Evening journal., 1922-08-25
TELLS WONDERS
OF Arizona
Delaware Graduate Gives
His Impressions of West
ern State
III. FAIRBANKS
z TEACHING SCHOOL

Especial to The Evening ournal.
NEWARK. Aug. 25-Dean e.
Laurence Smith Of the University Of
delaware has received an interesting
|setter from Joseph H. Fairbanks, a
.raduate of the university. dated
Flagstaff, Arizona. giving his impress
ions Of that wonderful country. Mr..
Fairbanks who graduated from the
University last year is also a gradu-
,te of the wilmington High School.
lie now has a position teaching
science and English in the high
chool at Florence. Arizona. In the
etter Mr.. Fairbanks says:
ITO an easterner this country is
,ery wonderful. To put It frankly
he scenery out here is enough to
knock your eye out 1 used to
hink that Zane Cray and other
writer's were extravagant in their
descriptions but I find on the con-
rary that their efforts are rather
,itiful. In fact since seeing the sun
let on the Painted Desert from the
Cd Of San Francisco Peak (13,000
'eet) am almost tempted TO say
hat ones widest flight of fancy
would hardly exaggerate the truly
wonderful beauty and coloring that
one sees every once in awhile.
"I have been fortunate in having
teen most OF the State since I have
been here; its deserts, mountains
ana forests. Can you imagine a
great park, grassy and sprinkled
with wild flowers. spreading itself
bver a couple OF thousand square
miles or so with large pines growing
Everywhere, each for the most part
alone. so that the sun floods all, bur
occasionally grouped in shady
vroves-and the whole panorama
freed Of monotony by hills, noun
aims and red stone canyons, with an
occasional lake and still more occa-
sional mountain brook (where the
rainbow trout played havoc with my
fsherman's pride). All this TO give
you an idea Of the country around
Flagstaff elevation, 1000 feet)
where I have been since the middle
af June.
buN 4 LAA4AAh AAAdA NAAt AN1NA Al Tie
south IN part OF the State is the
most interesting. The desert plant
ant animal life is fascinating. II is
said y that anyone who has spent a
week in the desert becomes an anna
teur botanist. The country is so ex-
iansive, the atmosphere is so clear,
md the colors are so wonderful in
ihe evenings, that it is all rather
awe inspiring, and the expanses have
such a merciless aspect that they are
fascinating.
"Strange as il may seem there is
more grandeur and poetry in the
desert than any other place.
Il am planning TO go 10 the Grand
Canyon OF the Colorado this week
End and to the petrifed forests and
.he Hopi Indian snake dance next
week. You have probably heard OF
his dance in which the Hopis wave
live and poisonous rattle !
'nakes as though they were merely |
he seven wells OF Salome. or what |
sver siren It was who wore seven |
7eils.
Il am enjoying wonderful health.
couple Of weeks ago tramped be-
ween 20 and rs miles, during the
iourse of which I climbed two of |
an Francisco's Peaks, each over
5000 feet. was on foot for IA hours
With a light pack and rifle, ate four
quare meals and woke up the next
mornings feeling fit and hungry. Mr..
fairbanks concluded his letter by
Eating that trout in Oak Creek
,anyon and bass in Mormon Lake
re growing fat and lazy waiting for
real fisherman TO come along and
axe them"