The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

001C97BA July 26, 1929. THE SVEST VAN iv'EW'S 15 ~ind and muscle amid surround- ings of ideal beauty. I am tempted to do a wor painting of a sunset which I sep at the moment. However, editor has forbidden the use of figurative language. Hp %ants facts. I have confined myse]f to them without touching upon statistics. the number of church- es, schools, the price of lots, tax- es and other things upon which l am not an authority. In conclusion, I believe that the Scottish song. "IVill ye no'omeback again ." could not bavp been written by a poet in IVest Vancouver. Xo invitation to return to it need be written to a departed friend who has o.ice seen and enjoyed its beaut- ies. It has power, in itself. to bring the wanderer back from t"..e far corners of the earth. Why I Live in West Vancouver Hy A. ~i. STEPHEN It is not the real estate specu- lator's angle which interests me »or is it the desire to swell my bank roll which leads me to ac- cede to the editor's request for cepy. A Canadian poet, with property and a cheque-book, would be the living embodiment of a miracle--and miracles have gone out of fashion with the old- time religion, romantic love, idealism in politics and other cherished illusions of our grand- parents. "Is EVest Vancouver a good place in which to live?" Yes--if you really wish to live, i.e., if you are interested in things other than the ordinary round of eating, sleeping and working. In fact, it would be unfair to this IVest shore to deny that eat- ing is not more pleasurable in its stimulating atmosphere, sleeping more satisfactory in its uriadulterated air, and working more of a joy after having felt its inspiration and quiet charm. For the greater part of my life I have been a wanderer on the face of the earth. Always "roam- ing with a hungry heart," after the manner approved of Ulysses, West Vancouver Board of Trade The 4Vest Vancouver Board of Trade inaugurated three yeare ago, with a membership of 65, continues to function as a virile body of business men, keenly alive to the everchanging condi- tions of this fast rising munici- pality. The major problems dealt with by the Board are principal- ly of a domestic nature, Fresh Air, and Sunshine, desirable as- sets in any residential area, are here enhanced by a southern ex- posure of sea and mountain, that is hard to equal from a scenic westward to AVhytecliff and east- ward to Capilano Canyon. Here, if needed, is visible proof of the lure of IVest Vancouver for those who are fond of sunshine, fresh air, and the beauties of dent in this favored district has to sacrifice any of the conveni- ences or comforts of urban life. Telephones, electric lights, a water system, paved roads, post- cffices. schools, churches are all «vailable. Jazz, the comic sup- plements, movies,and radio sets ..f.e also among the blessings of civilization which have invaded Our wilderness. These modern necessities can all be enjoyed without having your neighbors'vindows so near your own that vou are compelled to listen to his gramophone concerts, or to be an unwilling eavesdropper when his domestic peace is broken by storms. As a consequence of this condition which separates people the residents of our cornrnunity are not less neighborly and hu- man than those in crowded streets where they jostle each other and are constantly irritat- e;l by an unhealthy friction of minds moving in different orbits. One has room to breathe and to be an individual in )Vest Vancou- vpl . However, I should be sorry in- c!eed to convey the impression that the district offers only a charming retreat for those who wish to retire from active life. It offers almost everything to be desired by such domestic souls-- this goes without question. But '.o the lover of nature and the big out-of-doors, it is also a rare "bit cf IIeaven." Sheltered from bleak winds by the mountains ori the north and having a south- ern exposure to the warmth of icng summer days, the vegeta- tion on this shore attains a lux- uriance unequalled in any other part of B. C. Flowers and fruit c.mme to maturity more quickly bere than in any adjacent local- ity. Birds, in larger numbers a»d in more diverse varieties t:an usually found on the Coast. abound in the thickets that cov- er the slopes of Hollyburn Ridge. Any fears entertained by pes- simists,ivhobelievethat this gen- eration is becoming weak and effete througli using automobil- es and other mechanical convey- ances, will be dispersed if they ~pend a iveek-end at Ambleside wharf and watch the merry, sun- burned crowds of "hikers" who f/ock from the city to do the Ridge or to wander along the hundred trails and winding roads away for all the power they have to disturb or to distract one' mind. How often, after hours spent in Vancouver, I have returned to cur shore to hear myself echo t);e involuntary exclamation of my companions, "How different the air is here? IVhat a contrast tc the burdened, dust-laden at- mosphere of the city! Do you notice the fragrance of rose.-- the tang of green, growing things?" As I sit, pounding out my con- tribution to this special edition of The News, I raise my eyes to look out of my window. Not grimy brick walls, the mouldy lining of a light-well, the tin cans and garbage bucket in my neigh- bor's back-yard greet my sight but the sheen of sunlight upon the broad leaves of a maple grove, a rockery covered by a wild tangle of foliage and flow- ers, a blaze of starry marguer- itps along a garden path, thick- ets of salmon Lerry bushes, and beyond these the sparkling ieaches of English Bay and the green foreland of Point Grey. Mentally I record a conviction that I would not exchange my little "shack" in AVest Vancou- ver (here "shacks" are entitled to the dignified title of "summer cottages") for the finest mansion in Bootlegger's Roiv, Shaughne- sy Heights. And this, I can as- sure you, is not a case of the grapes being sour... for th» boot-legging profession is open and American dollars are still at par. Nor can it be said that a resi- ~ \ ,]I)=: . mw&L~U 7 4 ~' A. AI. STEPHEN Noted Canadian Poet and AVriter whose home is in AVest Vancouver Reeve V. V. Vinson's Home, 14th and Gordon, which is cent~i in spacious grounds. Probably it will not be long be- fore some enterprising corpora- tion will buy Hollyburn Ridge, erect a chalet and gates where the long road and the open sky. a dollar ivill be extracted from all who wish to enjoy the scen- ery. But that time has not ar- t ived--may not arrive, if the ) Iunicipality preserves its sense of values. West Vancouver is still a paradise for pedestrians, challenging all ivho ivish to try point of view. The development of this beautiful natural garden requires vast care and thought and the ten committees of the Board, accept their share of re- sponsibility and wholeheartedly v'ork for the present and future welfare of West Vancouver. Officers 1929: President, Mr. EVm. McQuaker Secretary, Mr. S. Harrison, Treasurer, Mr. W. Dickinson. has shown me many of the most alluring places upon our contin- ent. But, of all the communities and climates which it has been my fortune to know, West Van- couver presents most to the art- ist and to the lover of beauty. I know of no place where one may so combine proximity to a large and interesting city with all the advantages of country life. For, once in the shelter of the green-clad slopes of Holly- born, the roar and turmoil of towns might be a thousand miles 't ~ ~4 ~~ Io. // ~*( ~ ~ - .q a0 4p Mr. A. Chilton's Residence at lo th and Ingleivood is surrounded by a magnificent flower garden. The Garden and Home of Mr. Geo. Hay, one of the Pioneers of West Vancouver. A Representative Group of IVest Vancouver Homes. (1) Captain R. A. Batchelor, Altamont; (2) EV. C. Thompson, Bellevue Avenue; (3) B. Bab- cock, 1929 winner of Horticultural Assn. prize for best lawn; (4) L. Ajello, Mathers Avenue. (5) EI. A. Stone, Caulfeild; (6) AIrs. P. D. Grady, 24th and waterfront; (7) N. McLeod, i%fath- ers Avenue; (8) Major F. C. Rush, Inglewood Avenue; (9) J. T. EVatt, 15th and Esquimalt.