Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1900-06-27
CALIFORNIA OR WISCONSIN
NEIGHB0R LAYNE PAINTS PRETTY PEN
PICTURES or EACH.
There is Much to Admire in the Old Home State,
But DiSlikes the Long Winters California Rich in
Climate. Fruits and Antiquity Pleased With His
Station as General Intelligence Man.
sANTEF. CALIFoRNrA, June Il


? FRIEND MUNSoN:-Our harvest il
past, the hills are brown, the sun shines
a lazily on distant mountains. and natura
conditions and Appearances generally
are suggestive of autumn, but we must
think of You as Just passing from the
freshness of spring time to the resplen
dence of summer. If it could be from
the first of June to the first of October
all the year rornd, in Wisconsin. il
would be one of the most delightful
states in the Union Still, Californians
do not take kindly to eastern summers.
They find the heat different from that
they are accustomed to, more oppressive
and whiting in effect, and then it holds
right on day and night so much of the
time Here it is a dry scorching kind
of heat, but not enervating, and the
nights are cool and refreshing But
do not forget the foliage of forests, the
luxuriance of grass, the abundance of
vegetation, the clear-watered lakes and
rivers, the sparkling springs and brooks
and other features that combine TO make
Wisconsin landscape picturesque and
beautiful almost beyond description,
and in my mind | contrast the scene
with the dry and scar aspect of unculti-
! waited portions of California during this
groves and gardens kept ever green and
ever blooming by irrigation and cultiva-
tion, these foothills and valleys would
be rugged and barron to the eye during
the long dry months that make the
most of the year. Back and mp in the
mountainous parts where there are
winter SHOWS and occasional summer
showers it is Of course different There
the giant oaks and pines spread wide
| their cooling shade, and perennial
| springs of purest water guigle from
mountain fissures And thither the peo-
| pie from along the coast betake them
selves for summer outings to drink
water cold and sweet from natures
| fountains instead of heated, rusted hy
| drants, to breathe the light, dry, pine
| perfumed mountain air as q change from
heavy ocean breezes. And from the
homes among the hills of the back coun-
! try people seek the ocean side TO battle
in the surf, boat and fish and gather
trophies of shell and moss from the roll
| licking waves To both it is happy,
| healthful change from the monotony of
| life.
Situated as we are on a main thorough
fare from one part to the other, we see
much of this shifting life. and much of
it is interesting and amusing The out
| fits are of every description. from the
pack -burro and rudest carts and buck
boards to the more commodious and
| pretentious turnouts. As the poet might
| have said:
| Fun and frolic from no conditions rise;
| Act we'll your part. there all the good time
| lies .
And just here will say that no other
country in all the states affords within
| its own borders greater opportunities
| for change and diversion. Bounded on
the west by the Pacific ocean and on the
east by the Colorado river, there is a
stretch of territory 200 miles in length
with an area larger than the state of
| Massachusetts, and embracing low lying
| frostless valleys, rising rolling mesas,
| rugged mountain ranges and wide
| arid desert There is beauty and wealth
of forest and mine, resorts for health
and pleasure. and climate in all desired
variations And there are things of in
terest aside from the lavish endowments
of nature Though new in many res
poets there is history running ba>h INTO
centuries, and many interesting land
marks are seen There are churches
and other mission buildings more or less
| in state of ruin, dating back hundred
and fifty years, and an amphitheatre
| with enclosure, seats and arena, yet
| outlined by crumbling adobe. where
| Spanish bull fights were witnessed more
| than century since. Near by the lat
ter are the ruins of military post once
occupied by John G. Fremont and troops
| making later but not less interesting
events in history. Not far from here is
a dam across the San Diego river built
| by the Indians under supervision of the
mission fathers over hundred years
ago. Its solid masonry was laid in
cement and was never more solid than
now. Where the cement came from is
hard to conjecture.
These beautiful valleys, now blossom
ing under the touch of civilization, were
in the days described by Helen Hunt
jackson in ''Romona, Mexican grants
| given over to herds of sheep and goats,
and the semi barbarian half breeds and
| greasers. These had suppilnued the
deer, the elk and the Indian, and
| have in turn given place to present oc-
cupants. There being nothing better
| to follow, there will be no further
| change) Running back through these
| transition periods is admixture of fhistory
tradition and legend rich in material for
| warp and woof of story, and fascinating
those who like to disentangle facts and
fiction. 1t is enchanting ground to stu
dent and scholar, as well as those simply
on pleasure bent. But enough such ramb-
ling for this time.
We are still at Santee, keeping coun-
try store and postoffice. Being on the
railroad and a well travelled wagon road,
there is enough of passing interest and
interest that doesn't pass, to keep life
from being monotonous. The position
is one of Importance if not honor. Com
stituting a central point in the rural
. community it is expected to serve pub
lie convenience in other respects than
groceries and mail tits an intelligence
. Office where neighbor leaves word for
neighbOr, losses and finds are reported,
| strangers receive directions as to roads
and location of people, and neighborhood
! news generally is kept on tap. 1t is an
! exchange Office where all manner of
articles may be left for delivery Then
opinions on the weather crops, politics
and war. are always in demand and
cheerfully if not reliably given. But
there is compensation in the friendliness
l of the people, in sharing first and best
I fruits as marks Of appreciation, and the
j satisfaction Of being. in some measure,
[ useful and helpful in the world
Please look well to the wrappers and
l directions on the CENSOR. We failed
1 to get ours some weeks ago and the gar
could only be filed by having Sam send
S us his. Seven years have scarcely abat
+ ed our in crest in the old home and it.
100 Gl, not is1-a any R,ra.I, -