Interesting News from California

CHAPMAN, SMITH

Posted By: Paul French
Date: 6/12/2013 at 23:12:21

INTERESTING NEWS FROM CALIFORNIA

Record-Republican

Herewith is a snapshot of Miss Una Chapman taken on her ninetieth birthday anniversary March 15, 1942, at her home in Hollywood.

The Bonaparte Picnic Society arranges a celebration of her birthday in a small way every year. This year it was a Sunday afternoon tea, with former Bonaparte relatives and friends there. Among her many gifts was the huge, colorful birthday cake presented by the McConnoughey folks and served to the guests.

Miss Chapman is hale and hearty and in excellent health and most happy that Refa and Billy are with her. The two girls are in their own homes, Emmy Lou and her husband only a block away and Betty and husband at Hughes Lake, 65 miles north of Hollywood. Both get to the Chapman home often, however.

My mother is approaching her 89th birthday. May 9th, and except for very lame knees is in good health. She is making Red Cross baby quilts from the scraps which fall off the pajamas, gowns, bed jackets, etc., of outing flannel, to be used for civilians should the need arise. Everyone here is doing some kind of Red Cross work but in proportion, no more than Bonaparte is doing. Each week we read with approval of what you folks are doing there. And all we can do, I fear, will not be too much when the need comes.

Helen and I just have returned from a visit with Buddy in Sacramento, where he is stationed in the adjutant’s general’s office. He is well and busy, but gave us grand trips over historic Mother Lode country, made more famous by Bret Harte, Mark Twain and others. I visited the office at Placerville of the oldest newspaper in the state, seeing one of the first copies. The tird generation now operates the paper. That country is filled with romantic history, and many of the ruins of ’49 to ’55 still standing. Among them is a well preserved Presbyterian church built in 1853. Saw the statue of James Marshall who discovered gold at Sutter’s Mill, erected near the spot of his discovery, also the monument on the exact spot. The capitol building and park are beautiful.

So, with terror and war staring California in the face there is much of pleasure and interes left. We all try to learn our instructions for emergency, help in every way civilians can, and hope for the best. On Saturday morning we go to Bonaparte via the Record, which is an interesting closing for the week.

With all good wishes for all Bonaparte friends, I remain.

Sincerely
MYRTLE E. SMITH

Source: Bonaparte Record-Republican, 23 Apr 1943, p. 3

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