalida cannot endure the ocean fog3. Sucu should go back from the coast. The climate Is varied. Coast, valley, foot-hills anti desert, each have a different climate. The luvalid coming here should understand this. 1 rom 1771 to öö and 117, tliere were tbree Catholie Missioua established in Les Angeles county, by Spanish Friars of the order of San Francisco, uiider the direction of tlie College of San Fernando, in tlio City of Mexico. These mi8sioii8 were San Gabrel, San Fernando, and San Juan Cnpstrano. We have experienced much pleaíure in visitiug these oíd mission buildings, aud will mention them at aitother time. Business all along the coust seeins at the present time overdone. At Les Au gelet the all-absorbing business is real estáte, catching snckers or tender-feet f rom the east, who are attracted here by tlie climate, and pay blg pnces for land and orange groves. Tlie Stockton Insane Asylura is said to hold 1,200 patients, who come here on account of the climate, but not succeeding in a business way, became dissipated and Insane. Tliere is a great deul of wealth here aml large capital invested in business and houses wcll-cstablished are doing the business. I never saw so many oíd people in any couutry as here. Many of them retired from business and wealthy come here in hopes of lengthening thelr days in this températe climate. One couple I met, the gentleman 81, and his wife 79, are in hopes in tbis climate to live to a reasonable old Rge. There are many beauHful places wlthin a range of 10 to 30 milegjfrom here. We have made several pleasant drives wil li our friends to many of these places of interest. We have been to Pasadena where all tourists go. A brlght villnge of homes nestling down near the mountains and einbosomed in the rlcli valley of St. Gabriel; celebrated for its line orange rroves, it beautiful avenue, and elegant homes. It is here that a Mr. Kayinond, of Boston, is building a large hotel contüiuingll.OOO'roonis, and to cost $250,000. Mr. Ruy mond expects to keep this house Ulied with guests from the Hub alone. We visited the Stinny Slope Vinyard of 2,300 acres, owned by L. J. Rose, also the Rose Winery, oue of the largest in the world, and sampled its old wlnes : Port, Muscatel, and Angellica. We then drove to Siwra Madre villa, iienr the foot hills ut tlie Sierra Madre range. Tliis. is a spacious building with shaded lawnp, arbors, fonntains and broad carriage ways, crowded at the time of our visit with heallh seekers and tourists. At another time we visited San Gabriel mission, located in San Gabriel valley. Thls old building - in age over a ctntury, its we.itlier-beaten and wormeaten doors, by the order of the priest, was thrown open for our party to inspect its interior. We were shown around by an old Mexican'woman and a young woman - signora and sigiioreta. We viewed ils aneicnt palntiugs of all the saiiits, its life-si.e rigurts of Clirist and the Virgin, iU confessional iltpaitnients, its Hitara and tmpplilg then depositing our aiins, at the luggestkn of our uttendants, we retired. Il is kiiown,thatchcse misslons.in otherdays i were vel y succeüstul in gaining native coiivei'ls. and it is Utltl here nuw wilh an 1 air of aulhority, that they would go out i aiul lasso a nauw, bring liiin in aud baptlZl' llllll. ' AttiT looking over thu olU ini.-sicni i orauge grove, picklng and eating oranget from trees one hundred years old, and l vUltiitg thr rutns of the old mission grist mili, Hm lirst nuil built in Les Angeles ', county, we turned our horses' heads. to. wurd to Haldwlu Rancho. Thiti ranch of Mr. Bililwin coutains 60,000 acres. lts proprietor is kuowuas "Lueky linldwin," - r- - ' I - hiiving amassed great wealth. He is owner of one of the largest hotels in San Francisco. His ranch is San Gabriel valley. The jrrounds in viciuity of his residence are laid out, .and buildings constructed on sucH .1 large scale and in such a stately maimcr, with every v;iriety of shrub, tree, vine and flowers, with shaded lawns, arbors, fouul;ihi&, cascades and artificial lakes, that one wonders how It is possible for one raan to be proprietor and architect for so mach, that is beautlful. As we entered the fateway leading down through the broad and deep shaded walks to the Baldwin residence, five nvge mastifl's, with whine, growl and stately pnce, carne down the walk to meet us; our attendant quieted them with a few words, that seeined to assure them that we had no evil intcntions. One of them escorted us and illowed us to fondle htm, whicli we were inclined to do for t'ear he miirlit forget his amiableness. We have before inentioned our sojourn at San Bernardino, an old Moimon town of bout 4,000 inhabitants, in San Bernardino county, and mentioned its val ley of artesian wells; ifa snow-capped mountain peaks, "Old Buldy," "Grey Back," aml Monnt San Bernardino, eihtten and twelve thousand feet in altitude. I also meutioned Uiverside, now fumous for its navel oranges, its nine miles drive, shadod by an avenue of' peppar trees, throujili contiimous oraDOe, kinon, apricots, ilj;s and Eiigl''1 walnut groves. I therefore, for this time will rest our pen. Last night was unueually cool for th is county, thermometer about 28 above. Late winters have been a little cooler here than before. Old resident Mexicuns say its the Americans thüt bling the cold weather here.