The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1909-02-04
VIM. MILLS WRITES
FROM CALIFORNIA
Having a Good Time in the
Sunny State. Meets Many
Old Friends.
Greetings and Best Wishes to
All the People in
Oakes.

Oakes.
Editor Oakes Times: Since Hast l
wrote l would like to give a brief ac-
count of my wanderings in sunny Cali
fornia.
On Christmas eve, DR.. Boardman
sent me word to come to his home to
eat Christmas dinner. Well sir, it was
good dinner better even than what
mother used to make. It seemed so
strange to be eating Christmas dinner
in summer, for it is summer weather
on the sea shore here all the time to
me, it seems so at least. Well after
dinner some time was spent in very
pleasant and sociable way talking of
the beauties of southern California, also
Of the many things that happened
away back in North Dakota. There
are whole lot of things to be told
about North Dakota when you come to
think of it. There was a surprise in
store for some of us for just then
someone came into the guest chamber
and announced that our host had hidden
all the guests out to the automobile
barn. Well there to my surprise stood
a beautiful Christmts tree loaded with
presents and piled up around the trunk
of the tree just like have seen in the
Presbyterian church in Cakes. l did
not count the guests but there were
DR.. Boardman and his family, Mr..
Irwin and family, young MIR. Irwin and
family, a neighbor Mr.. Mcpherson and
family and Mills and his-hissclf. Well
it was the best l could do under the
circumstances. Mr.. Irwin and Mills
were appointed to act as Santa Claus.
There we're many valuable presents.
Miss Blanche Irwin received diamond
ring, young Mr.. Irwin carried his pres
ents away in quite large dry goods
box. Everybody got presents and
many Of them. The presents which
caused the most amusement was Lees
Boardman's gift to Mr.. Irwin. Lees
called it the big stick. 1t was about 3
feet long and about 6 inches in diameter.
Mr.. Irwin thinks that if he keeps
growing strong as he has been lately,
he will soon be able to swing it. Your
humble servant received four presents
off the tree and was surprised more
than they all. The evening closed
significant in itself of that great gift
which we cannot measure. Before
leaving that beautiful home we all
voted the Boardmans and Irwins royal
entertainers.
New Years Day is great day in
southern California and the greatest
wonder of the day is the Tournament
Of Roses which is always held in Pasa-
dena. went to it and it was sight
long to be remembered to see the great
number of people assembled. It was
regular sea Of humanity. Then came
the floats decorated with roses and
other flowers. I stood in one place
for forty-fve minutes while this great
show was passing. l did not see any
two decorated alike. For instance there
were four floats, one representing
spring, one summer, one autumn and
one winter. Some business houses were
represented by decorated automobiles
in different designs so covered with
flowers you could not see the auto
mobile. Ever so far apart there was
band of musicians. Some secret orders
were also in the parade. A company of
old soldiers with marshal music were
also in the parade, and how the people
cheered as the old boys marched along.
think it made the savers of our
country feel so good that when they
heard the people cheer some of them
would jump clear off the street with
joy, others who were too feeble would
swing their hats and thus make known
their appreciation of the honor which
the people were now comforting on
them for they seemed to feel that the
people meant it and I believe that
they did. I am beginning to think
that we do not cheer people on as much
as we aught to in this old world Of ours.
After the parade they had chariot races.
Thus the day closed and felt thankful
to have had the privilege of beholding
the beauty and glory Of creation.
A short time ago / was notified to be
present at the presentation and recep-
ton of the travelling trowel for it had
arrived at Ocean Park Masonic Lodge.
enjoyed this opportunity of seeing this
little instrument on its journey around
the world. It was sent on its long jour-
ney from New York and it will not stop
until it has visited every Masonic juris-
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