The weekly Placer herald., 1852-09-25
For the Herald.
"reminiscences Of Mining.

i
piloted the way to this country across the
seas and burning plains in the
wears '4S and '49, when the howl of the
wolf and cayote awoke the echoes slum-
bering amid the hills that now encompass
busting towns and gay music
filled saloons, a comparison of the present
and the past must afford matter for much
pleasant reflection Who among these
does not remember when a mans pack
comprised all bis earthly goods, chattles
and heraditaments, and thin cotton tent
formed his most substantial castle, thro'
the delicate fabric Of which the mourn
full stars looked pitifully down. In these
days might be seen the philosopher, states
man, lawyer and divine, not truly in the
prosecution of their various callings, but
perhaps, grayely contemplating the mys-
terious transition of acria farinaceous
matter into the india rubber like slap jack
and quantity smiling as it fluttered in the
air and descended with squash into the
pan. Then too the delicately nurtured
youth, "the young Astyanax, the hope of
Troy" with sleeves rolled up and sweat
stained brow toied unmindful of lhera-
ted rags waving gracefully through va
rious rents upon various breeze. To him
the days of princely vesture were like the
"valueless fabric Of vision" and ORC,
the ignis .fatuus lures him o'er toilsome
hills and laundering torrents with ali the
impunity of Swiss born mountaineer.
TO many whose fearless spirit and ro-
mantle taste formed the greatest induce
ment for emigration the untamed solitude
and awe awakening grandeur of our
mountain scenery, was perhaps far more
pleasing and congenial at the period Of
which speak than that which now pre-
sents itself to the traveller who whirls
Impudently thro' our noble woods and
fair haunted dells, in all the "pomp and
circumstance" of Concord coaches, and
sacrilegiously taints the sweet breath of
nature with his vile regalia. Oh! talk
not to the enthusiast of the delights of civ
ilization, for
"To sit on rocks, to muse O'er flood and fell.
To slowly trace the forests shady scene,
Where things that own not mans domin-
ion dwell,
And mortal foot hath ne'er or rarely been;
10 climb the trackless mountain all un-
seen,
With the wild flock that never knows
fold;
.Alone o'er sleeps and foaming falls to lean;
This is not solitude, 'tis but to hold
Converse with natures charms, and view
her stores unrolled p
(In horn,) for however agreeable this
unrestricted species of vagabohdism may
be to gentleman of Byron's ant-human-
ity disposition, it must be extremely un-
pleasant about dinner time, unless you
have good stock of choao-choao in your
wallet, which would be excessively unro-
mantle. Yes, | think the condition of
things is very much improved since the
pioneer days, for now we can enjoy, not
only the "unrolling of natures stores,''
but also those of the landlords; and to my
taste, beautiful landscape is greatly en-
hanced when seen after the discussion of
porter-house steak, and when you feel
its generous juices percolating with health
giving vigor through your veins.
But fear your patience may be too far
tried, so | will conclude this with prom
ises of future improvement.
".4way nor let me loiter in my song,
For we have many a mountain path to
tread"
That is, if you are disposed to accompa-
NY me, and in my next hope to present
you with prospecting sketch. B.
90 We hope that our friends through
out the county Will take pleasure in for
warding to us at their earliest conve-
nience such local news as they may deem
interesting or instructive to the public,
and all reliable mining news that they
receive, thus aiding us in our intention of
making the Herald "a county paper-de-
voted peculiarly to the promulgation of
county newsstand at all times reliable.