Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1848-02-26
LIFE IN CALIFORNIA.


A correspondent Of the New York Journal Of
Commerce. writing from Monterey, the capital
OF that country, under date OF October 10Th.
gives the following very interesting details Of
+ !ife in that remote region Of the far West.
], is wonderful what resources California pos
scfses for the advancement Of the most necessa-
~ manufactures Wi,hins few days past. a
mine OF po,ter's clay has been found on the very
verge Of this town. s-- -a ,.r-.'
Cslifornis 10 one Of the greatest countries in
the world for WOOL It 10 raised without the
least expense, and with very little trouble The
sheep breed regularly twice year.
Civilization 10 fact advancing in California.
The manners Of the natives are becoming A.
mcr'canzed very rapidly. Several public balls
have been given by the officere Of the Amrrican
squadron. the officers of the United States army
here, and by citizens. Al each of these balls,
al the respectable part Of the community attend,
almost without one exception. The conse.
quence is, that instead Of seeing man get up
10 dance .Jandango-with three or four ysrds of
chamois leather flying loosely about his legs
and heels which every now and then he would
slap with bis hands. or have to stop dancing TO-,
pull those dirty feathers up from the heels tothe
knees, to save himself from getting entsnQle.s,.
and thereby falling on his face. and perhape tR,-
king his lady partner with him.-we see Ne
spectacle sets Of natives stand up 10 dsuce
wai,zes, quadrilles. contra dances, PoIkse, &c.
Also in their manner Of living at home, where
formerly you would see Chat is to say, where
some extraordinary attention ives paid TO tho
puest.) q buiiock's head placed behi,sd YOU n
sit upon. and smother one placed be- core YOU to
put your plate by way Of table, you will now
see, not only in the towns, bot in the most ro,i.
red farm houee, decent table. come chairs 10
sit upon. and the necessary decens table furni.
ture; and instead Of the guest being turned out
OF the house towards evening or after supper 10
sleepos the cold ground. he will now, generally
speaking. find comfortable room and bed, of
course for nothing. Go not wish to nsinuo,e
that the natives Of Californii have ever been
wanting in hospitality; on the contrary. ,h.re
never lived more hospitabe race of peop, ,e il,
the world; but their manner. were rud q ,od
nncnltivated. and their customs such a.s p.,,, ~.
| taught them. 1888. ..
But few short months ago, If a man wprs
out to walk with his wife, he would u, seen
walking on. some eight or ten eteps in advance.
or in the rear; and If a single man vss see n
speaking with n single lady in the street. i,
was thought a sufficient motive for the bases,
calumay. Now it is not so. Gentlemen and
lsdcs, whether related or not. may be- seen dsi.
" and hourly wslking the streets arm in arm
and If a stranger goes to visit them at their hon.
srs. the ladies do not run away. and under false
pretence. or no pretcnce at oil. shut themselves
np in another room, or flv out Of the honse, bu,
they will receive company with the same cor.
dali'y that visitors are commonly received ia
oil civilized parts oe the world
Some few years back. such . thing ~ a fire.
J, place in house was unknown in this country
, but now every honse that is built hes one or
more fre.places in it. Although the winters
sre not so severe here ss they are in the United
. States by many degrees. r,ill fire is a. requi.
i. ste here ss there. Al oil events the late CO.