Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1899-01-26
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
A Fragrant Breath From the Far
Northwest.

The following letter under date of
Jan has been received from What
com county, Beach postoflice, Lurimi
Island, Washington.
Mr. EDITOR: Well Here ! am this
winter of $3.50, living on the north
west corner of the most northwest is
lard lying in the farthest northwest
body of water in the United States. To
cut il short, | am dwelling on the last
/ step of the '.iumping-off place. and,
really it is delightful.
From my sitting room window can
look 100 miles over the broad gulf of
Georgia and see the mighty Selkirks
stretching for miles and miles over
their Canadian territory, solemn white
and glittering like Jewels i'm the sun.
From the opposite window Mt. Baker,
the grandest mountain in the north
west, towers up thousands of feet to-
wards heaven. Seattle. Tacoma and
Olympia can admire Mt. Rainier to
their hearts content, but to my mind
Mt. Baker surpasses all others in
grandeur, solemnity and beauty.
Santa Claus found us here as well rs
on the mainland and all enjoying the
best OF health. Twenty-Five of us sat
down to a Christmas dinner of geese.
ducks and venison, supplemented by
the usual sweetmeats. Our bows
brought in five deer this week and the
shed looks like a butchers shop to
night. Brant are flying around over
the bay in flocks, looking Tor the many
secluded coves sheltered from the brisk
wind now blowing from the northwest.
Not to say one thing detrimental to
the dear New England states. the land
of my birth, or to the sunny south.
where ] spent so many happy hours,
still ! have vet TO see a climate so
nearly perfect as is this glorious north
west on Puget Sound. The summers
are dreams, with cool, balmy evenings,
and the longest bright and moist DAYS.
Within a few rods Of our front door
we can see the sportive salmon play
ing and haiibut and cod abound in |
great numbers. With the exception OF
furry of snow we have had a most |
delightful winter. Cattle can still feed |
in the pastures and cabbages flourish \
like the green bay tree we read about. |
The good housewives of this eoun-
try have habit OF canning enormous |
quantities of fruit. For an average
family thrifty housekeeper cans from /
$50 to 400 quarts OF plums, raspberries,
pears and strawberries
and lots OF prunes. Fruit is abundant |
i'm all directions and during the last
two or three years a number of estab-
lishments have sprung up for drying
prunes.
Two miles south of us is an immense
salmon cannery, owned and controlled
by an English syndicate. During a
season of five months of preparation
and active canning operations three
steamers ply back and forth between
here and Whatcom, a distance of -
miles. Last summer they packed rs
BOO cases, 4s cans in case, all OF
which were shipped TO England. An
acquaintance of mine in Whatcom. who
a year and half ago took up a min
ing claim in Mt. Baker. has recently
sold it for $4,000. lie was laborino +.
nan and the money came to him some
hing like the fortune to Cinderella. ,
Though | know little about farming. I ,
surely can testify to the fact that there
IRE no potato bugs here and the useful ,
grows unmolested and at ,
aims great size and is also very I
nealy.
Truly this is country lit for the
rods, vet none too good for any honest :
ok who like a mild winter. cool sum-
ners and fine gardens. i
FANNIE WNsIow. u