St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-02-21
PILGRIM AGAIN PROMINENT
How the Minnesota Seekers After Health
Fixed Themselves for the Winter.
A COTTAGE IN CALIFORNIA.
The Scheme Whereby They Obtained
Much Comfort at the Minimum
Expense.

h'-h-N As<AN <hEis >oh.1 WE "AiA
afraid the readers of the GLOBE will
that Mr.. Pilgrim is not man of his
word, but the fact of the matter is that
letter-writing has been impossible be-
cause of the numerous duties that have
devolved upon our little party since
our decision to make our winter home
in San Rafael.
AS was writing you when our CORE
SpOndence had been interrupted, we had
been fairly enchanted with the pros
poets of passing the winter in such a
rose-bower but Christmas was but day
or two distant, and we had determined
to have our arrangements for the def
mite location completed before that holi-
day.
Mary i'll her enthusiasm declared in
favor of spending the day amid the
flowers of San Rafael and at its famous
restaurant, the Poodle Dog" but she
was overpowered by Mrs. Pilgrim, who
cast deciding vote in favor of spend
ing the day in San Francisco. That
holiday was none the less enjoyed from
the fact that we read in the days papers
that our friends back home were enjoy
ing the delights of SubZerO weather and
a plentiude of snow.
The table, embellished with the finest
examples of California's floral wealth
and graced with the more substantial
delicacies in the way of fruits. which
MinneSOtianS would not enjoy for
months to come, added not a little to
the successful celebration of the ami
verSary; but Christmas over, with it's
preSent-giying and its other pleasures,
we turned again to the object that
brought us to California.
Early in the morning, the sun already
sending down its warming rays, the
whole atmosphere filled with the gentle
warmth which only a Minnesota June
could equal, we took the ferry across
the beautiful bay, and in half an hours
ride by rail we were once again in San
Rafael.
At the station we were met by the
''Old-timer," spoken of in former let
ter, with whom Charley had struck up
an acquaintance, and who had promised
to be our guide III further inspection
of the beautiful suburban town. By
this time, however, the object of our
visit had been noised abroad. and we
were the recipients of numerous atten-
tiOnS from that more or less eager class
OF citizens who make the care of winter
tourists the business of their lives. The
''Old timer" however, to whom l fancy
Charley had been giving judicioGs
pointers, waved them all away. Seated
in his roomy vehicle we started on our
tour. Learning that our intention was
to spend the winter in this sunny eli
mate, our guide Ventured few words
of advice:
''If you folks want to get the most
comfort out of life here in California
you will do we'll to give the hotels, good
though they are, the gO-by."
What shall we do, then?" l asked.
"WOuld you have us rent a cottage?"
mo, for you could not secure one if
you wanted it," said the mentor; there
is not single house in the town for
rent, but would suggest that you buy
a residence lot, build a cottage on it,
which you can do for moderate price,
and then, after you have stayed as long
as you desire, you will find no difficulty
in diSpOSing of it at a sufficient advance
to defray the expenses of your stay"
This proposition struck the ladies
very favorably, and Charley seemed
particularly impressed by it.
That's just the thing" he said. "Mr.
Pilgrim, will pay for the expenses;
we will build our own house; it can be
rushed up in week or two in this dry
CllluQlC, uIlO VIC Will CIlJON cOUl-
forts, though far from home:
ut will, at least, do no harm to look
the ground over" | assented, and the
guide, pleased with our ready concur
renee with his suggestion. promised to
show us the best that San Rafael pos
seSSed in the way of residence sites.
Driving down the avenue, which was
like some finely kept road in private
park, and lined upon each side of which
were stately trees, at the end of ten
minutes we came to gently rising bit
of land, covered with graceful trees,
and openings appearing here and there,
through which the roofs of artistic resi-
denceS could be seen. Skirting the sides
of this gentle rise, we reached the emf
nence in what was known as Coleman
seen the pretty little town of San Rafael,
which we had SO recently left, in the
beautiful valley stretching between it's
garden mountains like strip of en-
erald.
Just the spot for summer cottage,
or rather winter COTTAGE" said Mary;
and Charley, looking rather at Mary's
face than at the landscape. said: "The
prospects are indeed beautiful"
but perhaps we had better see what
our location will cost us before we so
unanimously decide i'll its favor" ven
tured.
II didn't think you would be able to
find much fault with that" said our
guide. Il have understood that in this
park. so great is the desire of its owner
to build up the suburban city, the
building tract of an acre can almost be
had for nothing"
The decision then reached was if the
land came within our means there we
would found our winters home.
On investigating the next day, we
found that our guides words were al
most literally true. We could secure
land for the cash payment of a few hun
dred dollars, balance to be paid on long
time, and the owner guaranteeing to
take it off our hands himself in case we
desired to leave 1t at the end of the sea-
son and couldn't find purchaser.
We found, too, that for $1,000 we
could, in two weeks time, build such a
cottage as would suit our purposes. and
the owner of the land made the same
agreement regarding it. Thus, we
would have merely our living expenses
as the cost of our California trip. Ac.
cordingly the contracts were let, and
we returned to the pretty hotel. of
which l spoke in a former letter. to
await the completion of our winter resi-
dence.
The two weeks passed by very
quickly, for, with the duties devolvlng
upon me of experimenting the build
ing. and the ladies, under Charley's
escort, busying themselves with shop
ping in the city for their housekeeping,
the time passed quickly by, and
in less than the stated time we were oc-
cupying our promised home. 1t is from
the broad veranda, from which can
look down upon the valley below and
see the CLINT in the bay in the distance,
that am writing this letter. Though
clad in the lighteSt of garments, with
slippers on my feet and pitcher of ice
in the GLOBE of the week the struggles
of Minnocntnne ,,,;tb mild cA<,,.,,o o,,.l