Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1909-02-26
Letter from Rev. F. D. Sargent

| NtHtet, Sdl., reus its i1VS.
| DEAR FRIENDS: There is little
doubt that one-half of the world does
not know, or al least does not appre-
ciate how thesother half lives. 1t is
hard for as here in California To believe
the reports that come over the wire
from the East about terrible Billiards,
deep SHOWS, impeded traffic, and the
suffering and want induced by extreme
cold Equally difficult must it be for
you at the Fast 10 quite understand the
| experience that we here in California
are enjoying of seeing blooming How
ers, waving grain, singing birds, and
bright, warm sunshine. Ii is some
| thing out of the ordinary to move to
| the beach in midWinter with the en-
pectation of having an enjoyable time,
and yet today we are sitting on the ve-
randa luxuriating in the warm rays of
| the sun and the soft air of the ocean.
| Rarely in our summers in the East do
we find conditions any more favorable
| than those we are experiencing just at
present. With the broad Pacific with
| its mighty roll of waves and absence of
| that peculiar and to many objec-
tionable odor thai characterizes the sea
side resorts of the East, in a bungalow
| within stones throw of the sea,
equipped with all modern improve
| ments, with an electric car line almost
| at our very door connecting US every
| half hour with other beaches and Los
| Angeles, with an asphalted speedway
so close to the house that five or six
steps takes one TO the auto, with the
butcher, the baker, and the cunning
Ghinaman, and the equally cute Jap
visiting US two or three times a week,
with the morning paper thrown from
the car TO our very door, SO that We
have the morning news before break
fast each day. What lack we for com
fort of body, peace of mind, and quiet
of soul.
California is not slow 10 appreciate
the value of seaside resorts. Within
there are dozen beaches, more or less
pretenfious in size, and all of them
commanding generous patronage in
both summer and winter. The partic-
ular beach where we are located has
for its name word that is more than
pleasant fancy. While it cannot of
course compare with the Venice Of the
Old World, it vet aspires to much that
lis name suggests. Its buildings are of
the Venetian style of architecture, and
the general outlay of the place is sug-
gestive of the Old World. 4 canal
runs through or "reund the town, over
which many bridges of quaint design
are built. For small sum you may
ride in veritable gondola, and for
aught / know, have for a boatman a
gaily CARRIED gondoiier, and be enter
tanned, if not by the music of his ltal-
ian fancy, by the strains of the instru-
ment that sprang from the brain of the
Wizard Edison. Meandering about
the town you will be greeted with
sights quite novel. You will at once
be impressed with the many attrac-
tons that We have supposed belonged
as the sole property of Coney Island,
and then at the very next turn s'mid-
way plaisanee" will remind you of a
modern exposition, while the merry go
rounds and the pop corn and peanut
vendors will suggest a country fair or
circus day. A miniature railroad with
its fully equipped engine, its little con-
ductor, dwarfed in body, but quick Of
wit, cars 50 small that you wonder II
they will safely carry the load intrust-
ed TO them. This miniature train will
tempt you toinvest a nickle and take
ride of mile past cottages or bunga-
lows, places OF amusement and quaint
gardens, and bits OF green laid out in
every imaginable shape ndscolor. If
IL were summer time you would see
every one of these scores Of bungalows
that line the canal filed with people
playing house, for so small are these
dwellings that Ii seems as If the people
were regarding housekeeping az mere
joke
Another of the noticeable features Of
the place is the ship Restaurant, yer
liable ship connected with The pier, in
which you can get anything that yon
wish in the way OF edibles served in
the most attractive and elegant fashion
and for which you pay accordingly.
II goes without the saying that these
people are not In the business Of eater-
ing to the public for their health
Every day, afternoon and evening,
brass band diseoarses music more or
less classical. and crowds gather 70 lis
ten and otherwise enjoy the program.
AT night the place is one blaze OF light,