Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-11-14
NICATIoN
PROM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT.
INTERESTING LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.
MhRYsvrLLE, Sept. II, 1855

lATERESIlaG Letter Fhuh ohbifo"hH'
MARYsvrLLE, Sept. II, 1855.
DEAR SIR:-You perhaps will besonewhat
,urprised when YOU cast your eyes al the margin
Of thi. cpi.tle, and find an uacquninted name
to you, but do not presume that my "irname
will be such stranger to you as might sup
pose. The name have, no doubt is familiar all
around Edgefeld C. HI can almost say the
birthplace and playground of my childhood.
The family of which belonged are scattered
and separated; and time has made such great
change, l dare say that would not recognize
nv own mother, saying nothing of my slSters'
who were small children when | left home.
Many of my old school mates have taken to
themselves hymenia yokes and have become
father, and mothers; aud had remained among
Won. as should have done, l would probably
have taken to myself "better half" and have
been papa also. You may say, why could
not take to myself fair lady here! That
question can answer satisfactorily.
When I first landed in California, which was
on the 18th day of September, ls49, when
California was in her unciriized state--when
Sacramento city was, a low marshy, swamPy
place, covered with q low growth OF bushes,
which were inhabited by wild beasts, reptiles,
and the most poisonous insects ever known to
man--when ,Marysyie was inhabited BY ran
chero Of Digger Indiahs-an American woman
va. q. a s,rsger to me. And when ahey;did beeia
to enierafe to this country, }thesmost% of them
had husbands or men, or in other words, part Of
men, that they called their husbands, the most
of whom emsrated from the Western portion of
the Atlantic Stains They lived together 80
much like cat. and dogs that | became perfectly
di.pusted with a married life, and looked upon
every women, both married and single, as per-
feet torment to man; snd almost swore that it /
never got wife until | had to marry in this
country should die an sold bachelor" ven.
ture to say that We have more grass widows in
California than any other State in the Union.
1t is almost a daily occurrence here that we hear
of separation between some man and wife
or has gone to her friends where she can be
treated like a woman, and not abused and
whipped like slave. Our country is becoming
more civilized every day, and you can scarcely
20 smiss for the women, both married and sim
gle. But of all the. homely creatures of their
kind in the world California can beat them all
They look very we'll in this country when you
can't see the other kind.
The young ladies' in this country have no
trouble in finding husbands--not the least. The
objection is, they find too many. They hardly
wait until they put on long dresses--which they
do here at the age Of twelve and fourteen. They
marry, 60 off, and are perhaps gone three or four
months, when you will see them coming footing
it up to their fathers or mothers, bare.footed
and no bonnet on. why, my dear child, what
is the matter?' "Oh mother, mother, so and
so is drunk, and he run me off from home-he
abused me mefully-cruey. 1t is beyond
the expression of language for me to tell you
how they live together in this country. Under
stand me, do not include all, but a large ma
jo:ity. So am afraid to marry one of my own
country ladies for fear that she might take up
board with some other man. Therefore have
come 10 the conclusion that, as speed has been
10 much increased and fare so much reduced,
that ! will pay the home of my birthplace
visit, aud ace il can't select some one from
among the old Sand Hills of Edgeield District,
on which can place my affections. One that
would not be afraid that when left home but
I would still find her there to await and welcome
my return; and no: find note, stating that she
had concluded to FAMOUS the rancho"
I am all alone in this country. have not
seen a lady from the old Palmetto State since
the llth day of January ls4s; but il kind
Providence will continue to smile upon me, in
health and strength, will be among some Of
them about December. received two Of your
papers n short time ago and it done me good
to read the names of some of my old acquaint-
ances which were so familiar to my ear. There
are fewer South Carolinians in California than
ever emigrated from any country to this. be-
lieve there are two in this county that regard
South Carolina rs their home-one from Green,
vile district, by the name of CRIrEsDoK, and a
yeung man by the name of ADAMS, from near
old Liberty Hill. How long TO see that dear
old place. ~
We have had great deal of excitement here
in regard to elscting State and county officers.
Yo4 nre perhaps somewhat acquainted with o
society called the Political Know Nothing So
ciety. Of all the humbugs in the known world
that midnight clan beats all. We have had