The Parker post., 1913-01-11
MUSINGS OF
THE NEW YEAR
FATHER TIME LIFTS CURTAIN
AND RANNELLS MAN SEES
VERDE VALLEY.
BY Robert Furlong.

RANNGl4LS, Jan. tine Monday
season has come and gone leaving in
many happy homes such pleasant
memories of festival week as will
last until its annual return, if not
through life The family reunions,
the giving and receiving Of presents,
the feast of good things from the
table, and above all else the spirit of
uncontrolled joyousness which at
that time fills the little folks, all
unite to make the week the brightest
and happiest of the year
In a new country such as we have
here, where the social life is still i'm
the formative stage, no community
observance of the holidays was prac-
ticable. None was attempted furth-
er than day christmas tree" at
the school building This was load
ed with presents for pupils and teach
err. There was also a social gather
Dec 81 to usher in the, New Year
with music and speech and flying
feet"
This neighborhood has not yet
grown SO ambitious that it tries to
emulate the example of those wealthy
and populous centers that indulge in
tournaments of roses, ''Citrus
Fairs or ''Mardigras Carnivals" to
add to their holiday attractions. In
time such ambition will grow, doubt
less. At present this community
would be satisfied to have an old
time "husking bee,' provided the
valley corn crop was abundant
enough to furnish the raw material
No, the calm demeanor of our people
showed that they celebrated the Holt
days in that dignified manner be
coming to good citizens.
Doubtless many good resolutions
were made. Some of these may be
kept, for, as the writer is informed,
an individual here must travel some
twenty miles or more to get the
whereWithall to break good re-
solution. 1t is said that many good
resolutions are lost in crossing the
Colorado That may explain why the
red river is such a turbulent, I'M
comfortable stream Also why the
United States government proposes, to
imprison its waters in mountain fast
Eesses to prevent their going on q
rampage in the good old summer
time
While individual resolutions are
good in Them way. if kept. our peo-
pie appear more to need such bonds
or pledges as will unite them into
one community. AS our valley in
dustries expand there must be a
corresponding growth of interest in
dependent upon the latter
The writer has an optimistic neigh
Dor who appears to have the Gift of
prophecy. He sees visions OF things
that have not yet come to pass Thi.
marvellous power is accorded to him
especially during the night following
late holiday dinner ordered from a
mesquite menu card. He had, or
thinks he had, on the night of Jan
On i,,to uy;4 HI;,,,
through whose courtesy he was per
mitted to lift the curtain of years
and see for few moments the Palo
Verde valley as it will appear twenty
five years from date
Language partly failed him in his
attempt to describe the wonderful
changes that had been wrought and
the surprising beauties of the valley
as they appeared to his delighted
vision
The whole area almost to the river
margin seemed to be in high state
of cultivation. Beautiful homes en-
powered with trees and surrounded
with gardens and orchards dotted
the landscape, while stretching away
in the distance were groves and
meadows and fields from which the
ripened products had been garnered
There was city having modern
buildings, with arcaded walks and
finely paved streets, but he could not
determine its location as all was new
and strange to him.
He noted the dome Of large pub
lie building which he thought might
be court house or county hall of
records.
The people were dressed in gala
attire as it was a great fete day,
"The Festival of Date Palms." which
was celebrated ON the LIST of January
every year in honor of leading
product of the valley.
Rows of well trained date palms