The Sierra citizen., 1854-02-11
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY IL, 1854
A Talk with our Patrons---that are
to be.

to be.
After an unexpected delay, we at length
lay before the public the first number of
the Citizen We shall not indulge in any
self-confdent boastings, or on the o:her
hand angle for praise, by expressing ex-
traordinary diffidence. In plain language
we promise to do the best we can, leaving
the Citizen to sink or swim in the current
of popular favor. If our paper meet with
favor, we intend to make Downieville our
future home-if disappointment be our
lot, we will collect the fragments of our
ruined fortune, and return to the hills and
build US a cabin beneath the overhanging
rock, where the harsh words of criticism
and detraction can never reach us-but if
we must fail, we will fail trying, and like
the fellow of well known government
Institution, never leave our cell until :.the
last link is broken"
Since issuing our Prospectus we have
everywhere been greeted with encouraging
words; and all seem predisposed to receive
the Cti@en with favor We earnestly
hope that we may be able to meet the
general expectation. After all, the OBJ
servation of Dow, junior, should be re-
membered-"Blessed are they who do not
hope for much, for they will not be disap-
pointed"
most everybody else, we intended to re-
main few months, or year or two at
most, and then return to our native village.
But months and years passed away, and
when the summer sun began to melt away
the snowy mantle from the hills, we were
still found wandering in the Sierra in
search of gold, like Mr.. Micawber, in mo-
mentary expectation "of something turn
ing up" In the old church yard the
spring flowers have bloomed and faded on
little hillocks that were not there when we
used to creep softly over the wall, and spell
out the inscriptions on the monuments of
sorrow; one by one our old playmates
have gone to other lands, or been wrapped
in the ghastly drapery of the grave, until
to return now, would be only like revisit
ing the paternal hearth long after the last
spark had gone out, and the dust gathered
on the wall
Alter mature deliberation we came to
the conclusion that California is the best
country for a poor man. Here industry
will ultimately meet its reward, and worth
and talent be appreciated 1t is strange
that so many people, even at this late day,
come here expecting to become rich in
few months; aad failing in their extrav-
agant hopes, fall out with and curse the
country.
If one should labor as steadily, and live
as economically, as people do in the Eas-
tern States, what would be the result in
ten years? Novelists who had involved
their heroes and heroines in all sorts of
difficulty, would be infinitely relieved by
the timely return of a consumptive uncle
in comparison with whom Crosus would
be but a small capitalist. But because
gold cannot be had without persevering
industry, our amateur laborers become dis
couraged, and drown their sorrows in the
intoxicating cup, or fall victims to the evil
genius that presides over the gambling
hell.
And here, too. aspirants for fame or
civic honors meet with disappointment and
run to seed. Abridged editions of law
yers, doctors, and candidates for the Leg
islature. failing to be appreciated at home,
come to this country, thinking that they
may crawl under the curtains unobserved,
and make grand demonstration. Like
Meals Undeveloped Genius, they know
that the germ of greatness is in their cra-
mum they can hear and feel it KICKING
against its prison walls, but for the want
of a mallet to crack the shell. it can't be
got out. But very soon these candidates
for preferment observe that fastidous in
dividual The Public" with his fingers
approximating his nasal extremity, gestic-
ulating In manner at once incredulous
and provoking.
But let us define our position. In