Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-09

boundaries of the region which we call
the west. 1 have heard women dilate
about the west, and on inquiry l found
that they came from the remote locality
of Ohio, Indiana or Michigan. Now We of
the real true west resent this usurpauon
of our title. We do not permit any one
who is not on the coast to use the word
weSterner. though of course We grudging-
ly allow that the states which border on
the Canadian line. should have a small
claim to the term west az we'll as that of
the north. But Washington state is west
if there be any significance in that geo.
have two entirely different sorts of eli
mate and soil conditions. caused by its
clearly defined division north and south
of the Cascade mountains. We lie east
of the mountains and are as cut off from
the conditions which prevail along the
coast as though We were a continent
apart. We are in the irrigation belt and
in the land of great things Our fruit
surpasses any in the state. though of
course this assertion may be holly con-
tested. Our apples are sent all over the
world and as for peaches. California.
Puget sound, the much-vaunted fruit belt
of Oregon, all fall below ours in flavor,
size and exquisite cOloring. We suffer
from all the ills of a semi-arid climate,
mainly the alkali dust and constant prev
alence of sunshine. but we have so many
other blessings that these troubles are
mere trif1es.
when talking to those who have never
lived in an arid climate I find that they
are unable to conceive ones having too
much sunshine. IT appeals as a sort OF
paradise TO have bright blue sky and the
golden sun pouring down radiance day in
and day out. month in and month out but
II one tried to live on a diet of sweet
things he would realize what ii means
never to have cloudy rainy day. We
welcome the least cloud. AS for rain.
Shakespeare says. il indeed comes like a
blessing from heaven. and a rare one at
tHat. The heavy dews provide much
moisture. and science has conquered the
agricultural problem by irrigation. But
the perpetual sunshine has always re-
minded me of the wise saying of the
Scrlptures-not to ask for either poverty
or riches. for all good or all i'll in this
life: but TO be satisfied with the usual
variation which is sent. We have all the
diversified industries OF such a region.
farming and dairy products being the
chief assets of the state.
~
Washington should be the mother of
great statesmen, If II be true that they
are best formed by the contemplative
game of fishing. Our fishing is the pride
of every citizen. and no two men can get
together without exchanging fish story
My husband loves to fish, and our home
is always supplied with his success or
those OF his friends. and we follow the
usual habit of giving record weighing
friends. Nothing hurts our pride and
arouSeS our resentment like comparing
the Columbia river salmon to the Cana
dian counterfeit or the salmon OF Scot
land or Ireland. We claim pre-eminence,
and are willing TO fight for our reputa-
ton.
To travel all over Washington is to
see some of the fairest land which this
great country boasts and the most varied
IN beauty. Our mountains present scenes
of grandeur not eQualed in any land. and
our rivers and lakes and the moraines
where the glacial deposits are studied
by geologist and botanist are worth cross
ing the continent or the ocean to see. Our
deep forests. still the forests primeval
are among our dearest possessions. Their
majestic proportions, many still unsur-
reyed, must appeal to all who love ma
ture- Hunting is still fine in the great
woods. and next To fishing the men of
the state find their principal relaxation
in the ancient sport of Nimrod We like
to spend our leisure time camping in the
woods and on long horseback tours
touring cars. which I'LL the need when