The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-03-14
Mr.. AND MRS. PERCY
PROCTOR IN CALIFORNIA.
The Former Writes An Interesting Let
Ter To d Friend in Oakland.

I
and is presented to our readers for their
perusal. The letter was dated at Pasa-
dena, Cal, March 5th, and is as fol-
| lows:
Two weeks ago today Mrs. Proctor
and arrived in California and week
ago today we saw the Pacific Ocean for
the first time.
The prospect of three days and three
nights on the cars from Chicago to Pas
adena was rather appalling. One finds
the six-hour ride from Oakland to Wash
ington fatiguing. But seventy-two
hours ! l asked an acquaintance who
has crossed the Continent several times
how he managed. He said that for a
week before he started he practiced
dressing and undressing under the din
ing room table.
Contrary to expectation the three
days and three nights passed quickly
and pleasantly. We were able to secure
drawingroom in one of the Pullman
cars, that insured privacy and comfort.
The forward car was fitted up as a gen.
tleman's sitting room, with easy chairs,
writing desks and barber shop. Per-
iodicals and daily newspapers were
supplied free of charge and the market
was posted daily. Pressing a button
brought a colored brother in white
jacket and apron, but he had little to
do. thought that on a journey like
this when men had so much time on
their hands, there would be considera-
bic liquor consumed, but such was not
the case. This instance is but one of
many that the greatest consumption of
Intoxicating liquors is by those who can
least afford to pay for them. Follow
ing the cafe car came the dining car,
which was part of the train all the wav.
Meals were served from seven to ten.
from twelve to two and from six to
eight. Breakfast and luncheon were
served la carte, so that one could have
what one wished and pay for it only.
The dinner in theevening was at fixed
price, one dollar, and, while not as pre-
tentious as dinners served on dining cars
in the East, was much better, each
article being good as to quality and
liberal as to quantity. The company
maintains bakeries, lunch counters, res
taurants and hotels throughout the
southwest and is able constantly to re-
plenish the stocks of food on passing
dining cars. So we had fresh bread.
cake, milk, eggs, etc, daily Follow
ing the dining car came the Pullman
sleeping cars and last of all was the OBJ
servation car, similar to those run on
trains No. l and ? between Cincinnati
and Washington. This car was really
the Longing car for women. 1t also
was supplied with magazines and writing
materials. There did not appear to be
any electric connection between this car
and the colored brother in white Jacket
and apron Wherever during the day
time the train stopped for ten minutes
or more the car porter gave notice and
the passengers all got off for exercise
and fresh air. 1t will be inferred that.
with hours spent in dining car and OBJ
servation car, with short walks at
strange towns, and with constantly
changing panorama of scenes and sights.
time passed pleasantly and quickly.
The morning after leaving Chicago.
Kansas City was reached and all dav
the train ran through the great agricul-
tural state of Kansas. One was struck
with the large size of the fields. Slightly
rolling or almost level, free from stones
and roots, they appeared easy of cult
walton and capable of producing the
enormous crops of corn for which Kan
sas is noted. Although the farms are
large and the farm houses far apart.
yet because of the fiat country, farm
house always was in sight and made the
country seem to be more closely settled
than it really is. The farm Yards were
untidy as a rule, due no doubt to the
lack of sufficient men to care for so
many acres. There are many farms in
Garrett county much better cared for
than any seen in Kansas from the car
window.
A corner only of Colorado was cross
ed. Here for the first time were seen
adobe pronounced ado .be) houses. one
story affairs made of sun-baked mud,
and COW boys. The fields were larger
in Colorado than in Kansas. Usually
there was but one enclosure of several
hundred acres - each ranch, besides
the fence al ID house and barn, and
in it cattl. AID horses were allowed to
run at Ill. There were very small
barns, as hay is stacked in the open and
stock remain out winter and summer,
day and night. Here and there could be
seen windmill and stock water tank in
the fields. There is little farming in
south eastern Colorado, most of the land
being devoted to stock raising. The
word farm also ceases to be used
rA % A.