The Sierra citizen., 1854-09-30
Saturday, September 30, ASA.
What People at the Bay say about Us.

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opinions Of certain Of the lower country
writers, who set US down as barbarians,
whom it would be unsafe to visit, without
both pockets filled with bowie knives and
pistols. We confess that we like to read
thcse curious articles-they are so sug-
gestive of the loftier flights of 'Theodosius
Spoon, the poet. But great deal of the
merit of such articles is lost from the
simple fact that they don't happen to be
true, and that in many instances they are
written by people who have not energy
enoagh to visit the interior, but when
writing to fill up in more ways than one
they draw on an Imagination that is about
as fruitful as the Sahara.
Now and then VIC are visited by men Of
sense, as was the case a short time since
when the Rev. Mr. Blain, Of the Christian
advocate was here. We give few ex-
tracts from an article Of his in that paper
which may not be uninteresting, coming
as they do from man of sense and talent.
"The day will come when the slopes of
the Sierras, where virgin snow and sweet
est verdure blend, will afford the most at
tractive residences in the world. When
our becalmed population conclude to live
in California, the best facilities for rational
enjoyment will he at their command.
"Only few days ago a company Of
ladies and gentlemen made trip to
Sierra valley, and speak of it as one of
inimitable beauty. In almost every di-
rection we heard Of gardens and ranches
cultivated on wa.ered slopes, in mountain
locked wales and sequestered sleus. How
romantic such spots, and how charming
to the lover Of the grand and the beauti-
ful
THE people greatly need minister of
the gospel with his family to live among
them. We know of no better field in the
State than this for ministerial usefulness.
How We need supply of men who count
not their lives dear unto them, in the per-
yormance OF their duty"'
Speaking Of preachers, let correspon-
dent of ours suggest what sort of preach
ers we want.
California wants preachers who can
withstand something-preachers of the
Gospel of Jesns Christ-prcachers whose
hearts arc big and brave-full Of the
warmth of Christ's love for men-who are
willing to work and preach, and pray out
of genuine Christian zeal-prcacherS
who can take hold of mems hearts here
and fill them with early memories, and
kindle the hopes of goodness, well nigh
dead, and renew the longings Of by-sone
times when the heavens seemed full OF
good spirits wooing them to purity
Preachers who can not only reprove, in
loving spirit, the sins which all acknowl
edge, but give chance to us poor devils
to grow better. We don't want, when
now and then we get into church, to be
made to feel that we are utter devils
fairly shocking to the tender sensibilities
of the amiable minister who thinks his
best plan Of drawing US to better life is
BY painting, in the highest coloring, the
iniquit;es for which we are already sorry
and perhaps ashamed. l know | am q
great sinner-I never go to church to learn
that. But when am edited by half an
hours painting of all my worst faults, and
many which are neither mine nor any
body's else, it would be pleasant to have
something said which would appeal to
what little good there may be crowded
down into the bottom Of a soul by the
weary burden which has somehow gath
cred over it during hard life. Are we
not utterly surprised, and inexprcssibly
pleased when We happen upon man who
can be talked to just like other men, al
though he is preacher. How eagerly
we listen to such man-how gratefully
we listen to his counsel, though alas. We
NAV not follow it-how our hearts warm
toward his goodness-how we wish we
were christians, lake him! And how we
tell our ungodly cronies about him
always remembering to say "he has got
common sense.
Does not that sound very much like
sensible talk Coming from one of the
unconvorted. 1t is the sentiment Of every
sensible man; from the pen of one who can
WELD the pen with startling effect, gen.
orally on political or literary subjects, but
who would be an invaluable recruit il
aroused by the Macedonian cry "come
over and help us!.'
But there is one clause of Mr. Blain's
article which we have read with regret; ii
is this:
at was. however, painful to see so large
anumbcr of Americans, shriveled, crooked