Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-02-19
Letter from Puget Sound.

CSaA AiiNhNS. y ACIO III uScI
Sound we have fog and rain and
warm weather, not warm enough to
be uncomfortable but not freezing
very often. Some OF the natives
shake and SILVER in the cold fogs
but ] had my fight out with the fogs
at Biloxi, on the gulf, two years ago
so do no shivering here. But
am not loving the fogs, nor the rains
that have persisted in falling morn
ing, nom and night about two
thirds of the time since l came to
Washington, up until the last two
weeks which have been quite pleas
ant, giving us fine views Of the Bay
and mountains.
am now visiting with old friends
from Iowa who live in West Seattle,
which is the most pleasant place /
have seen. This city is on high
point Of land extending into Elliott
Bay which it overlooks. Across the
bay we have fine view of part of
Seattle proper whose lights in the.
darkness remind one of fairy land
Away to the north rises Mt. Baker,
while in the east the Cascades raise
their snowy heards to the sunlight.
Friday my friend and l took the
cars for a walk on the beach. Leav-
ing the car, which ran on piling ov-
er the bay, we walked for while on
the wet sands, but there were no
shells and the wind blew SO cold
that we hurried on to call upon some
friends. They were pleasant people
in a comfortable home, and the
three young ladies made us welcome
but the lady of the house did not
get home until six o'clock and we
talked until it was so late that it
was decided that we should stay all
night. I was glad that we stayed
for the long dark walk, was little
scafy to my mind, but the walk home
in the morning sunlight was glori-
Gus.
On our right was the bluff covered
with trees and brush and all sorts of
residences, good houses, scrap shacks
tents and cabins. Some we're closed
but many are occupied now. On
our lett was Elliot Bay whose waves
rolled up on the sands as if trying
to gather again. the acres of drift
wood thrown up on its shores. West
of us rose the Olympic noun
tains, covered with snow and show
ing new peaks and points of beauty
every time we turned to look at
them We came to the car line at
last and although we were tired were
almost sorry to give up our close
communion with the changing bay
and shining mountains.
For a few days there was freez-
ing weather SO the ground froze
three or four inches deep, but today
it is showing and tha~ing-just a
nice April snow for Iowa. 1t looks
homelike to me, but Seattleits do
not like the snow and execrate it To-
day, especially for this is primary
election day, two or three inches Of
of melting snow seems discouraging
to the men who ought to vote.
Seattle is big city covering
many hills and hollows, and in
some pieces they are tearing down
both hills and houses, and in others
they are filling the hollows and
raising the houses many feet above
their former level.
For miles and miles the houses
are set on hills and terraces and on
the lowlands we seem to be in a
great bowl whose sides are all set
with glowing lights. OF course the
winter is not the best time in which
to visit Washington, but it is very
interesting even then. | shall re-.
turn to Tacoma in few days, and !
think that | shall go from there to
California to visit relatives in a
more pleasant climate.
Hoping that this letter will find
both friends and Democrat happy
and prospecting, as ever your friend
R. D.B. Thorp.
| West Seattle, Wash.