Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-07-31
tBy Geo. B. Winship.)
To the Editor:

To the Editor:
National City, Calf, July 25.-Dur,
ing the past few months my time has
been SO occupied with things impor-
tant, as we'll as unimportant, that I
have. not given much thought to the
readers of The Herald. with whom !
like to keep in touch for h sake Of
'auld lang syne." While l have no
set duties to perform each day, my
time is more or less occupied, and
the days, weeks and months slip by
with bewildertng rapidity. In the first
place, you. know that I am a lemon
grower in this section. and this year
the crops Ire so bountifuI and the
: prices so attractive, that I am giving
more attention to the five-acre tract I
possess than I have done heretofore.
The killing frost of 1918. and the
subsequent reduction of the import
tariff on citrus fruits, very nearly
f1ooredi the lemon growers in South
ern California. Until last yea there
was no profit in the business, and
many growers let their orchards go
back, rather than pursue an unproft-
able vocation. Prices last year were
good. but the crop was light. This
year the crop is heavy mt prices are
earnings of my little orchard thus far
this season thrills me with pleasure
and amazement. I didn't think it was
in it to be such a wealth-producer,
after its measly efforts of the, past five
years. Up to date. since January LIST.
I have picked 1883 boxes Of lemons.
and sold them at the rate of $1.S8 per
box, yielding me in round figures
about $4,000. The expense account
estimate the picks for the rest of the
year at 700 boxes, an average of 140
boxes per month. The heavy picks
usually are in April and May, when
not less than $50 boxes each month
were picked. ~
Do you wonder that I smile with
satisfaction, and feel that the world
and I r on good terms? &
= . q . 8
Another time-consumer, but with
out pecuniary profit. is my position in
the village as jitneyman-minus the
"jit." I am the handy-man, the let
George-do-it" sort Of fellow. who
hasn't anything to do but chore for
others Since becoming an expert
auto driver. my services have been in
almost daily demand. Sociables tea
parties and joy rides innumerable
iliar with the streets and by-paths of
this town and vicinity as,the oldest
inhabitant.
L Quite recently I have made two
house-to-house canvaases for the Red
Cross and War Savings Stamp commit
LteeA, and have enjoyed the experience
very much. L came into close contact
with all kinds Of people and learned
how they felt about the war. The at
titude Of 80 per cent was splendid.
They showed in very, way . clear IN
Outstanding Of the principles for
which u country ID contending, and
service possible for them to do.
Many yer very poor and, having a
hard struggle to buy their daily
bread, but in a safe place in their
homes were thrift and savings stamps,
the meagre savings Of the women and
children Of the family. There ID no
Questioning the patriotism Of such
people. !:
There are others. however. whose
attitude and generous spirit is not 80
commendable. Tho percentage ID
small, but they are Conspicuous by
their rank indifference and utter self
ishness. Two of the meanest Of this
class were Gran& Army men drawing
pensions from the government They
not only ~refrained from expressing
words of announcement and gyms
pathy, but refused to order any
stamps. One did n o propose that his
money should 30 I q. "barbaric Russ
England might he bensited somehow;
and he had no lse for England. Argu-
ment OF persuasion failed to inf1u!
ence them: they were n hard ~ ada.
mant, and averre4 thatfsmartAr d
than w HAD failed 70 shake them.