' PIIK NORFOLK NEWS : FRIDAY , JANUARY 22 , 1901.
J. A. Wnnzcr Writes Concern
ing His Experiences.
ESPECIALLY INTERESTING NOW
The Fact That Jnpnn Is nt This Time
the Center of the Greatest of Move
ments In Making History , Adds
Much to the Following
The following IH a letter received
liy Miss Pearl Wldaman of thin city
from ,1. A , Wan/or , who IH now In
Japan :
Nippon Yuson Kalsha , Doc. 2. Dear
Pearl : AH wo Htlll huvo HOvoral hours
hero before sailing for Shanghai and
It In too Infornnlly cold to enjoy your *
Holf on dock I know of no hotter wny
to linprovo tlio tlmo than catching up
with my corrcHpondonco.
I loft Canton ( ho lant of October on
forty dnys louvo houdod for Japan to
try anil rocnporato from a two months'
alcgo of dysentery , und If nothing
liappoitH to the good Hhlp Tosa I will
bo In Canton again the 10th of Dccom-
hor. At Hong Kong I mot a gentleman -
man and hla wife , named Go\ild , from
Detroit and liavo boon with thorn ever
Hlnco , or ruthor until day before yesterday -
torday , the day I loft Koloo for horo.
They milled yesterday on the Aid
Marco for Seattle by way of the
Or oat Circle and Alutlan Inlands while
I BO south for nearly 2,000 mlloa.
I'll Klvo you 11 little Hlcotch of my
trip which will have to do for this
tlmo na I haven't your laat letter with
mo to answer In detail. Your descrip
tion of your trip to Colorado was line
nml thoroughly enjoyed. Come again.
I loft Canton on the Hanhow , n
night boat , and got Into Hong Kong
about 2 a. in. As the night was line
I stayed up until wo got Into II. K. ,
ns It la said of the Pearl rlvor that nowhere -
where else In the world la there aa
much to see aa from the deck of a
steamer In the run of ninety miles
from Canton to Hong Kong ,
Wo loft II. K. nt 4 p. in. on the second
end of November on the lye Marco
and had line weather all the way to
Shanghai. From the second day out
until wo arrived opposite the Woo
Sung forts , a distance of nearly COO
miles , wo ran through water as yellow
ns ochre , discolored by the mighty
Yangtso ; .and after leaving Woo Sung
on our way across to Moyl the water
was discolored In the same manner
for one hundred miles at soa. To Il
lustrate the slzo of the rlvor , as per
example wo steamed through Ita mud
dy waters for nearly ouo entire day
without so much as catching a gllmpso
of land on cither stdo.
4 p. in. Loft the harbor two hours
ago and are pretty well out to sea at
this writing. I have boon watching
the steerage passengers ( all Japs and
Chinese ) at dinner. They faro pretty
well ns n whole , having plenty of rlco
and fish , which are their staple arti
cles of diet , wlillo their < iuartors are
neat and clean , each passenger having
n section some 11 vo by seven feet , cov
ered with several thicknesses of mat
ting. For exorcise they have the en
tire saloon deck , which Is more than
the cabin passengers have although
they may also use the saloon deck If
thru' wlnli
At Shanghai wo wont through the
native city and also the foreign con
cessions , the latter being well built
up with wide streets Hanked by good
substantial business Houses. I also
paid a visit to the company who have
their head olllco bore. Wo loft Shang
fi hai on the seventh at noon and got
into Moyl on the ninth about S a. in.
From Moyl to Kobe , a distance of 300
miles or more , the N. Y. K. passen
gers have the option of going by rail
or continuing through the Inland sou
on the steamer. . Mr. and Mrs. Gould
and myself decided on the former and
wo were well repaid as the trip by
rail is one of the most picturesque I
have over made ; the train following
the coast of the Inland sea nearly the
entire distance , being often within a
stone's throw of sailing vessels and
steamers , passing through lovely little
villages , and again the ruins of some
Shogutn castle or Buddhist temple
the approach being lined with gigan
tic pines and cryptomoria and the en
trance spanned by a colossal tiara of
wood or stone.
Getting into Kobe at dark wo wont
to the Oriental hotel , of which Kip
ling says "Those of you who wish to
slide through the world on a sleek and
contented stomach 'I1 say * * * go to
the Oriental in Kobo. "
From Kobe wo went to Osaka and
Kioto , the latter the capital of the em
pire for a thousand years up to 13C9
when It was changed to Toklo. At
Osaka we passed the imperial train
containing the emperor who was on
his way to Illmojl to review 50,000
troops. Wo only caught a gllmpso of
H. H. however. The most interesting
feature however was the crowds of
school children , soldiers and civilians
wo passed at every station for several
hours before meeting the imperial
train. In most of the places , especi
ally where our train ran through with
out stopping , wo were often mistaken
for the Imporlal train and such a wav
ing of flags and mustering of troops
you never saw. Wo all had little
American and Japanese flags which
wo waved continuously. It was lots
of fun and as Mrs. Gould remarked
"Aa It would probably bo the first tlmo
and the last that wo would bo nils-
taken for royally wo ought to make
the bout of It.Vo did.
On the Hlxtoonth Lieutenant Little
of the Thirtieth Infantry ( who loft the
no.xt day to join his regiment at Fort
Crook , Nob. ) and myself took the
night train to IllmoJI to aeo the big
review. This tlmo wo did BOO the emperor -
poror and looked at him until wo
grow tlrod. The review waa the most
impresalvo thing I ever saw and out-
Hide of the foreign military attaches
and nmbiiHHadora wo wore probably
the only foreigners present among a
crowd of Hoveral hundred thousand
people. AH the emperor passed down
the line of some three miles , which
wan lined with people from ten to a
hundred deep , you could almoat have
heard a pin drop. The sllenco watt
really painful. The Japanese , no mat
ter what the occasion , never cheer or
tnako any demonstration when the
emperor passea.
Wo spent alx daya in all at Kioto
visiting Buddhist and Shinto totnplea ,
old rulim , etc. , and also seeing the
lingo bell weighing 74 tons , which la
the largest suspended bell in the
world. The day wo loft Kioto wo ran
jnat half an hour ahead of the imperial
train all day long , the emperor being
on hla way back to Toklo. Unbeknown
to ua ho waa to atop at Shldyanka
ever night , which waa also our des
tination , AH the only hotel In town
had been reserved for the imperial
party wo had to stop at a Japanese
yadoga ( tea house ) . Our meals were
sent ever from the hotel however nnd
were line , being the same an the im
perial party received. Again wo had
a good look at the emperor , From
Shldyanka wo wont to Kodjec , Mlyan-
oshlta , Ilnhono , Kamahura , Yokahoma ,
Toklo and several leaa important
places. At the Imporlal hotel at To
klo wo again ran Into royalty. The
Maharajah of Kopurthal have a suite
of rooms near ours. Ho waa also ac
companied by the princess and a bril
liant snlto. There are four more
cities in Japan I want to see then I
will bo contented on that score , viz :
Nara , Nlkko , Hakadato and Arlma.
I am going back to Canton with an
empty purse hut well nnd strong
again. My trip entire will Include
about 15,000 miles , mostly by wator.
Give my love to mamma nnd papa ,
Fay , Rosslo. Harley and that other
roily polly boy who Is as big ono way
as the other. Merry Xmaa to ono an
all. lovingly. Jim.
MAKES RULINGJNjIRE ESCAPES
Labor Commissioner Bush Is Called
Upon to Inspect Buildings In Many
Cities nnd Towns.
Since the Chicago lire Labor Com
missioner Bush has received many
requests to inspect cities and towns
and to enforce the lire escape law.
Prior to the Chicago dlsasto. ho
found people very Indifferent , but now
they are eager to have him see that
the provisions of the law nro en
forced.
Ono of Mr. Bush's rulings has made
It Impossible to compel owners of a
certain class of throe-story buildings
to put in lire escapes. Whore a build
ing of this height Is not entirely de
voted to sleeping rooms , ho holds that
It Is not used for dormitory purposes
and therefore the owners can not bo
made to put In flro escapes. Many
three-story buildings In Lincoln are
devoted to sleeping rooms with the
exception of store rooms on the first
lloor. While these are dangerous
buildings Mr. Bush will not endeavor
to make the owners put up flro es
capes. It has been suggested that a
teat case In court might overrule the
labor commissioner. The law does
not state specifically that the entire
building shall bo used as a dormitory.
It says that tire escapes "shall bo re
quired on buildings more than two
stories in height used for manufactur
ing purposes , or for hotels , dormitor
ies , schools , seminaries , hospitals , or
asylums. " The law further provides
that for such bulldlngs"onc tire escape
shall ho required for every twenty-Hvo
persons , for which working , sleeping
or living accommodations are provided
above the second stories of said build
ings. " This Is taken to mean that if
sleeping apartments are provided
above the second floor , a flro escape
is required on a throo-story building.
The only question that appears to re
main unsettled Is whether a throo-
story building , all of which is the first
lloor , comes under the head used for
sleeping apartments except the "dor
mitories. " Some go so far as to as
sort that if any part of a building Is
used for sleeping apartments the buildIng -
Ing should bo termed a dormitory.
State Journal ,
HIGH OFFICIALS INSPECTING
Third Vice President of the Chicago
& Northwestern , Goes Over
This Division.
A party of railroad ottlclals high In
the service of the Chicago & North
western railroad are just now touring
the Nebraska & Wyoming division of
their line and are today making the
trip ever the Albion branch. They
wont up the Bonesteel branch Thurs
day and returned this morning to Oak-
dale where they took the sldo shoot
across to Scrlbnor. The party is head
ed by Third Vice President Witmen
and Engineer Schank of Chicago , Mr.
Bldwell is along and sn Is General
Superintendent C. C. Hughes of this
city. Superintendent Reynolds wont
to Oakdalo this morning to meet the
train and accompanied the party over
the Albion branch. The reason given
for the trip is that the officials merely
want to Inspect the road.
Absolutely Nothing in Police
Circles.
THE CITY 18 YOUNG AND GOOD
Out Has no Symptoms of Dying Young.
Five Months Since Anyone Was
Taken to Madison Tramps , Thugs ,
Thieves and Terrors nil Missing.
IFiotn FiMiiy'H Dully ]
Norfolk la young , and It la good ,
but it la not going to furnish support
to the ancient saying that "tho good
die young , " because Norfolk IH not
going to die. It Is n long ways from
being sick. In fact It was never bet
tor and never felt hotter In Ita life.
But there la no getting around the
fact that it IHIH had but little real
atronuoua work for the police officers
to do In Homo tlmo.
"It haa been five months , " said
Chief of Police Kane this noon , "since
Norfolk has even gomf BO far an to
send a. man to Madison , " which is
Haying volumes for the goodness of
the people and of the city.
It used to bo an occurrence of at
least once or twlco n week that some
one was sent to Madison for n term
of Imprisonment. The city jail for
merly had Inmates almost constantly
and It was not Infrequent that men
from Norfolk were landed In the non-
Itontiary , but that tlmo la long since
past , evidently , at least it has not
boon assertive for nearly half a year.
The thugs and the potty thieves and
the robbers and the tlnhornora are
pretty thoroughly cleaned out , and
everything la sorcno in justice and
police courts. There are even n scar
city of civil suits and no neighbor
hood and family ructions to call for
the attention of the police officers , and
this is really a remarkable statement
considering that Norfolk Is n railroad
center and therefore a dumplngground
for tramps , dead beats and criminals.
The tramps are cither south , or do
not like the treatment they receive
In Norfolk , and the thugs have long
since decided that there were hotter
and greener Holds than Norfolk.
The worst thing about It la that
there la little for the courts and the
police officers to do and the newspa
pers find it hard to got along without
an occasional police court sensation
but withal It la a very satisfactory
condition of affairs and none are In
sisting on a change.
FRIDAY FACTS.
F. J. Hawador Is a city visitor from
Creighton.
Mr. and Mrs. S. L. Miller have gone
to Chicago.
C. S. Sultan was over from Bloomfield -
field yesterday.
Ed. C. Walton was up from Hum
phrey yesterday.
Geo. Faye of Madison was a city
visitor yesterday.
Thos. Wolf was in Norfolk yester
day from Croston.
M. F. Hambly was over from the
county seat yesterday.
II. J. Johnson of Stanton was a Nor
folk visitor Wednesday.
Sheriff Clements paid ono of his
frequent visits to Norfolk yesterday.
Dr. J. II. Mackay was called to Mad
ison on professional business today.
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Tows welcomed
a new son and heir to their homo last
night.
Willard Brink of Battle Creek was
In Norfolk for a tlmo yesterday after
noon.
Mrs. II. L. Kindred and Mrs. L. R.
Prichard of Meadow Grove were Nor
folk visitors ever night.
Mrs. William V. Allen and daughter
Miss Willla , were in the city yester
day from Madison.
Miss Louise Wellls left for Omaha
on the noon train to resume her
studies at Brownell Hall.
J. W. Stewart , a banker nt Wisnor ,
came to Norfolk last evening for the
dancing party given by the Trinity
Social guild. Mr. Stewart returned to
Wisner this morning.
R. W. Spolsor of Lincoln was in the
city last evening for the dancing par
ty given by the Trinity Social guild.
Mr. Spolsor wont to Bonestool at noon
today and well return tomorrow even
ing.
Chester A. Fuller , manager for the
Edwards , Wood & Co. , has returned
from a trip to Humphrey , Madison and
other points. The commission house
Is getting established In northern Ne
braska very rapidly.
The Trinity Social guild gave a very
pretty dancing party in Mast hall last
night , which was enjoyed by a small
number of dancers. The Mandolin
club furnished music. Punch was
served at ono end 01 the hall.
W. M. Robertson returned this
morning from Nlobrara. "Tho repub
licans of Niobrara , " said Mr. Rob
ertson , "will probably present the
name of Frank Nelson for dolcgato
at largo to the national convention
from the state. "
At a meeting of the now board of
directors of the Citizens National
bank , the following officers were elect
ed last night for the ensuing year :
G. A. Lulkart , president ; C. S. Bridge ,
vice president ; L. P. Pasowalk , cash
ier ; J. E. Haaso , assistant cashier.
The primitive Americans are not
aeon In Norfolk ao frequently hut that
their proHcnco In considered ground
for comment and they receive the at *
tontlon of their pale faced Hucccssora.
A couple of thorn were on the stroetn
today and were the subject for the
usual attention.
Miss Nell Morrow haa accepted the
position of historian for the Norfolk
high fichool alumni association , to suc
ceed her sister , Mlna Edith Morrow ,
who IH unable to bo In Norfolk this
year. Mombora of the aasoclatlon
trust that when the present Senior
class la welcomed , a largo number of
the old graduates will take actlvo In
terest.
Mrs. N. A , Ralnbolt gave a 1 o'clock
luncheon yesterday in honor of Mrs ,
E. C. Harris of Chadron and Mrs. Dr.
Kolpor of Pierce , who are visiting
horo. Covora wore laid for twenty
ladles and a dainty fcaat waa served.
Both guests of honor formerly lived
In Norfolk and have many friends hero
and Mrs , Ralnbolt provided the occa
sion for a happy renewal of old-time
acquaintanceships.
Norfolk streets are thronged with
an unusual number of teams for this
season of the year and business is
said to bo unusually good by the
merchants. The demand for winter
goods continues very satisfactory and
the prospects are that the winter
goods will bo well cleared from the
shelves before the spring stocks begin
to arrive
At the meeting of the directors of
the Battle Crceok Valley bank hold
In that city Wednesday William Staf
ford , son of P. J. Stafford of this city ,
was advanced to the position of aa-
alatant cashier , with an increase in
salary to corrcapond with the ad
vancement. Hla friends in this city
will bo pleased to learn of his good
fortune and pleased also to know that
his employers recognize his ability.
Twenty-one flromon have thus far
signified their intention of attending
the firemen's state convention at Fre
mont , and It Is expected that several
more will Join the crowd before It
comes tlmo to leave for the conven
tion city. IF. W. Winter Is listing the
names of those who will attend so
that ho may know how many tickets
will bo required and It will bo neces
sary for all who contemplate going
to give In tholr names before Monday
if they are to bo provided with tickets
at the rate given to the delegates. It
will bo understood that only delegates
or members of the association are
entitled to these advantages.
IN NORFOLK SOCIAL CIRCLES
[ From Saturday's Dally. ]
The Elks.
Norfolk Elks gave the second of
tholr series of social entertainments
at the club rooms last evening. The
affair was well attended and the games
of military euchre were Interesting
and closely contested.
Klndergartners.
Mr. and Mrs. G. D. Butterfleld last
evening entertained a number of people
plo who belonged to what was once
known as the Kindergarten club , at
the most elaborate "bread and milk"
supper over given in tqwn. In the old
days the Klndergartners always had
a good tlmo when six or twelve were
gathered together , and the reunion last
evening brought a revival of the old
spirit of jollification.
Progressive High Five.
Miss Emma Melcher entertained a
company of about thirty friends at
progressive high five last evening at
the homo of H. G. Brueggemann on
Philip avenue. Six tables of players
tried for the elusive five-spots until
after midnight when the honors were
awarded , a number being in for the
cut. Miss Dlna Schram was given the
first prize for ladles and Carl Pllger
that for gentlemen. Consolations went
to Miss Otolla Pllger and Rudolph
Wlckort. The serving of choice re
freshments rounded out an enjoyable
evening.
POSITIVE BLOCK SYSTEM NEXT
Nebraska & Wyoming Division of the
Northwestern Railroad Will
Have Arrangement.
The now positive block signal sys
tem is being inaugurated extensively
by the Chicago & Northwestern rail
road and within the not distant future
the lines in this part of their territory
will bo equipped with the arrange
ment
The Chicago & Northwestern Rail
way company yesterday Installed a
positive block signal system between
Sioux City and Missouri Valley , com
pleting the system between Sioux City
and Chicago.
The Northwestern has had the pos
itive and automatic block system in
operation on some of Its lines in Illi
nois , Wisconsin , Michigan and Iowa
for several years. Now , within the
last thirty days , or , since railroad
wrecks became so numerous , It has
added to its positive block system , in
cluding the Sioux City-Missouri Val
ley lino.
The installation and maintenance of
a block system entails largo expense ,
but for the safe transportation of pas
sengers and employes of railroads it
is the best method yet devised.
Officials of the Northwestern said
yesterday that ultimately the system
would bo Installed on all of the road's
lines. They said the policy of the op
erating department was to surround
the running of Us trains with every
possible safeguard.
Joseph Vlazney Has Had More
Than a Share of Bad Luck.
HAD A CALAMITOUS SUMMER
Farmer West of Norfolk Commenced
to Lose Out With the Flooding of
the Elkhorn Early Last Spring and
It Kept Up All Summer Long.
Joseph Vlaznoy , whoao farm is
along the Elkhorn at Kent's Siding ,
has had more than a full share of
trouble during the past year nnd
should bo justified In a belief that
there Is a Nemesis on his trail If ho
had ever done anything very wicked.
Ho haa certainly had about all the
bad luck to which any ono man la en
titled , and would undoubtedly under
take to nail a ton of horseshoes up
If ho thought they would change it
and bring good fortune once more.
Ills series of 111 fortune commenced
last spring , when the turbulent , shiftIng -
Ing Elkhorn swung its waters against
his land and floated away six acres of
rich Nebraska loam that will go to
fertilize the delta at the mouth of the
Mississippi. With the patch of land
went his barn and his well.
Later on ono of his sons had his
leg broken while wrestling with n com
panion at school , and the doctor waa
to bo paid , bcsldo which the boy was
compelled to remain in bed until the
bones knit.
After ho was about ready to get
out of bed another son was taken with
a severe attack of typhoid fever that
authorized another doctor's bill and
nursing.
Then another son became the vic
tim of the same dlscaso and required
his share of attention and more ex
pense.
The death of Mr. Vlaznoy's father
in Iowa added another to the series of
calamities that have been following
the family.
Quito recently Mrs. Vlaznoy was
the victim of a runaway accident , was
thrown out and one of her limbs was
fractured. She was recovering from
the accident when taken sick , and It
will be some time before she is able
to bo about.
Ono of Mr. Vlazney's best blooded
horses became entangled In a barb
wire fence and was badly cut up.
This is all of the calamities of the
family to date , but there Is yet no
positive assurance that ill fortune has
deserted them. That It Js more than
a full share of grief for ono family ,
all will admit and will hope that the
limit has about been passed and that
good fortune , exceeding If possible the
hard run of luck , will follow.
SATURDAY SIFTINGS.
F. F. Brown was up from Hooper.
Worth Halsey was a Norfolk visitor
from Tildon.
R. F. Nesblt of Oakdale Is a Nor
folk visitor.
Mrs. Clara Bogdler is a city visitor
from Anoka.
R. Edwards of Humphrey visited In
the city yesterday.
Miss Hattie Mayhew is visiting with
friends in Nellgh.
John Tannehlll has gone to Lincoln
for a visit with friends.
Chas. Mllner came down from Fair
fax , S. D , , this morning.
Miss Grace Losch of West Point Is
visiting friends in Norfolk.
Nathan Almeyer-of Kansas City is
visiting the Baum brothers.
M. O. Housol had business In the
city. He Is from Hartington.
J. P. Jeppesson of Plalnview had
business in the city this morning.
R. F. Bruce will go to his old homo
in Vermont where ho will visit until
spring.
Miss Mattlo Halsoy was In the city
this morning on her way from Anoka
to Tilden.
At an Initiation of the Eastern Star
lodge , Mrs. Prichard , of Meadow
Grove and Miss Boomer of Winslde
were taken in. Mrs. Kindred of
Meadow Grove was also initiated. A
delightful banquet followed.
Hon. J. R. Manning of Wayne , who
will bo a candidate before the next
republican state convention for the
office of commissioner of public lands
and buildings , was In the city this
morning. Mr. Manning has been
through qulto a portion of the north
ern part of the state and his candid
acy Is meeting with strong approval
and encouragement.
In Local Manager Hollyfield of the
Auditorium , Labor Commissioner Bush
met an old-time friend , they having
known each other in Omaha some
years ago , whore they worked togeth
er. They enjoyed a visit together
hugely.
Every day Is becoming to bo mar
ket day In Norfolk , hut Saturday con
tinues to hold above all other days In
the number of teams on the streets
and the people in town. The mer
chants find that Saturdays contlnuo
to bo their busy days.
A remarkable test has been unin
tentionally made during the past upon
the material of which the Norfolk Na
tional bank vault Is constructed. A
tiny spindle in the vault stuck so that
It could not bo easily worked as it
should. In order to get at the spindle
a plug had to bo removed. The plug
Is a Httlo over an inch in length and
could only bo taken out by means of
a drill. Two bank nafo experts have
been drilling \iito \ the plug with the
sharpest drills on earth for the past
four daya and aa yet they have gene
at the rate of about ono-thtrty-sccond
of an inch a day. So hard is the ma
terial that the keenest drills wcro
made to shrivel before the steel of the
bank vault They will keep at it until
the plug , fraction by fraction , is drilled
away.
HOLIDAY SEASON IN CALIFORNIA
A Country Where the Weather Is Like
Nebraska June and People
Picnic on New Year's.
The following article descriptive of
the holiday season in southern Cali
fornia , is furnished by R. S. Requa ,
formerly of this place but now living
at San Diego , Cal. , who Is manager of
the American Educational Entertain
ment company. Mr. Rcqua writes that
ho expects to make a trip through the
cast next fall and will visit his old ) 1
Norfolk home. Ho says ho hopes the
article will give some conception of
the wonderful climate of southern Cal
ifornia :
Perhaps there Is no event in South
ern California that seems more incon
gruous with surroundings to people
who have spent the greater portion of
their lives in a cold winter clime , than
the holiday season.
It is sometimes necessary to refer to
the calendar to convince ono of the
tlmo of year but to this now order of
things the average easterner quickly
and Joyfully adapts himself ; oxcent
when the festivities at the close of
the old year must bo carried out in
a summer atmosphere with trees and
plants in flower and fruitage , then ho
realizes something is wrong.
The shortening of the days , the turn
ing of the leaves on the deciduous
trees and the occasional shower ,
warns him of the approach of another
season , but otherwise things remain
unchanged.
Anon and the enlivening business
with Us accompanying Joys for the
merchants , the familiar face to Santa
Glaus and the attractve display of toys
and sweet meats in the shop windows
remind him that the great Internation
al holiday is not far distant.
Another week and rows of evergreen
boughs are displayed for sale in va
cant lots , the vender in shirt sleeves
and barefooted , if a lad , finds ready
sale for them as Christmas trees.
At last the eventful day arrives ,
dawning bright and clear , the perfume
of roses and other fragrant flowers
are wafted In the open window by the
gentle breeze , the sweet notes of the
song birds are heard on every hand ,
the little creatures being privileged
to share with us the Joys of this glad
some day. The scene calls to mind
the soft warm days of Juno with a
brilliant month of green.
After the Juvenile members of the
family have explored the recesses of
their Christmas stocking and the
morning meal has been partaken , in
stead of donning heavy wraps , mlts
and overshoes In preparation for a l '
sleigh rldo over snow covered roads '
as was the former custom , we fill the
lunch boxes , gather up our parasols
and some simple means of entertain
ment for ourselves and the children ,
and sally forth to a grove or park to
spend the day In true picnic style , or
take the cars for a nearby beach where
the cool ocean breezes and the musical
rhythm of the waves as they beat un
ceasingly on the white sands tend to
banish our cares and troubles and
prepare us anew for the battles of life.
Thus passes the anniversary of our
Savior's birth as well as the opening-
day of the new 'year.
Probably the eve before this last
event wo watch the dying year out at
a lawn or flower social with aught but
the perfect California skies above and
every evidence of a summer's evening
about us.
It is the custom every Now Year's
morning for the members of the rowIng -
Ing clubs at this place to take a
plunge nl the quiet waters of San Di
ego bay. This Is Indeed a novel sight
and usually attracts a crowd of spec
tators of our tourist visitors.
Is it a wonder in such an unusual en
vironment , that newcomers find dlf-
ficulty in adapting themselves to these
strange conditions ? But with all these
Inconsistencies and uncommon occur
rences there is little dissatisfaction
expressed and it would be a great Inducement - .
ducement Indeed that would tempt
them to again endure the rigor and
discomforts of the eastern winter.
RECALLS THE ECCENTRIC TRAIN
W. 2. King of This City Remembers
the Man In Central Park , New
York City.
W. 55. King of this city is ono of the
men who well remembers the emi
nently peculiar and .eccentric George
Francis Train , who died at Mills ho
tel No. 1 , in New York City. Mr.
King remembers seeing the man in
Central park many a tlmo and of not
ing his peculiarities.
"Ho always had a rule , " says Mr.
King , in speaking of his reminiscence ,
"as to the time that ho talked with
men. Ho never talked to any man
more than five minutes at a time. If
ho were talking to you and happened ' \f \ , ' "j
to bo in the midst of a long and very , > y' '
profound sentence , ho would stop ' ,1J
short off on the flvo-mlnuto mark and C' * '
turn away from you. '
"Ho was always very fond of chil
dren. In the park ho would bo com
pletely encircled by them and ho
never wont Into the district without
a pocketful of candles and peanuts
for them to eat. "