AMERICAN EXPERIENCES

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 149, 22 February 1939, Page 4

AMERICAN EXPERIENCES

GISBORNE GIRL’S HOLIDAY DESTRUCTIVE GRASSHOPPERS GREAT HARVEST RUINED » Miss Kona Stephenson, a Gisborne girl who completed a university course in physical culture at Berkeley, San Francisco, and, continued her studies in New York, gives an interesting account of~her travels and experiences in the following extracts written to her parents, Mr. and Mrs. 1. Stephenson, Stout Street, Gisborne.

“Since leaving Berkeley and San Francisco time seemes to have passed very /quickly, and I have* had many wonderful experiences,” writes Miss Stephenson. “On reaching Vancouver it gave me a great thrill to see the Union Jack flying once again, and although my time in this large city was short, I was able to go to many places of interest. “My next move was to board the C.P.R. train for Banff and Lake Louise, the latter being just 'exquisite? in its loveliness. I have neyer seen anything more beautiful, and could have sat and watched the sunsets for hours. I had two days there $ and then continued my journey to

Moose Jaw, where’ I hoarded another train for Rouleau, a place ill the heart of Saskatchewan. Here II was met by -my cousins, with whom I stayed for several days.

A Plague of Grasshoppers. “It was my experience while there to see a plague of grasshoppers. Unless one sees a thing like that for oneself, one cannot. realise . the destruction that is caused by these insects. There were just millions of these pests, and the farmers became very discouraged. ' s

“This is the first time in, eight years that they have had anything like a crop, and [they were very jubilant over what appeared to be a great harvest. Previously the country had suffered from droughts, which were the cause of the grasshoppers making their appearance in such immense numbers. As a consequence the farmers have to swathe their wheat when it is not quite ripe.

“Those who have sown the Thatcher variety are lucky, as it is rust-re-sistant- and does not seem to: attract the grasshoppers quite so much. Most of the field's are sown in Maquis of Ceres wheat, which is just meat.,,to these insects. MV cousin has been rotund several of thci farms here, and said it was pitiful to .see them.

Wonderful Prairie Sunsets. “From Rouleau I was motored to Gilbert Plains, a place 4o() miles north and right in the heart of Manitoba.

Although bare and barren at times and with little sign of life, the prairie, with its wonderful sunsets, has a fascination all its own. It is wonderful how people there appreciate tree life ; they' just go into raptures on seeing any thing green, so I told them they should take a trip to New Zealand. They can scarcely believe we have such wonderful trees and bush in our country- S

“From Gilbert Plains I took a trip to Clear Lake and Dauphin, both places being most picturesque. Several different nationalities live here— British, Ruthenians, Galicians, Poles and Ukrainians.

A Silver Fox Farm. :A. ... . “One of ihy cousins here has a silver fox farm, and it was most interesting to hear how the animals are ; reared. They need a great .deal of; bare and attention, especially when young. My cousin is a-ljlo interested in patching .-ermine, amd was" responsible for sending' 1 numbers; of the skins, of - this particular animal to England at the time of the. Coronation. These were used chiefly for the adornment of. the ' ' S' ’ ‘ \ ' ■ •• X ' • 5> . peeresses; gowns.' :• ] $ ' t 1 .• f * “Continuing my journey,'-'I went- to 'RCgina, the capital of Saskatchewan, band, while there attended iu-JCanadian Rugby game. It. is similar to British Rugby in that a player tackles only the man with: the ha'll: but in all other respects- itv is ; like. American foot-. baH. ‘ IT “The next- place I visited^V>- • -r-t-.-•••• _ - *¥ y- rffe. • -.

ronto, followed by Ottawa, where I spent a week with my cousins af their summer home* on Britannia Heights. Ottawa is a most beautiful city, and one full of historical interest, 1 was taken all over Parliament Buildings, and also- had a delightful trip to the Gattineiau Hills, where the colours of the maple leaves were just glorious.

“From here I took the train to Montreal, but was only able to spend a day in this old-world city. It is predominantly French, all the signs being written in both languages, English and French, while the city itself beasts several French theatres. The hotels there are wonderful, and the bell-boys employed iu. them are all French, and say everything both in their own language and in English. Arrival in New York. ► “I left Montreal by train and reached New York at 7.30 a.in. The passengers were promptly surrounded by “red caps” desiring to take their luggage, while people were greeting each other in every kind of language. Even at the Grand Central station there must have been 20' or .more nationalities.

“I made my way to International House, and was received kindly by the authorities . there. It comprises 10 floors, in addition to this there is a |/Qafeteria,.t bazaar,' beauty salon, biifekfls jsliop',, auditorium and! everyconvenience. ,

5»--“sTe\v ''Y'orkilisF.ajtreally marvellous plaeF, and T ■ am ! gradually learning my way about. All nationalities, .creeds

and types Jive here, and the whole place is very cosmopolitan. Special shops cater for the college students, and one day, when I wa's in 42nd. street, I could scarcely move, tlie crowd was so great. Broadway ,is really beyond description, especially at night, when the whole place is one (mass of lights. Wagnerian Operas. “I have been fortunate enough to see some of the Wagnerian operas; they are most popular because of the inclusion of the singers Flagstadit and Melchior. The Philharmonic and Symphony orchestras commence their seasons here very shortly, the latter being conducted by Koussevitsky. It was my privilege toi meet a friend of the latter at International House recently. She was a charming woman,' 1 and is a, White Russian of the nobility' who was sent to Siberia but managed to .escape, afterwards becoming natr uralised in Czechoslovakia. >:

Physical Education. “My course here is similar |to that taken by me at Berkeley, but in a more advanced form. I am studying the latest things in physical education, and many of the classes which I attend are Held, at night. The students comprise all nationalities, andl therefore you will realise that our debates on different subjects are most interesting - and instructive. “New York is greatly excited ju.st now oyer the forthcoming election of Governor, the voting in many instances: having been strengthened by the great influence; of Tammany piali, although some of its power has . been broken through the efforts of Mr. T,. P. Dewery, one of the candidates, who is at present district attorney.

On {Thanksgiving .Day 1 was hfvited to go over to New Jersey to bef present at a' dinner given at the home of ;one of my friends. I will always remember this, as I met so many interesting people, among them being two Hawaiian girls, one from Denmark, Dr. Scutz from Czechoslovakia, Mr. Mendanez, a Cuban diplomat, J Nelson Eddy’s accompanist, who was a! charming woman, and a Mr. Omafig, who was a really brilliant intellectual.

A Snowy Christmas,/ i “Snow is thick on the ground ju.st now, andl 1 really think we miss a good deal by not having I a snowy Christinas. , All the shops look wonderfully attractive, while some even lnawe organs playing in the ’windowsThe gift* one buys are done up in a most attractive manner, and I will always remember with pleasure the festive season'll! New York: “Outside International House we have a huge Christmas tree, all decorated with lights, and Mast night there was a hand of Nativity players all round it singing beautifully. It was lovely, the pfaters being dressed in red-hooded capes, and with the snow falling gently it jsvas a most picturesque sight.” f j-v :