The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-08-06
San Francisco by Day and Night.

A better idea Of San Francisco, in tho
beginning of September, 1sA9, cannot be
given than by the description Of n single
day. Supposing The visitor to have been
long enough in the place to sleep on hard
plank and in spite of the attacks of innu-
merable feas, he will be awakened at day
light by the noises of building. with which
the hills are all alive. The air is temperate,
and the iEvariabe morning fog is just begin
ming to gather. BY sunrise, which CLEANS
haziy over the Coast Mountains across the
Bay, the whole populace is up and at work.
The wooden buildings unlock their doors,
the canrass houses and tents throw back
their front curtains the lighters on the wa
ter are warped out from ship to ship; carts
and porters are busy along the beach: and
only the gaming-tabcs, throngcd all night
by the yotaries Of chance, are idle and de-
serted. The temperature is so fresh as to
inspire an active habit of body, and even
without the stimulus of trade and specula-
ton there would be few sluggarls at this
season.
AS early as half past six the bells begin to
sound TO breakfast, and for an hour thence
forth, their inccssant clang and the braying
of immense gongs drown all the hammers
that are busy on hundred roofs. The ho>
tells, restaurants and refcctorcs of all kinds
are already as numerous rs gaming tables
blcs d'hote of the first class, which
charge 50 and upwards the meal J are abun.
dainty supplied, There arc Others, moro
simple and solid fare, frcqucnted by the large
class who have their fortunes yet to make.
by nine o'clock the town is in the full flow
OF business. The streets running down lc
the water, and Montgomery street which
fronts the Bay, ale crowded with people, al
in hurried motion. The varieties of char
acters and costumes is remarkable. Oul
own counirymen seGm to lose their local re
culiaritcs in such crowd, and ii is by chance
epthets rather than by Manner that the
E New Yorker is distinguished from the Ken,
S tuckian, the Carolinan from the Dowri.East
er, the Nirginian from the Texan. The Ger
man and Frenchman are more easily rccog
: nized. Peruvians and Chilans 20 by il
= their brown ponchos, and the sober Chinese
n cool and impassire in the midst of excite
: ment, look out Of the obliquc corners of the
), long eyes at TIE hustle, but are never tempt
) | oil IN vontura from, tIo;r o1v, limo IF bus;
: ness. The eastern side Of the plaza, in from
/ of the Parker House, and canvas he'll call
cd the Eldorado, are the general rendezvou
of business and musement--combinin,
# change, park, club-room and promenade al
e in one. There, everybody not constantl
&c engaged in one spot, may be seen at som
e time of the day. The character of the group
ID scattered along the plaza is oltcntimes yer
at interesting In one place are three or fou
Ii Spectators bargaining for lots, buying an,
selling "fiiiy varas square" in towns, som
j of which are canvas and some only paper
g in another, company, company Of miner:
# brown as leather, and as rugged in feature
i as in dress in a third, perhaps, three or fou
?. naval officers specializing on the next cruise
IA or krot of genteel gamblers, talking owe
ID the last nights operations.
r The day advances The mist which aitc
sunrise hung low and heavy for an hour o
Is two, has risen above the hills, and there wi
III be two hours Of pleasant sunshine before III
q, wind sets in from the sea. The crowd i
Il the streets is now wholly alive. Men dar
y. hither ana thither, as if possessed with
never-resIing spirit. You speak to an ac
of quaintance, merchant, perhaps. lie utter
few hurried words of greeting, while hi
eyes send keen glances on all sides of you
Il suddenly he catches sight of somebody i
! the crowd he is of, and in the next fiv
pr minutes has bought up half cargo sold
n town lot at treble the sum he gave, and Ii
y ken a share in some new and imposing spec
ulation. It is impossible to witness this eA
X cess and dissipation of business without fee
G. ing something of its influence. The very al
a is pregnant with the magnetism of bold spil
&C. tied, unwearied action, and he who but ver
r. lures into the outer circle of the whirlpool
is spinning, ere he has time for thought, i
a. q. its dizzy vortex.
% &c. But see the groups in the plaza sudden
ly scatter; the city surveyor jerks his pol
. out of the ground and leaps on pile c
~ boards the venders of cakes and sweetmeat
Al follow his example, and the place is cleare
20 just as a wild bull which has been racin
Al, down Kearney street makes his appearance,
- Two vaqueros, shouting and swinging thei
l. larials, follow at hot gallopi the dust file
m as they dash across the plaza. One of then
d in mid-career hurls his lariat in the ali
r. Marx how defIly the coil unwinds in its fly
Is ing curve, and with what precision the noos
falls over the bulls horns The horse wheel