Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1902-04-30
OUR TEMPE LETTER.
Correspondent Tells of Conventions, Business and Other interesting Subjects in the Usual
 Breezy Style.

spondence. )-I suddenly remembered few days ago, that I had not written Journal-Miner letter since last July. I have but one apology to offer when am not busy I am ill, and when not ill I am busy.
 A great many things happen here, principally conventions. 1 have at tended two conventions this month, and already I see another peeking above the horizon.
 The Arizona Baptist convention at Phenix, April 1l-13, was very well attended and a very inspiring meet ing of the Baptist forces. Every thing went of smoothly. Good will and peace marked each session, and at the close of each we had some- thing good to eat. Our delegates from Prescott were Rev. Taft, Mrs. c. E. Ashley and Mrs Morrison. The Pheni1 friends entertained us roy ally and every body went home re- solved to go again next year. The next convention will be held at Mesa in 1903.
 We had hardly rested when we re- ceived a call to attend our County Sunday School convention. This also was held at Phenix, and again we trotted down through the dust and made ourselves one of the rank and file who are trying to do good in the world.
 In May will come the county con vention of the w. c. T. U.
 By these facts you will see that we are not destitute of conventions.
 Last night, April 2l, the Good Templars of Phenix celebrated the birthday of their lodge. There was a large attendance and a very inter esting meeting. There were many "reminiscences of the childhood and youth of the lodge-it has not yet reached old age, although the oldest lodge in the territory. It was or ganized in 1878.
 Spring is far advanced with us. Farmers are cutting their first alfalfa. The crop seems to be a heavy one. Out in the country the wide green fields of grain are very beautiful. There is nothing the matter witt this valley so far as productiveness is concerned. The cultivated parts are very beautiful, but there is so much untitled land.
 I suppose you know all about the local features of Tempe-how we are going to have water works, and build Normal dormitory, and put up an other creamery, etc. All of which shows that Tempe is wide awake and ready to keep step with the proces sion.
 We have fine band which gives the citizens rare musical entertain ment Sunday afternoons.
 Our library association, consisting of some of the first ladies of Tempe, is in a very encouraging condition and the ladies deserve praise for the efficient manner in which they man. age the library and free reading room. Recently they gave an enter tainment at Casa Loma which was largely attended by the friends of the enterprise and was greatly enjoyed by all.
 We have not given up prospecting | for oil. Our first attempt was fail ure for lack of proper machinery, but now we have the Comeback Oil com pany and it will soon commence work fully equipped to succeed if sue cess be possible.
 Our Sunday school superintendent is beginning to talk picnic. 1 hope some humane brother or sister will throw brickbat at him if he keeps it up.
 The graduating class at the Normal are buckling down to finish. It is my habit when I can't sleep at night to prowl around and contemplate the starry skies, and can tell where the student burns the midnight oil by the lights in various windows. l often feel like tapping on the door and saying, "Go to bed, children, go to bed, you'll live the longer and know twice as much if you gradu- ate two years from this time" But I don't do it, for in the first place they would think I was crazy and in the second place they wouldn't believe me if they knew 1 was sane. Man should take his mental food as easily and naturally as he takes his daily bread. God means that we should labor from sun up to sun down, and anything beyond this is a violation of His law. There is a whole lot of stuff and nonsense in this world run ming around with the wrong suit of clothes on.
 The largest pair of stsr horns ever seen, measuring ten feet from tiI t) tip, were sent recently to Chicago dealer from South America. The large horned cattle of America are fast disappearing owing to the ust of pure bred sires, having small oI no horns and whose progeny can bt shipped more easily and safely,