Evening star., 1952-04-22
Readers Clearing House
Conducted by BETSY CASWELL
AUSTIN. TEXAS.

I'm glad for the opportunity
to express enthusiasm to a pros
pective Austin, Tex, resident. We
lived there from April to Novem-
ber 1850, hated to leave and would
like to go back for a more ex-
tended stay.
! The city has good shopping IA
lcilitieS and numerous large gro
cery stores. Ice cream IS very
CHEAP!
There are several lovely resi-
dental sections. and unless the
real estate picture has changed,
you'll find excellent buys in homes
in nice convenient sections, near
good schools. The apartment
situation is vastly different from
this area. There are no large de-
velopmentS. but number Of small
apartments, for which the turn
over is not great. The people are
very friendly-one of the Texas
"brags" that really stands up!
The climate is far superior to
Washington climate. The temper
ature goes very high in the sum-
mertime, but the atmosphere is so
dry around Austin that it rarely
becomes uncomfortable. Farther
south, in San Antonio and Hus-
ton. the humidity is terrific, but
in Austin neither we nor the chill
dren had perspiration problems.
They use very effective inexpen-
Slve system of air conditioning,
easily installed by a handyman
around the house. We really found
it unnecessary to use it except on
occasion. We understood that the
winters are fairly mid and short.
They have cold spells and even
snow. which do not last longer
than a day or so. Our neighbors
claimed that their children never
wore woolen clothes of any de-
IScription the year around.
Here's hoping you enjoy Austin
as much as we did.
(From Mrs. J. P. w.. Siluer Spring.
Mrs. L. K: In answer to youI
questions about Austin, Tex, I
would be happy to supply informa-
Ition to you. Austin is our nome
town. and I have spent six very
happy years there. Like, you, I
moved to Austin from a northern
city and at first was dismayed by
several undesirable factors which
I will mention later. as wish to
stress the pleasant side first.
You will be more likely to find
a home for sale or rent than an
apartment. You should contact a
good real estate Office there the
first thing. We lived in both the
south and north parts of the city,
although the west would be de-
Sirable, too. The schools are ex-
Icellent and you will find that your
children will receive more indivi-
dual attention there than in a
larger city. The standards of edu-
cation are high as the University
lof Texas uses the schools of Austin
for many research projects.
Austin has many fine stores
downtown and also many nice
shopping centers. feel that your
living costs will 60 down there,
especially your utilities. The rec
Ireational facilities are many, in
cluding good natural swimming
pools and parks. Thre are good
out of door drive-in theater also
and the university provides plays
and concerts and many cultural
activities.
Most of all. you will grow to
like the friendly people. There is
Ia natural cordiality which is quite
rare in a larger city such as
Washington.
Now, for the drawbacks: Heat
and bugs. Yes. Austin is dry and
hot from May until November.
Your body will become accus-
toned to the heat in about two
years. It is easier to stand than a
humid atmosphere, however. AS
for the insect life, you will soon
learn to beware of scorpions and
reaches, spiders. etc. None of my
family was ever stung-so these
IcreatureS can be avoided.
I will be happy to give you any
details about Austin if you care tc
write me through this column.
AMARYLLIS.
From Mrs. J. c. S.. Alexandria,
Mrs. H., Bethesda: The advice
I will give to you is from past ex-
perience which proved successful;
as each of my two amaryllis plants
had four beautiful blooms this
year.
After the blooming period, 7
continued to water not as often
my plant until the weather per-
mits the plant outside I put my
flower pot. plus plant, in an out
of-the-Way spot in the yard and
left it to shift for itself during the
summer. In the fall when I gath
cred my glad bulbs I took the
amaryllis bulb out of the soil.
This bulb was put in a box in the
basement with other bulbs until
after Christmas. The latter part
of January the bulb was replanted
leaving in the basement until the
new growth was 3 inches. After
replanting be sure to water
generously.