The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1904-01-29
TRUTH As 70 CALIFORNIA
1t is Not a Garden of Eden at
All Times of the Year.
VERY DUSTY IN SUMMER TIME
After Having Travelled Nearly All
over the United States and Canada,
N. Mihills is Glad to be Alive In Ne.
braska and Norfolk

braska and Norfolk
Norfolk. Jan 25-To The News:
was very much Interested in reading
the letter in The News concerning
California One would think 1t was
the Eden of all this Mundane sphere.
for people going to new country to
put the bright side out and never say
a word about the duller side. This
misleads n great many people.
| never lived in California but
have travelled the state from one end
to the other and have been in all of
the principal towns. The glowing nc.
counts we read are true in many in.
stances. This time of the year is
their beautiful season. The rain
suppose is falling and everything is
taking on it's green hue and things are
at their very best. So OF course any
one would think it was n bonanza.
The Dry Season.
But when the dry season comes and
they don't see a drop of rain for eight
or ten months; when everything Is
dried up and dust Is from six to eight
inches deep-and even deeper; and is
on everything you touch-leaves,
walks, houses and the air is filled
with it worse than you ever saw it in
Nebraska, then they will, | think
change their tune. And during the
dry season, when the days are hot and
a man wants to get everything off eX-
cept his trousers and shirt, the night
makes him put on an overcoat to be
comfortable
| saw the ladies with their furs on
at night, when the wind blew so that
you could hardly see your hand before
your eyes. 1t stays dry for so long
that the dust gets so fine that it is
just like flour. California may be a
good health resort. AS to that | can
not say. But | saw more sickly peo-
pie there-especially in southern Cal
ifornia, than any place | ever was in
But they say they are there for their
health. And l have no reason to
doubt their word
If one wants to go there thinking
that he will gain his health, all well
and good. The climate may be good
for sickly and old people, but to the
young and vigorous of the northern
states and state like Nebraska, |
say stop and think. Study and reflect
before you make the change. Remem-
ber that you will not have that same
life and vigor that we are now spend
ing. When spring opens you have the
snap and energy that is characteristic
of the northerner. We have heard it
said great many times that if the
south could only get northern people
down there they would make things
hum. How long are they there until
they have caught the disease and are
just the same as the southern people
with that tired feeling? | was in
South Carolina last fall. l saw sew
eral northern people and talked with
them. They don't like it and will get
away just as soon as they can get
loose
Never Southern California.
If I were going to California, north
ern California would be my choice on
account of the people. They are fine
looking people down there. o course
there are fine looking people south,
but when you get down to San Diego
there is a mixture of nearly every
race on earth-MeXicans, Spaniards,
Negroes, Indians, Americans, etc.
Would northerner like this? | dom
think so. A man with plenty of money
might do all right in southern Cali
fornia but I tell you if you have only
moderate means and your health is
good, young man, just stop right here
in the Elkhorn valley. Rent is very
high there and living is no cheaper
than here. / doubt if one can live
there as cheaply as here. Fuel is the
only drawback
AS to fruit | acknowledge that Cal.
ifornia is great. But did you ever
stop to think that where fruit is Sc
plenty you get sick and tired of it,
and don't want to touch it? Here is
where we relish fruit and relish it all
the time. Anyone with a little pains
can grow his own fruit here. 1t is
proven by those who have given il
care and attention. And as to flavor
California fruit is not in it with east
ern grown fruit.
Now l hope have not offended any
one. | have just given little of the
other side of the story which l think
is nothing more than right. If yor
go there you will see a great many
fine things and if you have the where
withal you can have them. But l.
not, you must be content without ant
do the best you can. |, for one, an
satisfied with Nebraska and the little
city of Norfolk, after travelling nearly
all over the United States and Can
ada. NJ. Mihills.
nr