The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1921-02-03
FROM BIG PINE, CALF.

We have been permitted to quote
as follows from a letter written by
Miss Verna Lembach to Mrs. Maude
Butler. We are sure the letter will
be read with interest by Miss Lem
bach's many friends:
Big Pine, Calf
January 81, 1921
Dear Maude:
Well you can see where | am. /
have long story to tell you if my
patience holds out In the first place
/ want to know where you got per-
mission to put my letter in the Clio
paper. ! didn't see it as / was down
in Imperial Valley visiting Nancy but
Mable was telling me about it.
forgive you this time. | had nice
trip down in the valley. Started
from l.. A. Tuesday morning and
went down on the day train. / went
on the day train for two reasons,
first to save my berth fare and sec
ond to see the country and it sure
was very educational to me. Louis
just came and called me to dinner so
I'll finish later. Well I'm back and
must hurry as we are going duck
hunting with Louis and Mr.. Miller
this afternoon. Well in the coach /
had from L. A. way up in front was a
lady taking her dying husband to the
desert because he was dying of tuber-
culosis. That was his last resort. A
girl got on at Pasadena who was also
going to make reservations to take
her sister over who had a small spot
on her lung. DR.. said two winters
in this desert would permanently
cure her otherwise she never would
be cured. This girl shared my
seat so l enjoyed her company for
the forenoon. She got off at noon
and stage met the train and took
her six miles to the place. Well
back of this T. 3. fellow was big
indian squaw. A little ways back was
a Hindoo. He had white rag on his
head. In front of us sat a big, fat
greasy Jew. Three diamonds and a
wrist watch on one hand. After this
girl got off / was the only lady on
the car. Well Nancy and Bion (Mr.
and Mrs. Bibbins) met me at the
train with their car and we drove to
their house, where supper was ready
and soon there came knock at the
door and Lloyd and Ruby (Mr. and
Mrs. Lloyd Houghton) walked in. l
sure was surprised. They are living
there, he works for Bion in the
creamery. Bion is the superintend-
ent He has fine position. Wish
/ might give you a vision of this
town. Main street paved but where
! the houses are not side walk or a
blade of grass. Terrible heat in the
day time but cool nights. In the
summer if they want to take bath
they fill tub in the morning and let
it cool. Well between the two girls !
sure had fine time. We drove to
Mexico and that Mexicale is some
town. Imagine a town Of Mexicans
and we were the only white persons
saw while there. Was glad to get
back to U. S. On way down saw
large orange orchards with ripe fruit
and looked up and saw snow on the
mountains. We took an auto ride
through the country and saw the cot
ton fields. / picked some and will
bring it home. We went to picture
shows and drove to Imperial and
Brawley. The COW boys used to ride
in and shoot up the town, but since
it is dry / guess they are not bother
ed. The irrigation is wonderful
They convey their water for irri-
CATION from the Colorado river in big
canals. Very few white women stay
in this valley in the summer, it is SC
hot. 1t is 235 feet below sea level
only one place lower in the United
States and that is in this valley where
| am now (near Big Pine). 1t is
called Death Valley and only few
people have ever crossed it. Well
Saturday morning / had telegram
from Cecile MRS. Louis Lather) to
leave Los Angeles Sunday night fol
Big Pine, and that | would have COM
pany. Mable miss Mabel Brass
has been with me on the trip. Al
the start we went to the station, Sc.
cured our tickets and engaged an up
per berth. Went to bed at nine and
woke up way up here in the hills
First place of account we saw was a
soda mine. We had to get off the
train at Owenyo for breakfast, which
consisted of sausage, eggs, fresh bis
cult, honey, spuds and coffee. While
at breakfast we met Mr.. Carr, presi-
dent of the Inyo Chemical Co. This
is the company in which Mr.. LatheI
and several citizens of Clio are inter.
ested). You no doubt remember
hearing me speak of him while in
Michigan. He was very pleased to
meet us and we were equally pleased
to meet him, especially as he paid for
our eats. Well, here we got no mar
row guage road for Big Pine. Rode
a long way between the Sierra Ne
vada and Inyo mountains. Very
pretty. Here we saw Mt. Whitney,