Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1850-06-11

quantity Kong, Sung's house is near tho
water; Whang Tong in Sacramento street;
and -Ling's in Jackson street. There
the grave Celestials serve up their chaw-
chaw and curry; besides many genuine En-
glish dishes; their tea and coffee cannot be
surpassed.
The afternoon is less noisy and active than
the forenoon. Merchants keep within doors,
and the gambling rooms are crowded with
persons who step in TO escape the wind and
dust. The sky takes cold grey cast. and
the hills over the bay are barely visible in
the dense, dusty AR. Now and then a
watcher, who has been stationed on the hin
above Fort Montgomery comes down and
reports an inward bound vessel. which occa-
sions little excitement among the bostmen
| and the merchants who are awaiting con
signments. Towards sunset, the plaza il
nearly deserted the wind is mercilcss in its
force, and heavy overcoat is not found un
pleasantly warm. AS il grows dark, there is
a lull though occasional gusts blow down the
hill and carry dust of the city among tho
shipping.
The appearance ofSan Francisco at night,
from the.water is unlike any thing ever be-
held. Tho houses are mostly of canvass,
which is made transparent by The lamps
within, and transforms them, In darkness 10
dwellings of solid light Seated on the slopes
OF It's three hills, the tents pitched among the
chapparel to the very submits. it CLEANS
like an amphithestre of FIRE. Here and there
shine out brilliant points, from the deooying
lamps OF the gaming -houses: and through
the indistinct murmur of the streets come by
fits the sound of music from their hot and
crowded precincts The picture has in ii
nd "a 10
es one like the cities of the magic lantern
which motion of the hand can build and an
nihilate.
The only objects left for US to visit ar o the
gaming tables, whose day has Just fairly
dawned. We need not wander far in search
OF one. Denison's Exchange, the Parker
House, and Eldorado stand side by side: a.
cross the way are the Verandah and Apu-
la de Orc; higher up the plaza the -. Charles
and Bella onion; while dozens of second rate
establishments are scattered through the less
fraquented streets. The greatest crowd is
about the Eldorado; we find it difficult to Of
feet an entrance. There is about eight tables
in the room, all of which are thronged; COP
per-hued Kanakas, Mexicans rolled in their
scrapes, and Peruvians thrust through their
poeches; stand shoulder 10 shouider with
the brown and bearded American miners
The stakes are generally small. though when
the better gets into "a streak Of luck," as il
is called, they are allowed to double until all
is lost or the bank breaks. Along the end
of the room in spacious bar, supplied with
all kinds of bad liquors, and in sort of gal
lery, suspended under the ceiling. a female
yiolinist tasks her talent and strength of mus.
Gle to minister to the excitement Of play.
The Verandah. opposite, is smaller, but
boasts an equal attraction in musician who
has set of Pannean pipes fastened at his
chin, drum on his back, which he boats
with sticks at his elbows, and cymbas in his
hands. The piles of coin on the monte ia
Dles clink merrily to his playing; and tho
throng of spectators, jammed together in d
sweltering mass, walk up to the bar between
Inc tunes and drink out of sympathy with his
Try and breathless throat. AT the Aguila de
Jro there is full band of Ethiopian Serena-'
iers, and at the other hells, violins; guitars
)r wheezy accordeons, as the case may be-
The atmosphere of these places ID rank with
obacco-smoke and filed with feverish, sti-
Ing heat, which communicates an unhea-
hy glow to the faces of the players. .Ess
We shall not be deferred from entering by
he heat aud smoke, or the molly characters
nto whose company we shall be thrown
There are rare chances here for seeing hu-
nan nature in one of its most dark aud excl
ing phases. Note the variety of expression
n the faces gathered around this table =
They are playing monte. the favori,e game
n California, since tho clanses are consider
d more equal aud the oppuunity OF false
lay very slight. The dealer throws out his
ard with a cool, nonchalant air, indeed, the
radual increase Of the hollow square ordoi:
irs al. his left hand is not calculated I'd dis.
urb his :equaninity. The two Mexic iiis IN
ront, rnuhed in their dhty scrapes, pu,
own their half-dolars aud see them iosf.
'ithout changing a muscle. Gambling is
born habit with them. and they would
1se thousands with the same indifference
cry different is the demeauor Of the Amer
'ans who are playing; their good or i'll luck
betrayed at once by involuntary exclsma-
ons and changes OF counterance, unless the
AXE should be very large and absorbing.
he3 their anxiety, though silent. may be
lad with no less certainty. They have one
over 10 resist the fascination Of the game,
ow counting their winnings by thousands.
NV dependent on the kindness OF friend
n few dollars to commence anew, they
lss hour after hour in those hot unwhole-
me dens. There is no appearances OF aims,
II let one OF the players. impatient with the
sses and msddened by tbs poisonour fluids
; has drank, threaten one OF the profession,
ID there will be no scarcity ofknives aud re-
lves.
There are other places where gaming IL
rrieJ on privately and to more ruindus
in The rear Of the Parker
ouse in the City Hotel and other places,
quented only by the initiated Here the
'kes are almost unlimited, The players being
IN Of wealth and apparent respectabiIity.--
equently, in the absorbing nleres, Of some
sperate game, the night goes by unheeded,
j morning breaks upon haggard faces ana
,kIess, hearts. Here are lost, in few turns
= card or rolls Of ball, the product Of for-
tate vea,urers by sea, or months Of rackiug
or on land. How many men maddened be
ainusl losses. might excaim in their blind
lemeoce OF passion, on leaving these hels:
ut, out, thou strumpet, Fortuncl All your gods,