The Sierra citizen., 1854-11-04
On TIE Plum VALLEY RoAD,
Saturday a. m, Nov. 4, 1854

OaturOay u H., NOV. a, 1904.
Friend Mac :-You lost q treat last
evening in not being present at the
opening Ball at Bope's Ranch. Myself
and gentleman friend left Downieville
about 8 o'clock, and after pleasant ride
Of three hours, arrived at the goal in good
season to see and participate in the fun
and good cheer there dispensed. Bope,
who knows how to do the genteel, met us
at the door with hearty welcome, and
until broad daylight this morning his at
tentions did not cease. His house, new
and commodious one. was fairly jambed
with the elite of southern and middle ST.
ezra, and doubt if lnore agreeable COM
pany ever collected together in any part
OF the county. The ball opened about
eight o'clock, with floor full of ladies
and gentlemen, who danced away gayly
until ten, when the increased numbers who
were focking in from the neighborhood
made division of the music necessary,
that another room could be used by the
dancers. This was soon arranged, and.
when the music struck up again, thirty
two couples stepped into the 'giddy dance
with a zest that left no room to suspect
that they were not there for the purpose
of enjoyment, and firm resolution to
make all around them happy. Supper
was served from eleven to one o'clock,
when the ball was again resumed, and
kept up without intermission till morning,
and then the company reluctantly dis
persed. did not dance myself, but was
well paid for the fatigue of the journey, by
cozily taking in visionary draught of
the beauty sparkling with happiness in
every part of the house.
have no means of ascertaining the
number present, but upon rough guess
would say about one hundred and fifty
two ladies to five gentlemen. Notwith-
standing this discrepancy, the gentleman
ly foor-managers succeeded in getting
every one who felt inclined to dance q
partner. The programme consisted of
many quadrilles, waltzes, reels and march
es; each evolution beautifully executed,
and with precision, making US poor bache-
lors wish for once that we had partner
in the waltz of life.
Bope's Ranch, as it is now called, is
situated on the stage road to Forest City,
Chips, Smiths, Downieville, and diggings
in the vicinity, about sixteen miles from
Downeville. 1t is one of the best con-
Quoted houses for convenience and perma-
nency in the mountains, with large sta
bling, corrals and outhouses attached,
plenty of good water on the premises, and
fine feed for animals, which, together with
the well-known gentlemanly conduct of
the proprietor, will ever make it favorite
stopping place for the weary traveller.
So much has been said about the bad
road leading into Downieville via Gallo
ways in times past, that never could be
induced to travel in that direction, for
fear of having my neck broken by falling
over the precipices; but assure you, land
you know l have had considerable expc-
rience on California mountain roads, that
to say the least, those reports were highly
colored, if not base fabrications by inter
ested parties to injure the Downieville
trade. The road, as far as have travelled
on it, eighteen miles down the RIDGE is
far superior to that leading from Johnson's
Ranch to Nevada.
But as this is the day for issuing the
Clti=en, and in all probability there is no
room for lengthy communication on the
subject, for the present,