Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-09-17
To the Editor

AZ 11O GoAIOA-
am receiving more letters Of in
quiry just now from North Dakota
concerning the climate and living con-
ditions in Southern California than
l have for the past five years. Appar-
emily there are hundreds if no. thou
sands of people in the northern belt
who contemplate coming here to
spend the. winter. Many, doubtless,
expect to remain permanently. Many
understand conditions here, and may
not. There are two sides to life in
the seamy side, figuratively speaking.
"All is not gold that glitters." Genial
climate and picturesque scenery are
fine; they please the senses and ex-
alt the soul, but they do not fill an
empty stomach. II the tourist is so
conditioned that ne bring the
necessary filling with him and has
the mental adaptability to find his
proper groove in the affairs OF life
he viii find the Southland an ideal
place in which to live. On h con-
trary, if he Toes not possess a living
competence and is Indifferent to the
phase of life which does not promote
purely material interests, he had bet
ter not come here with the intention
of remaining permanently. For strict
ly business and "getting-on-in-the-
world purposes this section is not to
There are fewer opportunities and less
stimulus to accomplishment. Once in
a while a young nan full of pep and
northern methods drops in here and
makes a success n adds to his ma
terial holdings; but in the majority Of
cases failure is written on the career
of the newcomer, and he eventually
departs full of explosives for the
try which hasn't anything to offer
for his material advancement but eli
mate and scenery. I say this, despite
the fact that I am optimistic as to
the future Of San Diego. I believe
it destined to be 8. great city. an i'm
portant commercial metropolis. and
the future capital of the play-lovers
Of the world.
Different With Northerners.
Ii is different, however. with the
old and middle-aged person hailing
from the rigorous northern climate. 1t
is just the place for him II he Is
w~orked-out and desires a period of
rest and recuperation. Even a mod
est income. together with ordinary in
dustry, will enable him to support
himself and family. Chicken-raising
and gardening are the principal voca
I2OAh VI NSoAA AAAo ~
their income and have some regular
duty to perform each day. In this
climate, where the sun shines four
fifths of the time, 1t Is absolutely
necessary to have some work to do,
otherwise n would weary with mo-
notony. Many retired people who
have led an active life make 4 great
mistake when they come here by not
getting interested in some form of Oc-
cupation other than the seeking Of
mere pleasure. They build fine homes,
buy automobiles, motor about the
country for a season, and then dis
cover that something Is wrong-they
are not enjoying the life they expect
ed. Their thoughts go back to their
old homes, to the scene of their ear
IL struggles, where their children
were born and reared, and where per-
sonal friendships were formed which
time and space cannot obliterate. As
a general thing, this class OF new
either go broke or return to
their old homes for repairs. The fact
is that they retired p~rematurely; the
atmosphere of commerc.alism still
surrounded them; the psychological
no: prepared to enter upon the new
Ideal Habitat for Retired Men.
The retired old person, having
spent the major part of his life in
purely material affairs, in occupations
OF a sordid character, should cndeav-
or in his latter life to cultivate the
finer or spiritual side OF his nature
and there is no spot outside the walls
Of the Garden Of Eden better adapted
to that kind OF cultivation than here
in Southern California. With a
mighty ocean on one side and majestic
mountains on the other; with a warm
genial sun beaming pon all creation
and floral ornamentation Astounding
on every hand, the stage is complete.
ly. set for an ETHEREAL sort OF existence
But beauty, grandeur or majesty dc
not appeal to the in search 0i
material things. He wants business
life, activity-the AIRY. fairy, spiritua
element cuts no ice with him. There.
fore, I say that as a general proposi'
ton this southern latitude is not com
lpatible with diversified prosperity, and
the young hustler who wants to d.
things and acquire a fortune can find
. more productive field for his activ,
titles In the more energized climate Of
the north. !
When I left Grand Forks nine year.
Eago among the bright little boys who
bid me gOcd-byG was the e1even-yeal
old on Of Harry L. WiIson.sfor man,
J years business manager Of The Herald
LAST night finely built Athlete
y ~ 49,