Show mu m HER MAMMOTH TREES THE complimentary FEAST GIVEN AMONG THEM an ice cream parlor in the base of a tree correspondence of the our excursion party of avor in the morning and wo were whirled across a productive stretch of land through several i shady little hamlets reaching santa cruz at noon santa cruz a thriving city and a pretty one stretches from the sandy shores of the bay of monterey on the south over a number of hills to the evergreen heights which mark its northern boundary and is fanned the year round by the cool refreshing sea breezes which inspire onee with life activity and industry it has two daily papers the surf and the L the feature of the day was the complimentary feast to be given to our party at the big trees so wo boarded the train and were carried along slowly up a picturesque canyon clothed with green shrubbery which nestled cosily at the roots of the towering arrow straight redwood trees with which these mountains are hidden passed through several long dark tunnels round sharp curves and over dizzy bridges for ten miles when arrived at the grove of red wood giants before we had time to look about and admire natures successful at tempt at creating massive trees we were ushered to the outdoor out door feast which proved the bigheartedness big heartedness of the everything desirable vas at handin duding girls to attend to our wants nearly 2000 people partook of the repast amon whom two tramps who had stolen in and when devouring everything within reach like hungry wolves they were seen to look cautiously round and cram things into their trousers trow sers between mouthfuls mouth fuls and then walk away like lords of creation when eating any more was out of the question I 1 took a turn about the place to see if they really had any big trees the first dieco of immensity that caught my eye was the jiant which is sixty feet in circumference and was feet in height but a recent storm tore sixty five feet from the top it being only feet high now colonel Inger cathedral is ninety six feet at tle base but it is not one solid tree then there were many others a summer house built on one stump and an ice cream parlor in the cavity of another were interesting nearly two score years ago gen Fremon fc was camping in this forest andrado his headquarters in the hollow of a tree only a short time ago ho was here again when he recognized this tree which now bears his name general fremont several of us were inside the monster looking over the thousands of cards pinned to its sides when it was proposed that we ascertain how many could comfortably stand up in the hollow of this tree ladies and gentlemen began piling in like bees into and whence were pretty well squeezed together a young fellow who v as lucky enough to bo entirely encompassed by fair damsels seemed to enjoy the situation hugely and persistently cried out send more along we have plenty of room yet while the ladies screamed with excitement on account of the squeeze whether with delight or vexation I 1 will not say A grave gentleman from the east suggested that there be a callior call for stales to learn how many were here accidentally represented this was greeted with a shout of delight by the above referred to young man who would do anything to make his present situation as protracted as possible and to my surprise there were wafred wafted on the air from the girls side half a dozen half smothered screams of approval which settled the motion A gentleman volunteered to act as accountant and then began the calling of states new york oregon washington maine etc etc Is that all asked the accountant when everyone seemed to have reported not I 1 shouted with enthusiasm utah the queen of the west utah repeated hal a dozen voices as they endeavored to turn round in order to get a square look at me are you a morman cn I 1 had become used to this sort of questioning and calmly answered yes a full fledged mormon this caused a death silence much staring at me and then at each other which made my position a trifle embarrassing barr assing fifteen states and territories and one canadian province said the aci countant breaking the oppressive stillness as we out one by by one we were counted by a gentleman from the outside who gave me a peculiar leer as I 1 passed ou and whose mouth opened with astonishment as the numbers swelled up into the thirties when his voice began fo vy eaken and as the last man passed through the opening you could have knocked the counter stone cold with a peanut as he whispered forty two JAKE MILES aug |