Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1900-03-28
BIGELOW AT IT AGAIl
DISCOVERS SECRET OF EARLY DAYS
Some Heretofore Unpublished Ansr
dotes of Decorah's Early History
Which Mr.. Bigelow Unearths
in California.
santi Monica, Cal, Mar. "a. 1865

Santi Monica, Cal Mar. 24. i9S
Special to PUBLIC OPINION.
The attractions here are so Iumer0uz
and so interesting that one never getE
tired of them. So am again at txss
sea shore, and have been royalty enteE
tained. Have had the pleasure and ttts
honor of being invited to dine with sec
of Americas citizens whose memoy
should be aud will be revered so long
as the soul stirring words of patriotism
and freedom thrill the hearts of liberty
loving people. The more one sees az
this great country talmost world d
itself and comprehends its vastness, itE
resources, its business, its progress, itf
variety, for one can choose his CLINE
and his occupation, the prouder he IL
to be classed as one of its citizens. Nc
nation in the world has so many aaf
ural advantages and, Notwithstanding
political croakers, no nation is so well
governed or its people more prosperous
and happy. MI honor to the old sot-
diers to whose sacrifice of life and
health and to whose courage and pat
riotism we are indebted for all this
May they live long and enjoy the fruis
of their victories. Our old Uucle SsM
is doing his best to reward the heroes
who saved his life.
| My dinner in the dining hall OF tine
National Soldiers home at Santi Moa
lea is au event that will probably never
occur again. A gentlemanly captain.
with whom / got acquainted on the
grounds, showed me all that was to be
seen.
The grounds consisting of sever&l
hundred acres were donated by Senator
Jones of Nevada
The Home is beautiful little city d
26O0, with worlds of flowers, shade treeg
and parks. There is Protestant ard
Ia Catholic church, the Ward Memoirs
Hail, where theatricals and other enter
tainments are held, fine hospital witks
200 inmates at present, and splendic
band which furnishes music for all.
The buildings outside and inside are
kept with the most scrupulous neatness
(which is accounted tor by the work all
being done by men, A large gardee
supplies the Home with fresh vege
tables, and large orchards with fruit,
They also keep large number of cows
with large fields for grain and hay &c
supply food for the stock.
There is one man i'm Santi Monies
who is very wealthy and somewhat co
centric, but if Decorah had few suck
men we could put up with ther
oddities.
The Methodists wanted to build a
new church to cost Sl5, 900, and started
subscription and got four or five hun
dred dollars in small amounts. WheE
they ventured to present it to Mr.. Ode
ity he looked at ii moment and tOreis
mp, saying, "go on and build any kind
of church you want and | will pay
for il"
have also become acquainted with
one of the jolliest, most agreeable men 4
ever met, who is walking encyele
pedia of Decorah's early days. Hki
name is not Blue or Gray, but simply
White. He made the first tin pan ever
made in DEBORAH. and it was q gresR
curiosity and drew ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
for those days. He remembers whec
Dan Reed kept grocery store, that ID
dry groceries in front, and wet ones il
the rear THAT must have been before
the Cameron League was invented) aud
when Dan had pair OF elk horns; u
; don't mean to say that Dan wore tbs
horns, but had them on top of his stosx
and some hilarious individual threw o
stone and knocked them down
He remembers when that same indt
: vidual went to another store with a
coffeepot without a bottom and ordered
a quart of molasses The merchay
went down cellar where ii was a lissxs
/, dark and set the molasses to running
! and wondered why 1t did not filt ap,
but soon found that he was cementius
his cellar bottom with molasses am
> glad / don't live in an age when sss&
: doings are carried on.
n Mr.. w. remembers when Judge Brad
ish held court in wood shed and som
}. one who had probably been buyins
groceries disturbed the proceedings
!. and the judge ordered the constsos'
. to keep him quiet but to do so he had
to take him down and choke him
Pretty soon he weuld get noisy agais
r. and the court ordered Mr.. Officer q
d choke him again. Verify times hss
V changed
H. A. BI0EfDW