Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1900-02-07
VISITS WINNESHIEKERS
AT THEIR HOMES IN CALIFORNIA
MIR. Bigelow Calls Upon Several Former
Residents Of This County, and De-
scribes Their Surroundings.
Garvanza, CAL, Jan. %, l9dI.

Garvanza, CAL, Jan. %, l9l-
Special to PUBLIC OPINION:
do not see any one whose hair has
turned white through fright at the
recent great earthquake in Southern
California. AS near as I can find ont
the shock in this vicinity was just about
like the one that passed under Decorah
q few years ago. But some eighty
miles in the interior it was some
heavier, and brick building that had
burned but left the walls standing in,a
very loose and unsafe condition, 6ell
and killed several Indians who wes
camped there, and who in drunken
condition were sleeping where the walk
fell on them. This and some other
slight damage to buildings is all thst
is reported here.
As rule the people here are intes-
ligent and very courteous, and nearly
all eastern people; some Mexicans and
Chinese, but not near SO many as ex-
pected to see. They however attend
strictly to their own business and let
others alone. Tramps and beggars are
seldom seen. If a tenderfoot thinks he
knows more about games than the man
that invented them, and has SO little
moral principle that he is anxious In
take any mans money for nothing.
whether gambler or bunco steerer, he
can undoubtedly be accommodated
and as it is IN all large cities his eye
teeth will be cut in the twinkling ofsE
eye, but if he let's them alone they will
treat him the same way.
have made calls upon James A.
Leonard and Hammond Smith ct
Pasadena. They both live in the same
block and both haveexcellent situations
and are enjoying their constitutional
right to life, liberty and the pursuit
of happiness to its fullest extent
They. would not return to Iowa 10 live
under any consideration; not even &c
be my nearest neighbors. Mrs. Phils
Brown, her son Edward, Miss Mary
Webster, and Mr.. Bean, q druggist
(relative of our former councilmauA
all live within q dozen rods of each
other on South Main ST., Los Angelss- 4
/ found them all well and prosperous
and enjoyed meeting them immensely.
Mrs. Browns hair was not quite -
dark as the ravens wing", brt other
wise she had changed but little and
was the same jolly, agreeable lady that
she was when neighbor to all Of us
A visit long to be remembered was with
M. Hostetter. We sat up till the "wee
small hours talking over pioneer dayx
when everybody was his own architect,
when building material was hauled di
7, rectly from the woods and with set of
carpenter tools composed of nothing but
an axe, was made into l4x16 house.
When great economy was practiced and
each house contained parlor, sitting
room, dining room, kitchen and ball
room. Necessity BENG the mother 0
invention, all were included in eAe
room. BrusselPs carpets, mahogany
furniture, pianos and organs were dis
pensed with, although it was not un-
common to find fiddle slowed away
somewhere. The most important xr--
ticle of furniture was the trusty ries
that hung On pegs in the wall. Nov
Now let any one who has changed es
great wealth and received as much en-
jOyment as in the pioneer days, hold up
his right hand. Mr.. H. lives about -
rods from the little fish pond that ex-
tends over to where they are catching
species of suckers called Philippines.
He has fine residence in Santi Monica.
several houses and lots and splendid
ranch one mile from town, and another
some miles away. He can step out ~
his door and imagine he is In Frxnk-
vile lin the summerl as his son, grand
sons and their families, and sevesat
ether Frank Williams live near by. The
sterling qualities of uncle Nose have
been recognized by his townsmen asaae
has been member of the city council
for several years. The newcomers, c.
r. Williams, wife and daughter, sse
taking in the sights, the flowers, the
climate. now and then an orange, aud
enjoying themselves immensely.
have been in several scraps and ny
once beautiful face is somewhat dis
figured. The wounds are healing, buf
will probably leave scar. All tiiiG
would have been avoided had staid
in Iowa this winter as l have beexl
fighting with mosquitoes. These is
another little pugilist who resides aeR
that | have not met yet, whose nsise
Mr.. Flea, and I hope he will "fiee fsm
the wrath to come, before he makes
my acquaintance.
| H. A. BIGELow-