Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-09-06
LETTER FROM F. C. KLADY
STOCKTON, CAL,
Mr.. A. DECKER.

Dear Sir: Did you ever hear any
one man give general description OF
California? Ii So the chances are he
was drawing some from books for in
formation and still more from
imagination. Men do not live long
enough in modern times to enable
them to explore and from personal ex-
perience learn the climate of the far
north, extreme south sunny coast and
snow capped mountains Of this great
state. Ii variety is tue spice Of life"
then the Californian has about all the
most desirable things OF climate and
product all in one locality that would
properly be named at once Garden OF
Eden" There is not The least doubt
that said garden was located here at
one time, even the fig trees are still
there. The serpent has taken 10 The
mountains mostly, somewhat better
arrangement than the original.
There is also some change in the
wearing apparel, SAID change is not
due to climate conditions, but TO
''Dame Fashion" There are any
number OF things that surprise and
puzzle the eastern tenderfoOt. That
an eastern man can be spotted" in
stantly in the mining camp or on the
ranch among strange surroundings is
simple enough and can hardly cause
comment But in the city or town
your dress is the Same, you speak the
same you are no different in general
appearance from those you meet. yet
go in any store buy steak for break
fast or potatoes for dinner. ooh. you
are from the east! How do you like
California? When did you arrive?
| Are you here on the eXcurSiOn?"
How can they tell? Well in about
| ninety-nine different ways. If you
are d man you want a peck OF sweet
potatoes sent oyer to the house. How
many? A peck. O yes, you are from
the east. We don't sell by the peck
here would you like about two bits
worth. Possibly you remember that
two bits is twenty-five cents, if you
don't you can learn in time. Perhaps
you want good plump chicken for
dinner. How much are chickens a
pound? We don't sell by the pound,
how do you like California? Going to
locate? You forget you wanted any
chicken and conclude you will stop in
Che next store and change a $40 bill
50 your better half can go shopping
in the afternoon. Good morning.
Can you change $40 bill for me. A
what? A $40 bill, give me two tives
if convenient Oh yes, certainly we'll
how do you like California? And your
bill is turned over and over again and
| looked at as curiosity.
Yes they can tell you are just from
the east, easy to tell is it not? But
they can't tell lady if from the east
can they? Ask your wife when she
comes home from spending that ten
dollars. Did she carry pdrasOl?
Certainly, the sun was bright. Well
she is just from the east. Did she
stop and smell of that beautiful rose
in the park? Just from the east.
Did she stop short and take look at
that oleander that is six or eight
inches in diameter and completely
covered with blossoms SO the leave are
hardly visible? Just from the east.
Did she ask the price of those mann
moth red raspberries Il did, six boxes
for two bits lady, but they are Logan
berries. Did she ask the price of
those cucumbers that were so smooth
and nice. Oh, those are squash.
It's not very hard to identify you
and guess where you are from. Yours
truly has been here nearly year, an6
only couple of weeks ago was lament
ing the fact that no more figs were in
the market. They said the second
crop would be ripe in ten days AND
then l could make myself sick if ]
wanted to. Second crop on the same
tree in the same season? That story
was little hard to swallow, but have
succeeded in swallowing some of the
second crop with but very little
trouble. To those who have grown
expert in the use of the snow shovel
and can carry three scuttles Of coal at
one trip my sincere sympathy is ex-
tended. May it help to warm their
ears, protect their toes, and keep the
coal bin full in the long months OF
zero weather that are close upon the
good people Of Grand Rapids, Wis
cOnsin. Sincerely yours,
T. G.. KLADY.