Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1921-04-14

have been asked numerous ques-
tons since returning home, but prob
ably the question l am asked the Of
tenest is in regard to California as a
place to live. Tn any such l would
say that from the viewpoint of a
pleasurable life, suppose that with
out doubt southern California stands
at the head of the list. Speaking of
the particular locality in which we
lived, in over three months time that
we spent there last winter during
what they call their rainy season,
there was only one day without sun
shine. There were several rains dur
ing our stay there, but as soon as the
rain was over it usually cleared off
very soon and ended in a perfect day
There was no freeze from November
to March sufficient to kill tomato
vine. There was not day when the
wind was strong enough to make 1t
unpleasant We have been among the
oranges and lemons at 900 o'clock
and then be where we could make
snowballs before it was time to eat
the noon lunch. l have seen a mil
lion flowers / think, of every hue
with the white fleecy clouds floating
over them, and in just a short time
We were above the same clouds.
Standing on the shore of the ocean
with the thermometer standing at
probably 70 degrees, with a gentle
breeze from the water; vessels out in
the deep blue sea not far distant;
snow covered mountains in plain
view; oranges, lemons, and rose trees
all around; flowers of all kinds ev-
erywhere; vine clad houses; water
fowl by the hundreds; the constant
road of the old ocean; how could it
help being nice place to live? And
while would not say a word against
any town in California, l would ven
ture to say that when that sunny
southwest goes to make up her jew
els, the list will be headed by Long
Beach. And what about Iowa? The
finest agricultural state in the Union;
the least waste land of any like sized
territory on earth; governmental land
values at 5000 per acre which is in
excess of any other state; a produc-
ton higher in value per acre than
any other state-even Illinois; good
schools, good churches, and a good
citizenry; and my final conclusion is
this: That anyone without an in
come would do well to stay in Iowa,
for it has been a good place to make
money and undoubtedly will be again
as soon as the country gets adjusted,
which / hope is not far distant. On
the other hand, the one who has
fair income and wishes to move there
to enjoy the climatic conditions
would doubtless get along well. But
for the old or infirm who have only
few years to live at most, believe
that they could prolong life by living
in that sunny cline where they could
be out of doors every day; where it
Is winter in name only, and the clos
ing years of life would be one sweet
dream of flowers and sunshine. When
anyone has lived in the same county
all their life as / have, it is pretty
hard to break away from relatives
and friends and go to new location,
for you might travel the earth over
and do not know where you would
go to find more loyal and friendly
people than we have here. And
should I ever leave this county and
take up home elsewhere l would
ever remember the friendships of
Audubon county folks as one of the
brightest spots of life. The Audubon
county papers have been especially
kind in the space they have accorded
me since last fall and I have endeav-
ored to give true account of the
country as ] saw 1t. If / were doing
it over again would make no change
in what have written except to say
again that the real beauty of the
country exceeds anything / might be
able to say in description of it. So /
would say again that any person
ought to be happy if they have
good home whether it be in Iowa or
in the sunny southland.
Audubon Shelley,