The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1906-04-05
From the "Suuny South"
Dear Editor and friends of the RI

Dear Editor and friends OF the kE-
PORTER
| Today have been reading
copy of the SOMERSET REPORTER of
March %, and eagerly perusng every
item pertaining TO friends and acquain-
tances in dear ola Somerset County,
Maine
From its columns CLEANED the condi
ton of the weather up there and do not
have to stretch my Imagination to see
you all yet bundled up in furs, riding in
sleghs over the still deep SHOWS of win
er, from whose white mantle you good
people have not yet emerged
Could you but visit with me this
afternoon, or evening as the Texas PEG
pie say, you would soon lay aside your
winter clothing aud don your last years
summer suit, while your eyes would
wander around for palm leaf fac to
cool your heated brow, for the mercury
stands al 90 degrees in the shade. My
father sits without his coat on, reading,
while / take advantage of the south
breeze, writing. All day have been
listening to the sweet songs OF the mock
ing birds In the live oaks near by, in
| whose friendly shade the cattle and
sheep have been resting since ten O'Clock
this morn The corn and gardens have
| been planted but cotton will not be put
10 until late in April. have seen some
| fine fields of winter wheat looking a
beautiful green.
Texas weather has not been as mild
as this all of the time since our arrival
| here Feb "a Dear readers, don't get
the idea that it is all sunshine and soft
breezes 10 Texas For old boIeas can
cut up as bad in this country as any
where north And when he once gets
| after you, does not give up the search
until he has found you and set your
nose and ears Jingle, and the chlls a
chasing down your back leaving your
eyes full of dust. am told that March
usually tears around like a roaring lion
when January and February bave been
mild and lamblike.
High winds usually prevail at this
season. A cold "norther' comes down
with a sudden swoop lasting several
days, when there comes hull, then the
reactionary effect is felt in the return of
the wind, which at first is equally as
cold, gradually growing warmer, Oft
| times bringing rain OF damp weather,
which is followed by a period OF fine,
warm weather, like what We are ex-
periencing at present
There is some fine farming land in
Texas and l can SEQ great improve
ment in that direction since my first
visit thirteen years ago. What was then
an unbrokeu prairie has since been m 9de
to produce wonderful crops of wheat
corn and cotton, and dotted everywhere
with comfortable homes
Leaving our home aud dear friends in
| Pittsfield, Maine. on Feb. 20, we had
pleasant journey south, stopping one
night with friends in Boston. We pass
ed the 22d in Pittsburg, Pa, with my
| brother, l. w. Chase of Cleburne, Tex,
who was then in that city on business,
and we had the pleasure of his company
| the rest of the journey,
We saw many things of interest to us
on our trip One was the ride of our
train on the Jersey ferry boat, a distance
of twelve miles with view of New York
City, Black wel's Island. statue of
Liberty and Brooklyn bridges The
great Union station at st. Louis, and
the country In general was ever OF In
terest to us.
We arrived in Cleburne, Tex on the
eve of March "a. in fine condition, where
warm welcome awaited US by our rela-
tives. Our stay of a few months here
will be divided between my brother in
Cleburne and my sister, Mrs j. Nj.
Whitney at Valley Mills, Texas MY
father, Benjamin Chase, who accom-
panied me on this trip is hale and hear
ty at 88 years of age, and is enjoying
this visit with bis children and grand
children even to the fourth generation
in the person of little Miss Alma Alberta
Whitney of Cayote.
With many kind regards to our friends
in Maine and elsewhere,
sincerely yours
MRS L. K. howell,
Cleburne, Texas.
March % 1906