had been instrumental in building up
a strong self-sustaining church of near-
ly one hundred communicants who
loved him as a faithful minister and a
valiant soldier of the cross of Christ.
We shall not soon forget the prayer of



140 Camping Out in California.

this resigning pastor as he poured out
his heart to God in behalf of the "dear
little church/'

His successor was on the field and
although we did not hear him preach
we were convinced that he was "a
workman who needeth not to be
ashamed. " We heard many speak in
highest terms of the new pastor as
well as the old.

Several of the people visited us at
our tent bringing us milk, fruit and
other luxuries.

While we were conversing with these
Christian friends we came to the con-
clusion that the minister did not de-
serve all the credit for the advancement
of the church. While it is true that
a good pastor is sure to elevate the
flock, it is no less true that a good
flock will elevate the pastor. We have
known weak and uneducated congrega-
tions to whom the ministrations of a
Spurgeon, or a Talmage would be ac-
ceptable only for a short time.



Santa Clara Valley. 141

In many such churches the people
are unthankful and calculated to blunt
the energies, deaden the sensibilities
and extinguish the fire in the soul of
their pastor.

The next morning we were early on
our way and found the road so good
that our horses could trot most of the
distance.

For several miles the broad thorough-
fare was walled on either side by sym-
metrical trees planted in the long ago,
and perhaps by hands that are now
beneath the sod. The air was cool and
bracing, and beautiful birds greeted us
with their morning carols. Great drops
of dew that glittered in the morning
light reflecting the rainbow's beauty
were hanging not only on either side,
but also over our heads, while the sun
was carefully wiping the tears from the
sweet and dimpled faces of the flowers
that appeared from time to time.

A ride through a strange but beauti-
ful country while bathed in the fra-



142 Damping Out in California.

grance of a sweet summer morning and
surrounded by the works of Nature's
God and the delights of a balmy Sab-
bath enriched with heavenly incense
still fresh in the mind is glorious be-
yond description of tongue or pen.
New objects for admiration and con-
templation appeared one after another*
broad fields, baling and threshing ma-
chines in operation, loaded fruit trees,
Battle and sheep grazing in the pas-
tures, and distant hills apparently
coming nearer and lifting their heads
as if to look down upon us.

We also passed farm houses of dif-
ferent forms and colors, many were un-
painted and gray, but surrounded by
much that is calculated to make life
both blessed and pleasurable.

Occasionally in the yard, through
the window or open door we would
catch a passing glimpse of faces that
were evidences of happy homes.

The aged grandmother with lint-
white hair and a smile on her serene



Santa Clara Valley. 143

countenance, a pleasant little wife in
the garden conversing jocundly with
her stalwart husband, pretty blue-eyed
girls adorned with blue ribbons, play-
ing in the shade and occasionally look-
ing up among the blue plums and per-
haps into the blue sky beyond; a tow
headed baby in front of the door tod-
dling to meet a fond father who now
with his strong arms tosses it high into
the air. And the boys! they seemed to
be everywhere, in the road, in the field,
on the fences, and along the streams,
some walking, some riding, and others
hunting.

We noticed one little fellow with a
shot gun stooping low as he crept cau-
tiously along a fence seeking an oppor-
tunity to shoot a happy little squirrel.

After awhile we realized that the
dew-drops have all vanished and not
one to be seen, the sun shines with
greater strength, and our horses object
to traveling as swiftly as they did in
the cool of the morning.



144 Camping Out in California.

In the afternoon our road winds back
and forth among hills and little valleys
and ofttimes across a brook.

While passing quietly along the foot
of a hill, we were startled by a loud
scream, and looking behind us and on
higher ground we beheld a steam
engine followed by a train of cars flying
directly toward us, and the next
moment went shooting past with such
arrow like velocity that the passengers
through the open windows appeared
like spirits passing away to another
world.

Our horses threw up their heads,
and setting their ears forward began
to dance, but scarcely had time to be
frightened before the iron horse was
out of sight, and the cars like winged
monsters, that lived ages before the
creation of man, flew away beyond a
hill chashing each other onward in
their flight.

Late in the afternoon we came to a
stream and a level spot on which we



Santa Clara Valley. 145

concluded to set up out tent and remain
during the night.

The sun was shining through a rose-
colored cloud that seemed so soft and
delicate, that we could only compare it
to the robe which some angel had cast
off while passing through the gates of
the evening star.

But it was not an angel's robe nor
any royal vesture that had blown from
some distant world of light, but simply
an earthly fabric in which were woven
the dew drops that hung over our heads
in the morning and passed away into
the invisible even while we were gazing
upon them.

Our young friends could scarcely
realize that the morning dew drops
were in yonder beautiful cloud so high
in the heavens and wonderfully ethere-
al ized, consequently a few words of
in struction, together with the following
words of the poet were necessary for
their satisfaction.



146 Camping Out in California.

" Though one by one the pearly drops of morning,
From drooping flowers, on viewless pinions rise,
We'll see them yet the gorgeous clouds adorning.
With glowing arches of celestial dyes.
Though one by one the friends we fondly cherish.
Withdraw from ours the cold and trembling hand,
And leave us sorrowful, they do not peiish,
They yet shall greet us in a fairer land."

The- next day we reached the boom-
ing city of San Jose, and found a grand
camping place in a vacant lot beneath
a grove of oaks.

Here we remained two days and
then on a warm afternoon we drove to
Los Gatos, a distance of twelve miles,
and through the world renowned Santa
Clara valley.

On our way we stopped at Santa
Clara, hoping to see a lady friend, but
unfortunately she was not at home.

Arriving at Los Gatos a little be-
fore dark, we were granted permission
to ca.mp on the school lot where a
new school house was in course of
erection.

As the darkness gathered around us



Santa Clara Valley. 147

we heard the music of a church hell,
and we though it had a Presbyterian
tone, and .we were not mistaken as
some of our party responded to the
invitation and found an interesting
young people's meeting presided over
by one of the San Francisco pastors,
the Los Gatos pastor being absent.
The next morning our city brother and
his better-half called at our tent. We
enjoyed their visit very much and
spent about an hour in pleasant con-
versation. The metropolitan Bishop
gave us valuable information concern-
ing the road across the mountains to
Santa Cruz as he had traveled with
horse and buggy the same journey that
we were about to undertake.

It was late in the afternoon when we
left Los Gatos and began to move
slowly up the well known and exten-
sively traveled Santa Cruz mountains.

After climbing several miles, we
heard the heavy and hoarse breathing
and wheezing of the iron horse as he



148 Camping Out in California.

came after us puffing and coughing as
if nearly exhausted with his load of
four cars besides passengers and freight.
At this point the wagon road is
perhaps two hundred feet above the
railroad, consequently we could see the
train a long distance behind us, and
after it had passed a long distance
before us. It indeed seemed wonderful
to behold a train of cars thus climbing
the lofty range, moving first to the
right and then to the left, now clinging
to the almost perpendicular wall and
passing beneath overhanging rocks,
now darting out into a more open
space. One moment bounding over a
deep chasm, and the next running into
a tunnel as a fox runs into his hole in
the earth. But such is the ingenuity
of man that he travels by water over
the dry, rocky mountain, as well as on
the ocean or river. A little hot water
endeavoring to get out of prison to float
among the sunbeams is strong enough
to roll the ponderous engine and a



Ski/land and Capitola. 149

train of loaded cars to the summit of
a ]ofty mountain.

On the south side and above th.e
track ran a flume conveying water to
the valley below, and in some places it
was so high along the perpendicular
ledges that the boys could not imagine
how it was possible for men, without
the aid of a flying machine, to place it
there and fasten it securely.

About the middle of the afternoon
we reached a point called Skyland, and
we considered the name a very appro-
priate one. Far up in that beautiful
sky land, bathed in the mellowed glory
of the mid afternoon sun that filled
the little elevated fields and mantled
the skyland groves, we paused a few
moments to gaze and reflect.

There we stood on the very fringe of
the continent, looking out into the
misty void in the direction of the sink-
ing sun. And as the aged pilgrim
who has about reached the end of the



150 Camping Out in California.

journey of life looks back upon the
world through which he has passed,
-and also forward into the ocean of
'eternity on whose very shore he lingers,
so we could look back upon the conti-
nent over which we had traveled and
also forward into the purple haze of the
broad Pacific.

Behind and beneath .us lay the great
Santa Clara Valley, and just beyond
the lofty Sierras, while before us we
seemed to be looking into the impene-
trable void as into eternity itself.

In this Skyland lived an aged
minister of the gospel who was pro-
claiming the glad tidings of salvation
to those who lived so near the calm
and peaceful heavens. For years he had
been toiling in the lowlands of Cali-
fornia, but providentially had just been
called to a higher, brighter and
healthier land. But by and by his
earthly work will be completed and
then he will be called to come up



Skyland and Capitola. 151

higher still, and dwell in the promised
land away beyond the blue.

But as the day was passing and we
were again going to the ocean we dared
not linger longer on this "delectable
mountain" from whence the "celestial
city" seemed very near, consequently
we moved forward and the brake of our
wagon began to grind on the wheels.

Our horses,willing to take the advan-
tage of the down hill portion of the
road, went bounding around sharp
curves, and over narrow and rickety
bridges and along the margin of deep
canyons and wooded ravines leaving a
cloud of dust behind. While gliding
down the western slope of the coast
range we passed through some grand
forests, with little openings here and
there, in which were bare-headed chil-
dren, barking dogs, and cackling hens.

We also had a glimpse of the popu-
lar "Hotel de Redwood," where inva-
lids grow fat on pure spring water,



152 Camping Out in California.

medicated mountain air and wild
game.

About sundown we reached the foot
of the mountain and pitched our tent
in a beautiful grove where a picnic had
been held a few days previous.

Near by was a large farm house
where we secured a good supply of
milk, butter and fruit, to which we
did ample justice as the ocean breeze
had again met us and sharpened our
appetites, and, at the same time, giv-
ing us a friendly feeling for the roar-
ing fire which the boys made for our
evening's entertainment.

The next morning about ten o'clock
we reached Soquel and spent nearly an
hour in the paper mill. Here a large
number of men were at work, some
attending to the straw that was going
into the machinery, and others carry-
ing away the paper that came out in
squares all ready for use.

After leaving Soquel we drove a



Skyland and (Japitola. 153

short distance on the Santa Cruz road
and then turned to the left for Camp
Capitola.

Near a little stream we stopped for
dinner and reached the end of our jour-
ney about two o'clock in the afternoon.
As we arrived at the top of the hill and
looked down on Capitola our young
friends were much excited.

The sandy shore was lined with men.
women, and children, and playing in
the surf and among the breaking bil-
lows that gently rolled in upon the
beach, and then back into the deep,
were scores of hilarious bathers. The lit-
tle ones were near the shore,so near that
the retreating waves would leave them
like stranded fish endeavoring to swim
on bare ground. Farther out among
the breakers were larger boys and girls
who were just learning to swim, and
beyond these were ladies and gentle-
men rising and falling on the waves
with the ease and gracefulness of float-



154 Camping Out in California.

ing water fowls.

The suits worn by the bathers were
of such a variety of shade and color
black, blue, and white, green, plaid, and
striped as to add to the interest and
attraction of the scene.

After finding a sheltered place for
our horses and putting up our tent we
all went to the beach and joined the
crowd of amphibious mortals who were
seeking health and enjoying pleasure.
In a moment our youthful traveling
companions had disappeared and as we
looked for them both on the land and
on the sea we were able only to dis-
cover little Harry, in a blue suit, run-
ning from an approaching wave; but
the wave overtook him and rolled over
his head, and we would have been
frightened had there not been so many
away beyond. As the wave went glid-
ing back into the ocean, leaving Harry
on the smooth sand, he knew for the first
time what it is to take a sea bath.



Skyland and Capitola, 155

It was very amusing to see the little
boys and girls follow the waves back
and then run as the next one came in,
frequently disappearing beneath the
foaming brine, but only to rise and
shake themselves like young ducks
playing in a meadow brook. Those
little folks kept up such a shouting
and laughing that we concluded the
salt water must have a salutary effect
upon the youthful blood.

But it was more interesting to notice
the different ways in which the grown
people met the billows. Some would
retreat only to be overtaken, thrown
from their feet, submerged, and then
left sprawling like lobsters on the sand.
Others would brace themselves and
stand firm until the wave passed over
them. Others would spring head first
into it and darting like an arrow through
it, come out on the other side. And
others would rise and fall on the rolling
waves as easily and gracefully as the



156 Camping Out in California.

gondolas on the water streets of Venice.

Thus we were reminded of the differ-
ent ways in which individuals meet
trouble. Some fall beneath and are
overwhelmed by it, others either stand
firm against it or plunge through it,
while still others rise gently upon it ex-
claiming: "I glory in tribulation also."

Many of the young ladies and gentle-
men were under the training of profes-
sional swimming teachers. One of these
professors had saved several lives. He
said on one occasion he pulled a rich
man out of the water and as the capi-
talist recovered consciousness he said to
his rescuer: "You have saved my life
and I will reward you for it as soon as I
can change a five dollar bill."

The brave man who had risked his
own life to save the life of the rich man
replied: "You need not go to so much
trouble as I shall not charge you any-
thing."

It was very interesting to watch the



Skyland and Capitola. 157

hundreds of young ladies and gentlemen
(who had thus been trained in physical
navigation) away out fifty rods from
the shore playing hide and seek with
the gently rolling waves.

They seemed as familiar with the
black billows that march with mournful
dirge over the ghastly dead as happy
school children are with the little hills
of their beloved playground. Some-
times one would disappear beneath the
surface and for a moment our eyes
would glance to the right and then to
the left to see where he would come up.
They would roll and plunge and chase
each other to and fro without showing
the least sign of fatigue.

Their suits were like Joseph's coat
of many colors, but we sympathized
with those garments that had suffered
the amputation of every limb. The
deficiency, however, was made up by
sweet smiles and radiant blushes.

The sand over which the waves rolled



158 Camping Out in California.

was smooth as a floor while beyond the
reach of the surf it was dry and of such
a character as not to soil the finest silk.

Each afternoon we spent three hours
with the crowd which was about equally
divided between those who were in the
water and those who were reclining in
the sand. We considered it a delightful
and healthy mode of recreation, not only
for the young and vigorous, but also
for the aged and delicate.

Several mornings we arose at the first
glimmer of dawn and went two or three
miles down the coast in order to have
the first selection of the treasures of the
deep that had been thrown upon the
shore during the night. The shells were
tinged with many glowing colors, while
the moss seemed so light and downy
that we almost wondered if it did
not grow on the wings of beautiful birds
that have their homes on some lone and
unknown isle of the sea.

One kind closelv resembled a feather



Skyland and Capitola. 159

duster, while another was of a purple
shade, and so fine and delicate that a
small sprig properly arranged on the
surface of a bowl of water had the
appearance of a miniature tree. A card
placed under the floating sea feathers
and raised gently out of the water has
stamped upon it a wonderful picture of
loveliness, surpassing the critical work
of an experienced artist.

In one of our morning rambles on the
beach we discovered a shark probably
eight feet long, but he was powerless to
harm us, having met his fate, perhaps as
Ben suggested, in a duel with a sword
fish.

Towards night we would see the fish-
ermen going out in their boats and often
when they returned in the morning the
cry would be "we have toiled all night
and taken nothing." Then again we
would see them come in with a boat
load of large shining denizens of the
deep.



160 Camping Out in California.

During our visit at Capitola we made
the acquaintance of the captain of one
of the pleasure yachts who told us
many entertaining and some amusing
stories. He said a very romantic couple
wished to be united in marriage on the
ocean beyond the bounds of any country
and he was engaged to take them out in
his yacht. When they came on board
they were overflowing with mirth and
happiness, and doubtless the lovers
thought that nothing but death could
ever separate them.

As the sails filled and the boat began
to move seaward the young lady ex-
claimed rapturously, "Oh, George, isn't
this just too lovely? I wish we could
sail on and on forever." And the young
man made reply as ardently as a lover
should on such an occasion.

But soon the little vessel began to roll
in the waters, rising and falling on the
waves, and silence crept on apace and
also the sensation upon which neither



Skyland and Capitola. 161

romance nor love has the least effect.
Presently the young lady bowed her
head and George anxiously asked, "Dar-
ling, do you love me now?" She answered
"Yes, dear, my love is intense. I can-
not describe it. Indeed my heart seems
ready to burst with love to you, George,
but the very thought of being married



overcomes me."



In a few moments George was seized
with the same intense and indescribable
feeling and the young, lovely and loving
couple withdrew from each others' near
presence by mutual consent; and when,
the hour of the ceremony came they
utterly refused to be married and
begged to go home to their mothers.

They desired no more sailing on and
on together, but returned to the shore
with single blessedness and also a better
idea of matrimony on the deep, and
were willing to be married in a more
prosaic mode.

Among the pleasure seekers at Capi-



162 Camping Out in California.

tola were the members of a brass band
from one of the inland towns. They
were accompanied by their female
friends and judging from the noisy
merriment which pervaded their camp
until long after midnight, they were a
jovial company.

When the holy and beautiful Sabbath
dawned a minister who was there for
his health asked permission to hold ser-
vices, but was politely informed that
they usually had skating or dancing on
the Sabbath. He finally succeeded in
obtaining the skating rink by agreeing
to take a collection to pay for the use
of it.

Notices were posted throughout the
camp and out of the hundreds at Capi-
tola perhaps fifty attended the service.

During that beautiful Lord's day pleas-
ure and fishing parties left on the yachts
and sail boats, larger crowds gathered on
the beach at the hours for bathing, the
band played its gayest airs, and young



Skyland and Capitola. 16

girls went strolling away with dudes
until we felt compelled to ask " where
are the mothers?"

While standing in the light of the
sweet Lord's day and looking over the
crowd of gay pleasure seekers we saw
many who notwithstanding their out-
ward enj oyment and apparent happiness
had an anxious and careworn look, which
betokened sadness of heart and the in-
ternal fires of grief.

As the beautiful bells of the night-
shade cannot remove the poisonous na-
ture of the plant, so can neither laugh-
ter nor mirth drive sadness and re-
rnorse from the heart. "I said of laugh-
ter, It is mad; and of mirth, What do-
eth it?"

After noticing for some time the
young people who were merrily flitting
to and fro, like gaudy butterflies among
garden trees and flowers, we looked out
over the incoming tide and waves.
Near the shore the billows were streaked



164 Camping Out in California.

and grim with sand and mud washed
up from the bottom of the sea. And
then, while standing between the Bible
picture and the great reality which it was
intended to represent, we found more
meaning than ever before in the words
of the prophet: "The wicked are like
the troubled sea, when it cannot rest,
whose waters cast up mud and dirt;
there is no peace for the wicked, saith
my God."

I have no doubt but that very night
at Capitola, there was many a sigh
from the depths of the immortal soul
and many a silent tear on the sleeper's
cheek.

As the shadows of night gathered
around us, the revelers became more
boisterous. Loud talking and laughing
and music and the discharge of firearms
lasted until nearly daylight, disturbing
the rest of the more quiet and those
who suffered from sickness.



CHAPTER VIII.

G. A. R. REUNIONS.

The next morning we concluded to
move to "Camp Alhambra," a quiet
little resort just across the San Lorenzo
River, south of Santa Cruz. Here we
pitched our tent on a spot of level
ground covered with soft grass about
forty feet above the beach. We found
this place far superior to Capitola. No
saloons, consequently everything quiet,
orderly and pleasant. The proprietor
(Mr. Hall) seemed like an upright and
^accommodating gentleman.

Here we could rest in peace without
being startled by horrid yells, bitter
oaths and discharging pistols. Here
we could look upon and contemplate
the works of God, without being com-
pelled to behold scenes that are calcu



166 Camping Out in California.

lated to bring tears to the eyes and
leave dark spots on the memory.

Here we could walk out of our tent
in the evening twilight, and, looking up
into the star spangled heavens and out
over the rolling deep and away toward
the dark wooded mountains, and listen-
ing to the music of nature, grasp the
sentiment of the poet:

"Cathedral, boundless as our wonder,
Whose quenchless lamps the sun and moon supply ;

Its choir, the winds and waves ; its organ, thunder
Its dome, the sky."

Here, after retiring to rest, we could
hear the rhythmical beating of the rising
tide against the cliff, and, at short inter-
vals, discern, amid the roaring of the
waves, something like the discharge of
artillery. We thought it must be*