102 



THE FANTASTIC CLAN 



of snow towers in the distance; Mt. Baldy with his white 

 head bald almost the entire year round, we perceive even 

 farther west; and magnificent old San Gorgonio rears his 



stately crest far above 

 all the surrounding 

 peaks. This is one 

 of the most beauteous 

 spots in Southern Cali- 

 fornia. The vast 

 depths of that great 

 natural amphitheater 

 near Redlands and Riv- 

 erside as viewed from 

 Smiley Heights form 

 a panorama gorgeous 

 beyond description, 

 with every color of 

 the rainbow brilliantly 

 present, a marvelous 

 thrilling picture 

 painted against the 

 landscape far and 

 near: marvelous in its 

 splashes of purples and 

 greens and pinks and 

 orange-reds against 

 the somber background 

 of the grand old moun- 

 tains; thrilling in the vastness of the limitless panorama 

 spread out before us on all sides, as we stand here on Smiley 

 Heights gazing Into the great canons below, which seem to 

 magnetize us against our will and to draw us down Into their 

 depths by the sheer force of distance immeasurable. Truly 

 a fit setting for our little Opuntia Covillei, playing his 



GOLDEN PRICKLY PEAR (Opuntia 



Covin ei) 



