The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-10
How Topeka Traveller Regards
California People.
Pleased With Her Cordial In
formal Reception.
THERE'S MUCH TO SEE.
No End of Attractions for the
Tourists.
Ex-MayOr Fellows and His Me-
teOrite Mountain.
THERE'S MUCH TO SEE.

Los Angeles, March 29th.-In Cali
fornia every prospect pleases and not
even man is vile. California people,
famed for cordially and hospitality,
surely come up to their advance no.
tees. The casual travelling acquaint-
ance out here takes apparently the
most sincere interest in ones welfare
and is eager to go out of his way to
give the tourist a good impression of
the state. This is observable to great
extent in all the western places which
attract tourists particularly in the
case of railway and street railway en-
pioyes, police and others to whom the
traveller appeals for information to be-
come a recipient for his troubles. The
Santa Fe employees are especially cour-
teous and kind and their fund of in
formation about the places one visits
or passes through is little short of
marvellous to the tenderfoot. They
can tell you everything about the
country from its history to the price
of land and labor and if you are not
thoroughly informed of the wonders
of the great southwest after a trip
over the Santa Fe. it is because you
have neglected to TASK the man."
The gracious, friendly spirit which
characterizes Californians is noticed
by the visitor before he has set foot
upon the soil of the state. One first
observes it in his fellow travellers if
they are Californians homeward
bound. Travel a half day with a Cal
ifornian and you are old friends at
the end of the journey. They are all
alike. apparently, enthusiastically 10y
al to their state. cordial to the stran-
ger within its gates and anxious that
he enjoy his visit and carry home
good impression. Thev tell you where
to go. how to get there and all about
what you are to see. Look inquiring-
IL Of window and the
Californian, spotting you as tourist
on sight, will volunteer the informa-
tion you desire before you have up the
courage to ask the question. You will
hardly cross the ferry at San Francis
co or take a car ride in any part of
the state without making an agree
able temporary acquaintance who will
add to the pleasure of your trip and
your favorable opinion of these de-
lightful people.
An agreeable informally still marks
the California manners, heritage of an
early history of singular freedom
from conventional restraint, when
personality counted more than all the
advantages of an artificial civilization.
You may speak to and be spoken to
by any Californian without the for
malfty of an Introduction, and neither
give nor take offense. And all this
kindness and friendliness shown a
stranger is entirely unobtrusive and
altogether welcome and charming.
OF course when one knows people,
the way for the tourist is even easier.
There are so many former Topeka
people in Los Angeles that one can
scarcely spend a day in the town with
out meeting an acquaintance. The
Capital City Concert Company was
met at the station by members of a
preceding company of Topeka and
Kansas City artists touring the Read
ing Rooms of the Santa Fe and Miss
Anna Marie Nellis who spent the win
ter in Los Angeles with her sister Mrs
Harmon Ryus, was in the waiting
room bound for ranch at Capistrano
for the weekend At the hotel word
was waiting that Mr.. Charles Fell
lows. the railway contractor. former
mayor of Topeka, would be around
pretty soon with his machine to take
the Topeka party on a seeing Los An
geles trip. Wherever you go there is
a Crawford it seems. or a member of
the Topeka family of Crawfords man
aging a play house of some other
name. Ernest Crawford. formerly of
Topeka. has the Auditorium in Los
Angeles. one of the largest and most
notable theatres in California, built
and owned by Bob Burdette who
holds services in it on Sundays. The
rest of the week it is operated by Mr.
Crawford, who has musical comedy
stock company. Mr. Crawford and