The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1905-02-09
FROM ARIZONA
Rev. Ell. Thompson Writes of So-CaI1ed
Winter in That Territory.
Phoenix, Arizona, Jan. 80, 1905.

Winter in That Territory.
Phoenix, Arizona, Jan. 80, 1905.
My Dear Mr.. Editor: For the past
month I have intended writing you
from this sunny land to tell you and
your readers what delightful winter,
so called, we are having here.
Ny memory and experience tells me
that it is the month Of shoveling
snow and thawing water pipes with
you-of icy sidewalks and cutting
winds! But here, if one need not to
get up before sunrise and would re-
tire at shutdown, he need not know
that there is such thing or condition
as winter at all. From where we live
now, we can look both east and west
Of us and see the peoples cots on the
porches, where they sleep out all
through the season and declare it is
better than sleeping inside. They
certainly do it from choice, as they
pay rent for their rooms just as
though they occupied them, and they
do seem to enjoy it; though, for my
self, I confess / like the feeling of
shelter and protection that comfort
able bedroom gives to my s1umbers.
The roses and o1eander blossoms,
with few other flowers, have been
with us in the gardens all through,
and it looks as though in two weeks,
or less, we shall have the almond and
apricot in full bloom, as we'll as the
desert covered with its mass of wild
flowers. Grain, where it has not been
fed off by stock, is fully knee high. /
do not think there has been a day
when the meadow-1ark and the
thrush have not greeted us with their
sweet and cheering songs. This may
seem homogeneous to you, but it is in
perfect keeping and harmony with
the fresh growing grain and green
meadows around us.
In the early part of the month we
had nearly four inches of rainfal1-a
blessing the like of which has not
descended upon this valley for the
past ten years. You can form no idea
what this has done to revive faith and
hope in the future Of the valley.
What was rain in the valley was snow
in the mountains. and ensures good
supply of water for irrigation till
midsummer, which means good crops
and prosperous times.
We can see the snow on the noun
tains seventy-fve miles away, and
that is just as near as we want it to
come for comfort.
Our new home is within half mile
of the large Indian school, where
they have very fine band, composed
of Indian boys. They play the Star
Spang1ed Banner morning and even
ing, at raising and lowering of the
flag at sunrise and sunset, and we are
growing so patriotic under this inf1u-
ence that we may go to Washington
on March 4th to assist in inaugural
ing the new president.
We were greatly surprised some
time ago to have call from Mrs.
Nichols, whom many of your older
readers will remember as Dora See1ey.
Some of my old parishioners made
SuCn k1ndly ING uM1eS Tor US When she
was in Kenosha, that she kindly
sought us out and we have had very
pleasant acquaintance since. Itmight
interest them to know that Mr.. Mich
OILS is prominently mentioned as sue
cessor in the governorship of the ter
ritory, the present governor having
received an appointment in Washing
ton in the Persian bureau.
Now, not to make this letter too
long, close with best greetings to
you and all old friends.
III. THOMPSON.