The Spokane woman. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1921-1935, 1929-02-28
MRS. JOHN c. RALSTON PAINTS WITH PEN
PICTURE ENROUTE TO HONOLULU


a very decided talent for romance is shown in
the following diary written by Mrs. John G. Rals'
ton, en- route to Honolulu where she and her daugh
ter, Miss Mary Ralston, spending the winter
Mrs. Ralston is the widow of the late John c. Rails
ton whom Spokane honors the great engineer of
the building of the Monroe street bridge.
Tuesday
A small group stood waiting for the vancouver
train in the Seattle station The group so small
each figure stood out distinctively and although
breakfast beyond, yet mind began questioning
could all be going the same way? The tall
straight precise man in fawn-colored top coat with
huge plaids, highly polished boots trim cane.
Alpine hat and beautiful red steamer rug over his
arm, the wife smuggling in furs the girl in leopard
skin coat They seriously travelling even
ii the girl did lpstick between courses at break.
fast later on.
There was the huge man, too tall for Falstan
without his twinkle of eye. too modernly business.
but she. in tans the color OF her short locks but
why those two small paper parcels? In the bus at
Vancouver she exclaimed over the many derbies,
mark you not 'darbies," and he said he must be
up early in the morning to find where stock prices
stood. Surely they are States people, but after
registering at the Vancouver we are convinced they
are newy-weds, not youthful but lately divorced
How about that other couple? The black, red or
half breed of some kind, the beads and forgery IN
Dictated cheap department store. Could he be an
exbarkeeper speler in side show. yet they
were interesting in their oddity and quiet dignity
However, to Vancouver, bright for all Its
gray and dampisle atmosphere. Christmas In the
air. Santa for bits of silver in behalf of the poors
cheer putting balloons and tops great tree.
the shop windows teeming over with temptations
but out for shower coat, and lots Of fun
it is to discuss McFerry coats and London cloth
with the shopkeeper whose accent we attempt even
with that notice over head of how one may fake
500 of purchases into the States, divining shop
keepers!
Wednesday
The head porter kindly tagged all bags, rolls and
as each bus load drove off we became more and
more seasoned travellers for there were Auckland
Sydney, etc, tags and privately we were regrettng
had late atlas along. However boldly
faced the situation and piled into the bus to be-
hold fat man who didn't get up early enough
to learn stock prices.
Opposite sat such good looking woman, with
perhaps too many pearls for early in the day.
The daughter was most homely. felt she was
such a pity but M. suggested the branch must
leave father and sure enough he was unmistak
ably found.
The ship came into sight and really a cloud
piercer to my doubling anticipation-kindly friends
had suggested small boat, unpronounceable name
meaning! How could they know when New
Zealand and its mountains far away?
1t was the usual sailing. usual Vancouver winter
weather. bouquets of flowers packages of fruit, and
candy and streamers, New York sailing a small
scale and the same people.
We all together being over the railing, the Burn
Jones faced sister with an immensely English ac-
cent of most friendly contact clutching a wee
branch of violets going back to Australia after six
years absence, untried with keen interest of the
present, but when see all these fur coats, fear
she may be cold in her knitted hugme.tight Near
by woman absolutely coal black carrying the fiat.
proper clothing, rather should say In the lack OF
she could burst into South Sea Island wild