The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-04-10
SEEING AMERICA FIRST.
sna,ches nom Diary
BY FRED c. KELLY
Copyright. 1915, by Fred c. Relly)

Snatches from Diary.
Getting into southern California on the train
is fine study in dramatic suspense. Instead Of
throwing out hints Of what Is in store and re
vealing itself by gradual stages. California In
sists on being a climax geographical climatic
and horticultural climax The real California
comes all at once. The change from winter 10
summer all takes place within few hours ~
Arizona the temperature seemed % BE- about
the same as II was back on the Atlantic coast
Then we crossed a stretch OF California desert
dropped down a bill. and all about we're palm
trees. orange groves. and shirtwaist weatner-
exactly as represented in the advance notices
was travelling with several members OF con-
gress, among them Bin Kettner OF San Diego and
Bill Gordon OF Ohio. At daybreak ketfner JOY
fully shouted from his upper berth that We were
in California Gordon looked out the window
and saw nothing but the Mojaye desert he
feared the whole state was going 20 be Ike
that and II not quite what Gordon had oeen
led To expect Of California There were no
oranges no tropical profusion OF flowers. no
rose carnIvals no cute little bungalows-nothing
but desert and cactns Gordon, who Is an In
tense person in his likes and dislikes. giared az
the scene a moment and then began TO oerate
Kettner for not having California up TO the speci-
ffcations few minutes later he met me in the
diner and exclaimed sayasely:
-An this country we out yonder is Ket.
ner's district ] know II Is because asked him
and he admitted it,
Almost from the moment one gets off the train
one begins 10 hear fascinating stories OF the Five
Acres and Liberty brand-how five acres OF
orange trees will keep a man and his family
prosperous and healthy and happy all the days
Of their lives-and long lives. at that.
Just as there are weather liars in California,
there are OF course orange grove liars But
like 20 think that az least part OF what have
been told is true. For | am going 10 have
great deal Of fun on the long winter nights think
ing of the soft snap OF the man who OWES
about but picking his oranges and squirting
water az his rose bushes. life Ike that IL
not without its advantages.
And no; the least appealing feature OF south
ern California life hFye heard IL this. One
may pick fresh strawberries from the garden
eleven months IN the year. The idea OF straw
berry shortcake for dinner 330 days in the year
might almost reconcile one TO missing the sport
Of prying snow loose from the sidewalk with,
snow shovel Unless. OF course, one happens 20
be fanatic over that sort OF thing
There must be some truth in this talk they're
handing me about picking money off the orange
trees. for nobody here In the smaller cities az
pears 10 be working much. Yet nobody looks
worried. and all seem prosperous. The towns
have seen far are btfiit without sitIHs
II Is going 10 be extremely tough TO walk up
TO the Italian en- the corner and bug oranges
again. Every place go somebody offers me
case Of oranges Just "a casually a. II be were
only handing me a stogie. Oranges too ripe 10
ship east bu, Just right for immediate use may
be had az the rate q about two dozen for
dime. And one Ia assured that one may eat all
the oranges one wants For there q alkali In
the drinking water here That oYercUrnes any
ldisadyantsgecus result~fhat might possibly come
from the acid Of the orange, and everything Is
| lovely
| A ripe olive taken direct from the tree and
uncrrsd, tastes not unlike a good oid-fashionea
green persimmon Hence. persuading The tou--
I TsT % PICK himself a nice fresh FTPe olive and
eat II. comprises one OF the favorlte California
practical jokes
+, TIE California se1se 81 humor crops out every
/ little while In the beautiful toNn ii River
| side II a street known al Magnolia avenue II
ia 50 called for the reason that u = lined en-
trely with eucalyptua and palm ,ree.