The Oskaloosa herald., 1908-02-27
ROBT. DOAR'S LETTERS
Interesting Description Of People
And Places.
San Diego, Calf, Feb. IA.

Herald Readers. The winter ralhs
have been about a month late ant
have been very heavy for the pas
three weeks and made it quite disa
greeable to the tourist. 1t reminded
me OF the October weather in Iowa
only the sun never failed to shine and
sometimes brightly. during the day
Sunday, February 8. wound up with
heavy downpour of rain the most
of the day, and light flakes of snow
were perceivable at times. with fine
hail and sleet in the evening and
morning. The 18th there was a light
frost, but was not up in time to see
1t. In the afternoon | took walk
out on the Golden Hill and on the way
saw morning glories, and tomatoes,
some Of the most exposed leaves were
black and whiting.
The streets where they are not
paved have been very muddy and the
ground too wet to pillow. The oats
and barley look well where they got in
between showers. The mud here
does not roll up on the wheels of the
vehicles like in Iowa, as the sand,
clay and gravel get mixed up and slip
from the wheels like mortar from the
mason's trowel
The death of Baldwin Harris came
as great surprise to me and to many
of his associates that he formed here
while in San Diego. He left here Jan.
nary 20, and he remarked to me and
to others at the train that he was
feeling well and was gaining in flesh,
and il he had not had his baggage
moved to the depot he would have
prolonged his stay in San Diego.
wrote to w II. Smith at Redlands af-
ter / had heard of the death of Mr..
Harris, and Mr.. Smith said the for
mer had stayed there only three days
and left for Los Angeles, not feeling
well and with no appetite.
The rainy season set in on the 23d
and made quite change in the at.
mosphere here, and there was a great
change at Los Angeles and Redlands.
The mountains 20 to 80 miles east of
here are covered with a beautiful
snow that may be seen from the
heights of San Diego, and a breeze
from that direction is very bracing.
Some of the tourists were told on leay-
ing for California that overshoes, over
coats and heavy underwear were not
needed, but that is sad mistake, for
when the wet season comes on, rub
bers are needed to keep out OF the
mud and water while overcoats are
good thing TO have with you, for when
the sun goes down the chill comes on.
The Christian church here had a
great revival under the leadership of
Evangelist DR.. o. II. Breeder. of Des
Moines, Iowa. In spite of the rain,
which came down in torrents, making
cT65lgs frgs fssru. tine house was crowded
at all of his meetings, and there were
many additions to the church.
Friday, January 81. Charles OFT and
wife, of Des Moines, w. F. OFT. wife
and son, of Hedrick, Iowa. and myself
took tallyho ride down to Old Mex
leo. We started at o'clock a. M,
crossed on the ferry to Coronado and
then travelled the peninsula road be,
tween the bay and the ocean for eight
miles. the still. placid water on one
side OF the road and the tidal waves
beating against the banks on the 9TH
er side, where the beautiful city of
South San Diego is being built. We
struck the Gray valley through many
lemon and orange ranches. On near
ing New Mexico the country was
more barren but the Tia Juana river
where few weeks ago its bed was
dry sand, now was filled with water.
About ~ O'Clock we arrived at Tia
.Juana and unloaded for dinner, the
driver said the restaurant kept by
Frenchman was the best. ] ordered
quail on toast, the quail was soon
dressed and on to cook and in about
ten minutes dinner was announced.
On the side they had Mexican brown
beans, spuds, hot tomalies, Mexican
coffee, tea, bread and butter with
pickles. II any of the Herald read.
ers should meet Mr.. and Mrs. OFT
ask them how they like quail on toast
served in Old Mexico. We also Wis
tied the pen where they have the bull
fights and the curio stores and at 2
o'clock started on the home drive by
a different route from which we came.
When we arrived at the line into the
United States, the custom officer and
his wife halted us for inspection. We
informed them we had nothing only
quail on toast with hot tomalies and
they let us pass. We came TO Chula
Vista and National City home and ar
rived at San Diego at D. M, making
a drive of Sc miles and lots of fun
thrown in.
There were some large freighters
In Ihe bay here a few days ago and
one that had on 10000 rail road ties
from Japan, she had run out OF coal
and had to be lowed in to coal up.
On the journey they had encountered
a storm and 1000 of their ties had
been washed overheard. The Tex
an" OF New York was here unloading
a cargo OF merchandise this week
from Vera Cruz. She was 1876 feet
long. 60 feet wide and 1900 tons
capacity An Englich cruiser was In
here few days ago and coaled up