The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-02-25
correspondence.
LETTER FROM REV. ]. ]. AUSTIN
PLATT VILLA, DIAMOND VALLEY,
NEAR SAN JACINTo, CAL, FEB. 5, 1888.

PLATT VILLA, DIAMOND VALLEY,
NEAR SAN JAo1NTo, CAL, FEB. s. 1888.
To the Editor of The Uniuersolist
1t makes one SICK at heart, even in this
land of summer and song-birds to
read OF the piercing cold and the much
suffering and the many deaths of your
northern winter. God pityithe poor, and
send them shelter and warmth and food,
by the hand of those who have enough
and to spare. Such bestowment will open
and apply the text, at is more blessed
to give than receive"
Tho Cold of January
was unusual here, the mercury marking
twenty four degrees above zero once,
yet peas in my garden grew right along,
and are now in blossom. The generous
rains have come and this valley is green
with verdure, furnishing ample food for
sheep and cattle, while on the distant
mountains the deep, white snow is visible.
Natures panorama of shifting cloud and
sunshine, rain and snow, greenness and
flowers, low hills and lofty mountains,
and the gliding shadows among them
all, is exceedingly beautiful and sublime
when seen from this villa, and 1 never
weary in tracing new scenery as the days
go silently by. A friend has been with
me the last six weeks, George 8. Brown
of Waterloo, Iowa, who was alive to the
inspiration OF the locality, and who went
away much less an invalid than when he
came.
Judge Platt and Wife, of Waterloo Iowa,
are nov here to take possession of their
winter villa in this summer land. He has
been grading walks and drives, and pre-
pairing to plant citrus and deciduous
fruit trees and vines and flowers about
the villa, and piping water through the
grounds. 1t seems good to lay off ones
coat and don the summer hat and 60 out
among the songsters Of nature, who seem
trying to empty their hearts of gratitude
by splitting their throats. If these dear
| friends do not return to their Eastern
home much healthier and happier for
this visit, it will be strange indeed. Other
| dear friends are expected soon, all Uni
versslists by birthright, and if we do
not have happy reunion at the villa,
that will be another strange omission.
There are
Some Staunch Universalists
here now, but the time for organization
has not quite come. Our services have
been of union character SO far, includ-
ing persons of various church ante
cedents Mormons among the rest
and we need to be very careful to organ
ize on right loyal Universslist ground.
Others will be here by and by, and then
our course will be clear. Judge Platt
and his good wife will render efficient
aid.
Much Flowing and Sowing
and planting have been done this winter
while people at the North are freezing.
The festive 'boom," if not broken, is get
ting more reasonable. All are delighted
with our valley who have seen it, and still
there is room.
Mexican or Spanish Pronunciation.
But those who come should avoid one
California custom which tends to COR
rupt the English language very fast. 1t
is the peculiar Mexican or Span ish pro
nunciation of words and proper names.
Why call San Jacinto "San Hacinto,
or San Jose "San Ho-sa", or Mojave "Mo.
hava," orSan Joaquin "San Wa-keen," or
Jerusalem "Herusalem, etc., etc.
1t is good rule among scholars and
critics to give any foreign word or name,
when introducing into the English, the
pronunciation peculiar to English usages,
for then it becomes an English word to
English readers and speakers. This
saves the English from rapid corruption.
So when English words are introduced,
into the Spanish, or any other language,
let the usages of that language prevail.
This Is the common course, and it is
both right and convenient. If all the
world is to speak English in two hun
dred years, as has been predicted, we
must be very careful now, or we will not
have much English then, but mixed Ian
guage of all the nations. So in coming to
California, let us stand for our own rules
and usages, as most educated people
seem to be doing.