Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1912-05-15

with small green trees and MOSES.
AS we go farther and farther we
hear something that sounds like
heavy freight train passing over a
tressel, and the farther we go the
greater the sound. We soon feel that
our clothing is damp and there seems
to be mist, when we come into full
view of cataract with a sheet Of
water leaping from a ledge two thou
sand feet above. 1t seemed as if
the water changed as it left the cliff
above, to great ribbon with all the
cclorS OF the rainbow. The noise was
so great that we could not converse
with each other, and the only way we
had of communication was by signs
We stood there for long time trying
to get it in all its beauty, so that l
might be able, in my way, to tell my
friends how it looked.
We started back in order to get
the trail that leads up the mountain,
and we had a long hard grind,
up, resting here and there, until we
got to the halfway house for hot
cup of coffee, and as we are four
and half miles from the bottom
it is quite cool here After a good
iSSI VIC hlhC dlOHS, Jul tccllHS
pretty stiff, until we wind around
mountain close to the top, that
brings the valley that we had Just
left into full view. We are in snow
now, and some of the party are get
ding their faces washed good and
plenty, as we stop to rest; but for
us we are too busy looking at what
seems to be a great picture. Almost
at our feet, it seems, is Alhambra
We can easily trace the streets al
though it is over twenty miles away.
We also look down on the crown
city, with it's forty thousand popu-
lation, and built up with the best
homes anywhere on earth. And we
just look little farther, then comes
Los Angeles. Then as we look still
farther the best of all sights we ever
beheld meets our eyes. There is the
ocean, with all the beaches, there we
can see plainly Los Angeles harbor
filled with boats from all over the
world. We can see one at a time
leaving, and as they get farther out
at sea, we see one turn north for
San Francisco, Portland, Seattle and
Alaska. We see another turn south
for the ports Of the southern repub-
lies. And We see others that turn
neither to the right or left, but go
on and on, till they pass over the
globe, out of sight, on their way to
Honolulu and the Orient. AS we
stand here we can't help but think
what great big world this is, and
what a small thing man is. This
may not be scenery to some, but to
us we can never forget it. The pic
ture was beautiful, and we are only
sorry that we are not able to bring
it back with us to show it to you
as we saw it,
Now, before l close, l want to
make one point plain that I have
mentioned, and that is this: / spoke
about the wealth of. the ranchers.
BY drawing an illustration you will
understand the situation and not be
tempted to sell your little, farm and
go west in search ofHweal6h. Two
brothers about forty years ago lived
in Ohio, one by the name of Jim,
the other, (the younger) by the
name Of John. Jim has reached the
age of twenty-three and wants to buy
a farm, but farm lands are high
there, so he decides to go up into
Iowa and get some cheap land, just
as good or better than he could get
at home. We won't say. how, butsby
chance he got up well into the north
east corner of the state, and bought
100 acres two miles west of Hesper
for $4,000 per acre, paid a small
amount down, the balance later. We
can't help but admire Jim's judgment
in making the selection for his future
home, and he starts in full Of grit,
works early and late, and things
al ound the farm show thrift. About
two years later Jim begins to wear
a brand new blue denim overall and |
jacket on Sunday, and We see him |
get on old Dobbin and ride acEbSs |
the fields to a neighbours. We find |
this neighbor has daughter by the |
name CT Sally Ann, and it is not long |
before Sally Ann and Jim are one. |
Now they are doing something in |
dead earnest. They fence the farm |
and cross fence 1t, crops are good,
and they make improvements year by |
year Jim now writes to his brother |
John to ccme and buy farm rigE:
by the side of him, but John slys
No, | am going farther west, per-
haps where the winters will not be
so severe as they are up where VIC
i've" Now we will not say how John
get to California, but he, like Jim,
seemed to be possessed with good
and he located near Up
lands, near the foot of Mt. San An
ionic, On 100 acres, and he also paid
1000 per acre, on about the same
erms as jim. He gees to work and
by careful management things look
pretty good to John, and like his
brother marries the neighbor S
laughter by the name of Mary Jana.
They also go to work in dead earnest
md each year set out a few more
orange and lemon trees, until it is
Ill one solid orchard.
(Fcrty years later):
Jim il older now, he can't stand
he hardships he used to, so he
writes a letter TO his brother John,
like this:
Dear Brother John:-It has been
en- years since l have written let
er to you, or received letter from
'ou. You used to write and tell me
ibout the nice climate you have
here, and Sally Ann and 7 were just
alking the matter over, and we have
lecided, Off you still think every
hing Ia as nice az yCu used 10 WTr2