River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-12-26
FROM CALIFORNIA.
saw JosE. ca. Dec. II. 1889.

weeks, until even the natives are
wondering at this most "unusual style |
of carly winter" it being something
that the oldest inhabitant never knew
of-but as ''all signs fail in dry
time" | see no reason why they should
not i'm wet one. Mud is an unknown
quantity; unknown, simply because it
cant be estimated; but from what
little experience | have had ! should
think that trip through to China
might be easily and rapidly made.
The benefits of this line in preference
to any other rapid transit being the
ease with which one could take along
soil enough so that on reaching the
other size they could at once set up as
a real estate agent.
To those of us who are new to such
winters il seems like early spring; the
breath of the frost from over the
mountains telling of snow beyond.
The farmers are delighted with this
down-pOur - more especially those
whose land was overlooked by the
rising riveTs-fOr the sediment de-
posted thereon is worth a great deal
TO the land.
The grass is beautifully green, in
some fields over foot high; the wheat
fields are ilourishing, and only the
falling leaves and the GOODNESS IN the
air testify that December is here. We
feel the cold more than we dad last
winter, DIS the friends told us that we
should. 1t is chilly rather than a
frosty cold.
The mountains surrounding this
valley are TO us 10y forever" even
when dressed in the somber brown of
summer; but now, when from foot
hill TO top, the brown has changed to
green, mingled with the deep blue of
the shadows and the white cottages of
the mountain ranchmen glisLen in the
morning and evening sun, they form
one of Natures most beautiful pic
lures.
We have been in this summer land
for a year, and are as yet undecided
as to the exact SEASON, when called
upon hastily to express an opinion Of
time or events, or when referring To
things that TRANSFERRED before we left
Wisconsin, for 1t is most certainly a
SUMNER land, and of course 1t has
seemed as though time and seasons
must be standing still. The roses
are still blooming, although not as
profusely as in the early summer; but
the violets fill the yard with their
fragrance. Gala lilies are "a specially
here. / saw at horticultural hall one
evening, "a bank of them, surrounding
the rOsLrum, containing nine hundred
and SiTty, all from what, to&r gears
ago, was one plant. How l wished tue
home friends could see them.
There has been several frosts but
none that has done any harm as yet.
The vegetable wagons come in daily
filled with all the good things one can
think of, from new potatoes to fresh,
crisp celery.
There was rumor of an earthquake
recently, but L cannot yOuch for its
truth and can only testify of one that
felt quite while ago. had antici-
pated scare" when | first expert
enced one, but IL was of 50 short dura-
tion that while | was lCditiag 10 be
afraid, 1t was all over. Mrs. Frazer
and had quite an enjoyable time com-
pairing our sensations.
Quite heavy thunder storm occur
red last week. 1t made us think OF
home. Californidns do not know what
the genuine article is, but as every
| year Is IAN unusual one we predict
they will have all the eastern improve
ments before many years, be they
| cyclones or snow storms.
They are nov trying to introduce
| the Thomson Houston electric street
! car line, vhat of last year proving ii
| failure and from the use OF electricity
they fell back to the Old style animal
magnetism.
business seems to be tOurlshlng,
| Judging by The amount OF building
and real estate dealers signs. If
these he signs of prosperity then San
Jose must stand at the head Tor they
are more numerous than any other.
Somebody must be making money
for the price of land Is hIgh, ana
when we ask Vhy this IS SO, arc told
lit is the climate" but to enjoy the
| climate one must at least have stand
ing room ON mother earth, and to do
| that would have to be able to pay for
SAID climate.
There is no use in trying to tell of
| the fruit picked fresh from the trees,
| and how much we ATE and how we
| enjoyed it, for Mr.. and Mrs. Lord We're
| home during fruit season and probably
| gave such descriptions as would cause
any attempt of mine to be Il failure;
SO I'll add nothing only it was solid
comfort 10 see Mr.. Rhoads and Arthur
visit the Orchard-to say nothing OIL
| the rest Of the family. We sent home
SOME large plums by them, but were
almost sorry that we did when an an
/ ~ M. 4 ord -
those plums grew Oh the trees IN Our
yard they would believe it, and we
mad only Ueen out here IA year; scarcely
! long enough to have become accus-
| toned 10 telling California stories.
There Is one product of this country
| that l have never seen advertised, ana
am afraid ! never shall, unless l bring
it before eastern people. When first
came, | was very careful not To speak
of 1t before natives or ndturalIzed
| citizens, but after watching the rest
| less motions In church and hall, and
! seeing the vigorous grip one and an
other would give themselves, and Oh
! trying TO go quietly To sleep at night
and could not, l ventuTed to ask what
! it all meant, and found out that 1t
meant heas; and the name needs a
capital letter, too. Talk about .fieS;
they are enjoyable compeny con-. area
| to those aforesaid. Tue boy who was
afraid his drawings might be doubted
wrote underneath, this is horse,
| so l will add, these are fdctS.
MIR. Rutherford, Mrs. EdsalPs SON
| in law, was a recent visitor. He Came
| down from Marion, Oregon, TO re-pur-
| chase the Oregon 'Yonder, chest
nut LSrse with white tail and name,
| The tail laying three feet on the
ground, name and foretOp five and
| seven feet, and measures twenty fest
! from tip of fOurtop To tail l am not
! good at writing advertisements but
| the horse is a wonder to ali who see
| him. Mr.. II. seems to think Oregon
| far ahead of California for Il home
one advantage being the absence of
| tarantulas aud centlpedeS. H3 seem.
| ed proud of his home, wife anC boy.
| Among the good things to be heard
this winter are lectures by Rev. Mr..
| MInturn of the Presbyterian church,
| who has just returned from a trip
around the world, and gave one on
| Japan last weefe. Prof. George of
! the University, also a returned travel
/ eT, gave one ON the ruins OF POmpeii.
nr lDt4galI ,f 10 Let ahnTRH IL