The Oskaloosa herald., 1908-10-22
SAYS SICK TO IOWA
DR.. Parsons Now Of California Com.
pares Two States.

Mason City, Oct. 19.-ReV. LII. Il. W.
Parsons, who was formerly pastor OF
the Baptist church in this city and
who is well known in other sections OF
Iowa, but who recently accepted a
pastorate in Monrovia, CAL, draws
|comparison between Iowa and Cali
fornia that is entirely to the advan-
|tage of the Hawkeye state. Writing
Ito Mason City paper DR.. Parsons
|says:
"And now let me tell you some
thing about California, and l will tell
you something that people do not gen.
|erally tell. California can not begin
to compare with Iowa. l do not I'M
|derstand why people leave Iowa and
come out here to live. One misses
the broad prairies, the great rich corn
fields, the beautiful meadows and the
pastures where Craze the herds and
fiocks. Soon after coming here |
bought a horse and surrey thinking to
ride around and enjoy the country,
but one soon tires of long stretches
of sand and gravel. 1t is true we do
have oranges and walnut groves, but
what are they when compared with
green grass and bending grain and
the dark green of Iowa cornfields?
California, however, Is a good place
for the rich, the old and the feeble,
but for the young, the ambitious and
the energetic Iowa is far in advance.
Our atmosphere lacks snap, lacks
ozone or oxygen, lacks that something
that gives vim and vigor to a person.
One feels like sitting down and en-
joying the sunshine and the flowers,
but does not feel like bracing up and
pushing things with life and energy.
1t needs the frost and the sting of
the snowflakes, to give vim and vigor
to life. a.
Expensive Too.
Then another thing, it is expensive
to live out here. / used to read in
the papers: Go to California and save
your coal bills. Well, you will save
in coal, but you will make it up in
other things. The other day, bought
two little chickens to fry, and they
made meal for a family of four, if
we did not eat too much, and they cost
70 cents. Just two little bits OF chick
prices: Eggs sell for 80 cents doz
en-, butter for So cents a pound, and
will be higher after while; milk
for 10 cents a quart, hay for s22 a
ton, bacon for 80 cents a pound, steak
for 20 cents a pound. Yes, that is
right; go to California and save your
coal bills. m
Opportunities Scarce.
And then it is very difficult to get
work. Soon after coming here, l got
a place for Frank with a man in civil
engineering, but he told me that he
did not know how long his work would
hold out. Well, Frank came and
worked for while, and then the work
gave out. Frank then tried in every
direction for something to do, and the
answer was, we have men
now on the waiting list; We will put
your name on the list, and when we
can give you work, we will let you
know | am glad to say, however,
that now he has very good position
with good salary, and the promise of
promotion. But there are many in
California today that are not so for
tunate as he, and they are still wait
ing for a job. A friend told me that
his friend left position in the east
where he was receiving 5000 a month,
and came out here with pocket full
of the best of recommendations, and
hunted around for six months, and
finally got a position at S75 month.
This condition of affairs may be just
for the present. Possibly when Taft
is elected, business may pick up
somewhat"