The record-union., 1899-12-13
.BUTTE'S FLOURISHING CITY.
HOW THE PEOPLE OF CHICO
ENJOY LIFE.
The Country is Getting a Thor
ough STANDARDIZATION
Growing LuxuTiantly.

The Country Is Getting a Thor
ough STANDARDIZATION
Growing Luxuriantly.
CHICO, Dec. 10.-The good little boy
Of ancient literature was represented in
the school readers Of I'VE olden time"
as rushing into the family circle and
crying out with primitive grammar
and impossible dignity, 1T SHOWS! 1t
snows!" This rafrain from the old
school days run through my mind this
morning, but with a characteristic Cali
fornia variation, 1T rains, oh, how it
rains.''
From the window in front of my desk
the green promise of an exceptionally
forward vegetation is covered with
cloud and gloom, and everything drips,
drips, drips. Last night Orion glittered
in cloudless sky, and to-day Old Sol
himself is tangled up in vast masses Of
winddriven vapor.
For years farmers here have been
praying for the traditional thorough
wetting." Now the venerable planter
looks ruefully at the measureless nois-
ture and leaden sky and cries out
How long, oh, Lord, how long!" The
philosopher sees herein a reason for
profound gratitude that the seasons
move Obedient to broader impulses
than human judgment can originate.
Otherwise the adobe lowlands and "red
dirt" highlands would become irrecon-
cilably adverse CLOUD compellers." AS
fact, this region is well watered, and
has more to fear from superabundance
than from drouth, especially on the
heavier soils.
On nearly all lines of production
this years yield is we'll above the aver
age. The usual California variety of
soil marks this neighborhood, SO that
grain AID fruit alike answers to the
husbandman's efforts The wheat crop
is largely unsold, owing to the ruinous-
ly low prices. I am told that one of the
largest Of the county's grain owners
would actually lose money if he sold
at current rates.
On the other hand, fruit is abundant
and in good demand at fair prices. The
transactions in this line are crafty
ingly large. One dealer alone counts
two months payments for fruit we'll up
in six figures.
Keeping time with production is the
demand for labor. During the season
just closing, men, women and children
were not only freely employed, but ex-
traordinary inducements were offered
all classes. Mothers and daughters
worked side by side. while wee tots
played about eating of the rich fruit
to their stomachs' content. Altogeth-
er the year 1899 must be credited to the
prosperous side of Chico's ledger.
Our social life follows the usual WIN
ter movements, despite the wet wealth
er. Society splashes through the mud
in pursuit Of the characteristic vanity
or pleasure of each distinctive circle
The butterflies gathered in gay colors
to the annual Thanksgiving ball and
found an extra delight in a party given
by some Of the young ladies attending
the Normal School Twas a sight to
stir the blood of an ascetic when grave
doctors of philosophy and the dignified
teachers of teachers tripped "the light
fantastic" in honor of the football
team from your city.
Nor have the churches failed to con-
tribute their share to community rec
reation. The ladies' and young people
of the NJ. E. Church held a bazaar a
few weeks since. The memory thereof,
in your correspondents mind, is a be-
wildering combination of tasteful dec
orations, attractive music, elocution,
ETC., demure feminine prettiness and
fancy work, which is said to be as DO
tent with Ewes daughters as an artistic
appeal to her brothers stomach This
church has recently put in place a pipe
organ. The opening concert was sue
cess from every standpoint
The Guild of the Episcopal Church
has also contributed to our winter rec
reations in tea" given at the resi-
dence of prominent member of the
Chico bar. The attendance was large
and the occasion enjoyable in every
way.
Society also maintains a Shakespeare
Club, in no respect differing from it's
kind everywhere. Besides these speci-
fled gatherings we have reading circles,
socials. teas in variety and abundance
in short. all the social functions pc
culiar to a rather conservative COM
munity.
But I suppose the pride of Chico par
excellence is the State Normal School,
This institution is we'll manned-and
we'll womaned, too. find must be par
ticular in that matter, but, as Kipling
says, THAT is another story The
student body is large and, as students
go, orderly and attentive to duty Ath-
letics are receiving unusual attention
this session, the present regime giving
this department it's peculiar blessing.
The town is rather proud of it's Nor
NAL football team, for its triumphs
are many. and its defeats few.
Some wise heads shake ominously at
certain sectarian influences in the man
agement of the school, Perhaps some
mistakes have been made, but I have
the strongest faith in the self-purifying
power of American institutions
On the whole, Chico is good place In
which to winter.
SENECA JONES.