Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-11-25
CORRESPONDENCE.
NELLIE P. o. SMITH Mt.


EDITOR REPoRTER.-Fe con-
fdent that I've few friends-and [
hope they are legion-in Grand Rapids
and many other towns of Wood Co.,
who would like to know Of my welfare
and knowing the wide circulation of
your valuable paper, I take the liberty
of sending this letter to you for publi-
cation. [ came here, as you know.
hoping to recover my health, in this
land of fruit, flowers and Celestials,
and believe [ am gaining what [ came
for. Though not entirely relieved of
the throat trouble from which I've
suffered so many years, it is SO much
better, that have strong faith in a
perfect cure. Thousands of people
come to this cost, every winter, to
receive the benefit of the fine climate.
l believe that no better climate for
invalids can be found any where in the
world, than this of Southern California.
But for person in good health, give
me the bracing air of the 800 below
zero winters Of our own Wisconsin.
Continual summer has a tendency to
make one lazy. Your native Califor-
MAN would rather starve than to work
All the enegry there is in the state
has been imported from the East.
During the winter everything is
wonderously beautiful. Flowers of
every variety, and in great abundance
bloom in the gardens and by the way
side. | have seen verandas literally
covered with roses or heliotrope.
Fuchsias growing in large bushes like
our eastern lilacs, Callas and gera-
NUNS are used for hedges, enclosing
the yards. One of the most beautiful
Towering trees [ have seen here is the
magnolia, which [ have seen hanging
full Of pure white blossoms as large in
circumference as large sized coffee
cup. These are very fragrant. Then
the orange groves, the trees filled with
golden fruit and snowy blossoms at the
same time, are not only beautiful to
contemplate, but delicious to sample.
For fine scenery one needs to 90 to
the mountains. We have been spend
ing several weeks on one Of the Sierra
Nevadas. The scenery here is wonder
full We can look out (not up) into
the surrounding peaks, and down into
rocky canons a thousand feet below
from the same point of observation
You look off on those rugged mountain
peaks, glowing IN the sunlight, with
here and there the shadow of cloud
resting upon them, then turn your eye
to the dark canon at your feet so deep
so dark that you can not see the
bottom, and if you are a lover of
natural scenery you will hold your
breath, in wonder and admiration.
wish | held gifted pen, that I might
give you some idea of the exceeding
beauty OF this mountain scenery. I
have visited many places in Southern
California Have heard the roar of
the Pacific and picked up shells from
its sandy beach. Have lived in that
beautiful "City of the Angels" and
tried my eyes with looking upon noun
tain peak and rocky canon, but there
is no place that have yet seen this
side of the Rockys, that I would
prefer for home to our own Wi8con-
sin, and when my throat is sound and
we'll again, [ shall say good bye to this
land of beauty, and turn my steps
eastward.
Perhaps there may be something
that some of our people at home
would like to ask about, and if so, I
will gladly give any information, it
may be in my power to give, either
through your paper or by private letter.
By the way, your brother Ernest with
his wife and children called on me,
while [ was in Los Angeles. He
scenes to be happy, and [ think is do
ing nicely. His wife is bright little
lady whom you would enjoy knowing.
Your friend,
MARY j. PLATT