Washington telegraph., 1853-11-16
Working liko Horses and Living like Dogs.


The Philadelphia Ledger, OF recent date. pub
lishel very entertaining letter from Caiiforn-
correspondent dated at San Francisco. Sept
II, 1858. We agree with the writer when he
says that erroneous opinions of California have
been formed in the States regarding the rapidity
with which fortunes are made In the Land of
gold.n We have not the least doubt that ii great
portion of the highly colored accounts sent from
that State written by interested persons there
by inducing many to leave profitable and honora-
bic occupations here for the very uncertain chance
of becoming suddenly rich there, Many clerk
has lett the Northern States, where he was in the
receipt of good salary to try his fortunes in the
distant Ell Dorado, and his arrival al San Fran
cisco, instead of finding Clerkship with large
salary, was finally compelled. after exhausting all
his available means, to accept the situation OF
waiter at some one Of the numerous hotels or
restaurants of that city. The writer is one who
evidently believes the old adage, "a bird in
the hand is worth two in the bushi'
We copy the following extracts to show that
''it is not all gold that sitters:''
There are many persons who imagine all that
is necessary TO make fortune is to buy ticket
and take passage to the gold regons iu of high
expectations, leave home and friends: arrive In
California, the place where every one has but to
stoop and pick up all the gold that they wish, and
to return home.
but, alas they are mistaken for they soon find
that the expense living here soon deprives them
OF the little they possessed; and are obliged to
work at the first Job they able to procure, if
indeed they have the good fortune to procure one
But there many who fnd nothing to do,
and are either forced to beg starve. These
facts are hard, but true. The writer OF this has
men of education and the best business quail
lfcations, arrive with many letters and high eN
pectatons dnder the nece ssity to accept the stu
alton walters in raStanrantsan glad eren TO be
so employed When thus situated some morning
paper gives an account of a tremendous lump OF
gold being picked up at some of the diggings; but
not stating the tact that hundreds of feet OF earth
Were removed and many men were employed
before it found. Full of bright hopes they
leave their situations thinking now at least they
have found the spot to make their pile
Having procured the necessary implements,
they start, reach the mines, and either buy or
squat on claim-work months perhaps in Wa
ter knee Deep and at the end of that time find
nothing Money gone, enfeebled by sickness.
must beg their way back to the city, and again
turn walters if they are fortunate enough to find
situations. From information obtained from res
taurant keepers, the writer of this has been told
that thousands of applications have been made
weekly Many offering to work for food alone.
Many time have felt ashamed to order wal
ter to serve me, knowing them at one time to
have been, at the head of the best society
in the States. These facts. A few days since
while conversng in the street with friend, the
name OF Philadelp phia was mentioned gentle
man. as we separated, called my friend aside, and
Win tears IN his eyes SAID, ne mad he3rd MN
speak of Philadelphia, that he was Philadelphia
ian, nephew OF a celebrated Congressman that
he had spent all his money and was without a
friend, and begged means to obtain meal
This is not a solitary case; could name many
more, but 1T Is unnecessary at present. Every
steamer leaving San Francisco tells the rnelan-
caoly tale of want and disappointed hope. The
accounts OF most OF the returning miners as CLEAN
ed from actual conversation, are as follows:
well, friend SO you are about returning homer
without Doubt you have made much money-suf-
ticient to make you independents mo, / have
made hardly enough to take me home.n Have
any OF your companions made their pile?, ..verv
few! And they have but few hundred dollars
alter several years OF toll; but most of them are
as poor as when they left the Statesl' Stranger.
have had enough of California" ''No doubt
you will tell you friends to try itf' u shall tell
them if they are not fools. to stay at home.
have seen few make few thousand dollars
but they worked like horses and lived like dogs,.
The above relates to the majority; for it can
not be denied that many have made much money
at the mines; yet l would advise no one who
thinks he can make fortune in few months. TO
come to California