The weekly Placer herald., 1853-09-17
NUMBER /.

California whose existence, at the best,
is but an idle vegetation with scarce ono
single object of his creation accomplished
lone duty of life fulfilled. To the heart
of a man, who like myself has had mora
than an ordinary share of the rough and
simhle life Of California, If at all suscep-
tblp, such scenes strike home cold and
dreary sense of deSolation-they recall
with cruel bitterness and mockery tho
social Joys and refined pleasures of days
gone by--they enforce with poignancy
almost uncomfortable, the miserable and
sad truth, that if he remains a bache'or
in this country, he has no choice left him.
but to entomb his heart in the dark dreari-
ness Of living grave, or consent to par
ticipate in black guardism the most un-
mitigated that ever disgraced either man
or woman.
Bur, sir, must hasten onward 10 the
last incident of importance that occurred
during my visit in this town 1t was Ons
that brought to my mind, kindly indeed
painful episode Of the past, and vet not
without interest either. Ii was nothing
more than an accidental meeting at the
Empire Quartz Mil with the celebrated
Lola Montez Years have interviewed
since last met her, and like myself, find
her considerably changed in appearance.
Whether she positively recoilected me,
| do not know for we did not speak; yet
on first meeting, she gave me one OF her
old piercing, searching 10 ks, as ii some
distant and vague remembrance of things
gone bv relived i'm her mind for mo-
mpnt. Time, hard mountain life, and
the careless habits Of California miner,
have made changes, which fee in mysef,
and which sti more apparent doubt nor,
10 Others, and thus the rerollections died,
perhaps, as soon as horn. Yet IN the
davs | speak of without pretending to
the exouisitism Of dandy, for that evin-
ces weak and 81 ly mind, we were not
Indifferent 10 the appearance winch we
consider our birth and position to require;
and, if now we are no longer very ntten-
tive to those matters, it l. because we
have sense enough not 10 appear other
than we really area California miner.
B sides enjoying the advantltlous an OF
good family onnexinns--which you Know
sir, go "A long way in England, and which
gave us a large circle of acquaintance,
our profession brought us in contact with
many notabe persons in the old country
and thus, more indirectly than Otherwise
became, through the agency OF very
ucnr relative, familiar with those events
which formed the brightest and darkest
part of Lo'a's varied life.
Nv God how has all become changed
since the night speak Of, when for the
first and last time | was for n short while
in her presence 1t was just previous to
her receiving in lawful wedIock an honor
able nnme, great wealth, and n distin-
u she'd post OF in society, which with
the least effort would have enabled her
~ pass the rest of her days in peace, use-
fitness and respect,bilitv. In the early
part of the night we had dined AT the mess
of he --th Regiment over which H---d's
known unalternbIe determination to make
the m,tch cast Sight shade, az his bro
ther officers had determined upon that
line of conduct, so cutting and CALLING to
a proud man which they Immediately
adopted on the completion of the ceretno-
ny--and which many 10 this day condemn
as, perhaps, II little too hastv and too
severe. Often have heard the relative
| refer to, who had been II TBS school
fellow--who was then an officer IN one OF
our gallant Highland egiments--ac2;a
who remained bis true friend all through;
say, that he most deeply felt me infection
of the ~rueI ordeal of MS comrades III
arms prepared for nim, on that day,
which of all Others in mans ife, should
be free from care and sorrow. Ii was,
however. out the beginning of the end
the f.,reshadowing of that concentrated
v,retchedness which could find no relief
but in death, Oh Lola how sad 1t m kes
the heart 10 look back upon those days.
What relics have we of them, but sorrow!
Where are the principal actors in their
JOYOUS scenes? Him to whom, Tin spite
of all nperfections for none are pure)
thou shouidst have clung with nil the ten
derness of grateful wife at least, for
what he suffered for, if not, for what he
bestowed upon you, has sank through
the degradations of human suffering
! ~ the cold dark grave. My relative too,
the lido of his friends, soon after exchang-
ed, for active service at the Cape, and
died there in the may-day of life. Here
farup in the wild Terra Nevada, aretwo
more :-yourself, following the precari-
Gus life OF Il danseuse-and |, though
only distant spectator of the past famI-
liar to both the equally uncertain pur-
suit Of "A Gold Digger. Alas! what cruel
crushing changes time brings home to all
of us. Yet when we look back upon the
amount of human happiness trittered
away, of earthly usefulness neglected,
hy the unfortunate cravings OF mans dis
tempered passion for wealth, and love, we
I.nunot balt, faolinU with ord RncOp