News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1908-06-10
"0ut Here In California"
"Out here in California where the

"Out here in California where the or
| ange turns to gold,
And nature has forgotten all the art of
| growing cold,
There's not day throughout the year
that flowers do not grow;
| There's not single hour the streams do
not unfettered flow;
! There's not the briefest moment when
the songsters do not sing,
| And life'S a constant race twiXt summer
and the spring;
Why, just to know the joy of it one might
his best years give
Out here in California, where it's COM
fort, just to live"
The above lines so clearly express my
feelings this beautiful day, sitting in the
park where the children's merry prattle
joins the melody of birds, that my
thoughts wander back to the home of my
childhood and the dear ones who should
have received answers to their kind let
ters long ago. Pardon mo for being per-
sonal in this letter, but the neglected du-
t. is foremost in mind and until that is
disposed of I cannot write on the many
incidents, experiences etc., that would
fill volumes, of interest to so many who
simply read of, but do not realize exper-
fences of such calamities as the San Fran
cisco earthquake, fire and all that fol-
lowed
Arriving three days before, and work.
ing on the Relief Committee until the
destitute were under shelter, seeing San
Francisco in ruins, and after four months
going to my home in Washington, gave
something to write about, but, absolute
mental rest was more important, so let
tiers from friends, agents and business
firms accumulated and my promise to
contribute articles to the papers has not
been redeemed. have, however, issued
little circular, of interest to my friends,
containing a brief outline of busy life
since leaving school, and shall be glad to
send to any who care to renew the ac-
quaintance of the poor girl who was des-
tined to get an education and 60 west to
teach in Dakota.
Reading in the CITIZEN of Leonard AL.
len and his two sisters in North Hyde
Park, brings up pleasant memories of
my early days, when going to Sunday
school at No. Hyde Park, and the Fourth
of July picnics, were events of greater
Importance than anything in mature
years. But, so far as known, California
has the honor of claiming the citizenship
| &c ,ho tba Of Il -
ten book and now is as hale and hearty
as the average man of Is. He was 112
May 1, and is making his plans to visit
Washington, D. c., soon. He told me
he had not taken medicine nor tasted
meat since he was IS. asked him if he
did not find it difficult to go up and down
stairs to his room, and he laughed and
said, "Why should ?" then he went
through his physical culture exercises in
manner that would put to shame many
who are yet in the prime of life. His
book, 1.-THE Secret of Longer Life" is
intensely interesting, not theory, but a
story telling how he has avoided sickness
by hygienic diet and exercise. how he
y, prepares his own meals etc., for while
he has many homes offered him, he pre-
fers to live alone and cook for himself.
| Manyreaders will remember that moth
er came to California with Jonas and
family in 1901 and like all Vermonters
who followed later, likes the state. On
her SOth birthday we had home gather
ing, not only of relatives but many friends.
1.-THE Home" an old landmark in Oak
land, continues to be the center of at
traction for weekly gatherings when the
children gather home with invited
friends.
Last week the w. c. T. U. had a social
in honor of Ernest p. Hunt, wife and
daughters, who arrived from Boston. He
is getting in touch with musical people
and will in time find employment, pro-
fessionally.
Noticing w. c. T. U. Convention pro-
gram in the CITIZEN and personal men
ton of familiar names, brings TO mind so
much of the past, can not write of the
present this time, and as my letter is per-
haps longer than you may care to read,
will close, hoping each and all will &C
cept this, through the Kindness of the
editor, as a personal reply to letters sent
me since marriage. Should hear from
any of the readers, may write again.
Your old Vermonter,
Martha Thompson of Hyde Park, now
Mrs. r. L. Mackenzie,
Q