Elysian Fielas 153 
Catskills, we do not have in the East such 
masses of bloom as are common in California. 
This abundance, this riot of blossoms, is as 
characteristic of the flora here as is a certain 
rarity, shyness, and individuality of many of 
our Eastern flowers. Perhaps nowhere else 
in the world may wild flowers be found in such 
superabundance as in California. Fields thus 
appear blue, yellow, purple, or white—the 
landscape is virtually painted by the myriads 
of blossoms. One may see hillsides blue with 
the lupine or yellow with the eschscholtzia; 
pastures reddened with the little pink paint- 
brush, and whole ranges blue or white with the 
ceanothus. Yet according to John Muir this 
is rapidly passing and is no longer comparable 
with what it was. 
Throughout two days, ever and anon resting 
under an oak while the horse browsed, I 
leisurely followed a winding road, with no 
thought of the cattle ranch this land was to 
its owner and much thought of the Elysium 
it was in fact. It seemed as if it might be 
ever morning in these flowery fields; that they 
were made for happiness only. Houses there 
were none, and with the exception of the road, 
few if any signs of civilisation. The world, 
wherever it might be, was far away; the land 
