Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 75, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 December 1914 — Anna Walter O’Leary Writes From Victor, Colo. [ARTICLE]

Anna Walter O’Leary Writes From Victor, Colo.

from Anna Walter O’Leary, formerly of Rensselaer, where her father arid several brothers still reside, was received too late to appear in Wednesday’s Home-Coming edition of The Democrat, and is therefore published in this issue. Mrs. O'Leary will be remembered by many of our readers outside of Rensselaer as a deputy in the county auditor’s office here some fourteen years ago and prior to that employed for some time in The Democrat office. Her splendid letter follows:

Through tho courtesy of The Democrat, former residents of Jasper county have the pleasure of renewing acquaintances. I am sure many pleasant memories will be recalled by this splendid idea for Christmas tide. While we have many beautiful cities and towns in the valley of Colorado, mining being our pursuit, we are living in Victor, the second sized city in the great Cripple Creek district. It has the distinction of being one of the highest altitude incorporated cities in tho world, being 11,000 feet above sea level. We have no extreme cold or warm weather, making it an ideal place to live throughout the year. Gold mining is the industry here, and many millions of dollars have been extracted, by the energetic students of the earth’s interior. Here is to bo found machinery of the most modern type to faciliate the work of our great occupation.

We have churches of all denominations, public library; line theaters, electric car service, splendid public schools, night schools, which furnish a complete business course, beautiful stores of all kinds. We have an up-to-date city and the Cripple Creek district of about fifteen thousand, intelligent, broad-minded, charitable and hospitable people are not to be judged by Julian Street’s article in “Colliers”, some few weeks ago. When a man visiting a city, can only associate himself with an environment, which he is evidently accustomed to, and that being the restricted districts of a city, it is unfortunate tihiat a publisher of a magazine would recognize him as a descriptive writer. 1 sincerely hope whoever read his article on Cripple Creek will appreciate this fact, he vas only capable of describing scenes which were famllar to him and his ability as a writer is purely imaginary.

I have been a resident of Colorado or over twelve years. Have visited Indiana twice during that time We visited in Denver last July during the Elks' convention and noticed a large delegation of happy looking men from Indiana. 1 have traveled about ’ olorado considerable and have seen most of tlie noted scenery of our state.

Colorado was voted “dry” at the last election. That is in accordance with the mountain air, which is dry and healing, but some moisture is necessary, hence Jasper county gentlemen, who are contemplating a trip to the great exposition in 1015 via Colorado, will find an oasis here’, after leaving Kansas, as the law will not take effect until ]9] 6, arid then we will have plenty of public drinking fountains. While mining is our industry, we have learned “all that glitters is not «old is a truth, specially adapted to mining, but we have much to be grateful for. Business depression, due to the European war, is not felt so heaWy here as in many parts of our country. I have enjoyed better health the past year than I have ever known, My husband and son have always enjoyed that great blessing, so we are very grateful.

In conclusion, I, as a former "resident of Jasper county, inrist say, am very happy j n Colorado, my home by adoption. The" call of the snow-cap-ped mountains and the content which they impart, silences all longing for former scenes. The sighs O T the“lonesome pines” .only add rythm to the tipples of the silvery mountain streams. They together speak that beautiful word, home. Wishing all my relatives, friends and former acquaintances a very Happy and Prosperous New Year anu that 1915 will usher in with a message of peace to all nations ANNA WALTER O’LEARY