Preface

 I know quite well that there have been books without end dealing¹ with our great Pacific Coast, and I feel that a writer who adds another ought to have some good excuse for such action. I flatter myself that I have sufficient warrant for this modest addition to western literature in that my book will not deal with the widely traveled and much heralded² sections of this great country, but to a large extent with its little visited and comparatively unfamiliar³ regions. Ninety per cent of existing books on California have dealt with San Francisco and the region to the south of that city. None, so far as I can discover, have covered in detail, the vast mountain-studded wonderland that comprises the northern half of California and very few have dealt with the eastern half of Oregon, which undoubtedly⁴ can boast of some of the most impressive and picturesque⁵ scenery in the whole world. I dislike that overworked—almost banal—“picturesque,” too, but if there is any excuse whatever for its use, surely it is in this connection. If my language is not strong and colorful enough to prove it, I can rest assured that the forty beautiful plates which grace this book will settle the question beyond peradventure. There is only one thing more convincing—a personal visit to this little-known American wonderland, and this, I hope, every one of my readers will find opportunity to accomplish some time or other.

In the title to my book I have given Oregon preeminence,—though I have covered some adjacent territory outside of the state—because I feel that the predominating interest will be centered in this great commonwealth⁶. I believe I have covered nearly everything in the state that will be likely to interest the average tourist and many of those who make the round by motor will no doubt make San Francisco their starting-point, as we ourselves did. In such cases, our opinion is that the routes we pursued through Northern California are well worth while.

In addition to the credit given with each of the splendid photographs reproduced in this book, I wish to reiterate⁷ here my obligation to Portland’s masters of the camera, the Winter Co., the Weister Co., and Mr. Fred H. Kiser, who so kindly⁸ permitted the use of some of their most beautiful pictures as illustrations.

October 1, 1917.

THE AUTHOR.

1 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

2 heralded   

v.预示( herald的过去式和过去分词 )；宣布（好或重要）

参考例句：

• The singing of the birds heralded in the day. 鸟鸣报晓。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A fanfare of trumpets heralded the arrival of the King. 嘹亮的小号声宣告了国王驾到。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 unfamiliar   

adj.陌生的，不熟悉的

参考例句：

• I am unfamiliar with the place and the people here.我在这儿人地生疏。
• The man seemed unfamiliar to me.这人很面生。

4 undoubtedly   

adv.确实地，无疑地

参考例句：

• It is undoubtedly she who has said that.这话明明是她说的。
• He is undoubtedly the pride of China.毫无疑问他是中国的骄傲。

5 picturesque   

adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的

参考例句：

• You can see the picturesque shores beside the river.在河边你可以看到景色如画的两岸。
• That was a picturesque phrase.那是一个形象化的说法。

6 commonwealth   

n.共和国，联邦，共同体

参考例句：

• He is the chairman of the commonwealth of artists.他是艺术家协会的主席。
• Most of the members of the Commonwealth are nonwhite.英联邦的许多成员国不是白人国家。

7 reiterate   

v.重申，反复地说

参考例句：

• Let me reiterate that we have absolutely no plans to increase taxation.让我再一次重申我们绝对没有增税的计划。
• I must reiterate that our position on this issue is very clear.我必须重申我们对这一项议题的立场很清楚。

8 kindly   

adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地

参考例句：

• Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
• A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。