Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-12-24
THRU the "xEw MANS" EYES

The following letter. written to his
man wha has travelled over most Of
the face Of the earth and has but re-
Gently settled in Marshalltown should
perhaps be considered confidential but
as a glimpse Of Marshalltown and Of
Iowa seen thru the eyes of new
conner 1t seems to belong to the public
as well. Some times to see ourselves as
others see US strengthens purpose, as
It Is said to Danish conceit.
Masonic Temple, Marshalltown. Ia.
Dec. %. 1918
Dear Brother
With your letter Of introduction to
some good people, comes your question
as to what induces me to seriously
consider locating here in Marshalltown.
AS you know, came here with de-
finite plan worked out in theory; but
I soon found to my chagrin that 1.-The
omnipresent other fellow" had hoped
to 1t first" and it is not our policy to
needlessly butt into a going game;
without at least looking around a bit
to be sure the stakes are big enough
for divide worth our while.
1t makes me sore at myself to find
that Iowa land I sold some years ago
for a song, is now worth about 5000 per
acre. What do you think Of that? Per-
haps it is just human nature to want to
get: even in the same place you lose
out. You know how it IS. yourself, in
any game. Perhaps. again, it has just
happened so; but Providence is doubt
less back of all seeming chance; and SO
1t is that very small appearing mat
tiers really change the course of a life,
sometimes. In my case, 1t may have
been just the hospitable spirit abroad
here that decided me to remain after
found that there was another Rich
mond in the field
On our way up to the hotel from the
railroad station. we passed under
large electric light flashing out the
cheering word "Welcome." The other
side Of that greeting brilliancy invites
the departing guest to Come Again.
That sign is the keynote to the spir-
it-of- and thus far 1
have found nothing not in harmony
with 1t. There was not human face
in the city had ever seen before, to
my knowledge. But from the first, Il
kind o felt at home, don't you know?";
and forthwith proceeded to make my
self at home. The feeling has grown on
me since I secured a nicely furnished
house {the only one possible. and 1t
Just vacated): then I found a good
fellow to share his office with me in
this building: and two other good fell
lows who put me into the MARSHALL
town Cub, also IN tnis building, where
one gets many Of 1.-The comforts of a
home" Gncluding chicken fxings, pie
and coffee like mother made.") In a
word, my lines have fallen in pleasant
places"
Marshaltown is the only city Of its
size, to my knowledge. that has only
one daily paper. That fact has some
thing to do with its being such an I'M
usually good paper. The people ap-
preciate and concentrate on good
thing. It costs less and pays them bet
ter in the long run.
During my first walk up Main street
joyfully noted the absence OF "bums"
and other loafers who make the prin-
cipaI corners, and the public squares
Z 10 unpleasant to ladies in most cities
Of this size. If there is anything re-
Sembling "red-light district" in Mar
ohalltown, it has eluded me for three
weeks. It is evidently a dry town:
and the competition is not in gorgeous
saloons, but in fine, prosperous-l looking
churches and school houses.
We felt at once; "rhis is home
tOwn."
Tho story Of how Marshalltown be-
easpe dry, as told to me by some Of
I. ihoso who "wrouht the alleged impossi-
b3es~ - another proof that fact il
airanes1 than fiction. Drinkers and
n0n.drinkers alike saw the plain fact
s1na4 noasy spent over bars for luxu-