The Placer herald., 1856-02-09
Virginia Correspondencc.

VIRGINIA, Jan. %, 1886,
Friend .l1ders0n: Permit me through the
columns of your valuable paper a space for a
few brief remarks. Our little village seems
to have partially escaped the notice of letter
writer's; and, although novice i'll the art Of
scribblng have concluded to pen you 4
short epistle.
We are all clever fellows down here es-
pecially in our own estimation, and enjoy
ourselves after the most approved fashion
and custom of the day. Dancing is pleas
ant amusement with us, and this place goes
in for small share of the pleasant exercise
The science Of dancing has been taught the
uninstructed, and nothing but the light fan
tastic toe can be longer tolerated in presence
of the bright eyes, flowing tresscs and be
witching smiles of beauty. Instead Of the
laundering movements Of huge feet enyel
oped in coarse boots, the understandings Of
the hoatbyes are encased in line boots Of the
latest French style, ready to answer TO the
charming strains Of music. We have in our
place number Of the softer sex, who occa-
sionaly condescend to break the 'apell Of
sadness and contribute to the general hap
piness of the community 10y favoring the Old
bachelors with an evening Of lively enter
tainmeut. We have dance every week or
two, and sometimes we aspire to a select par
tv, consisting Of chosen few. A few eve
nings ago an entertaining party came off at
the residence of my much esteemed friend,
Mr.. a. Denton, some three miles below this
place, which was well attended (extcnsiye ar
rangements having been made) and kept up
until late hour. AS one would approach
he was enlivened by the rattIing of buggies,
the sound of music, and sort Of startled at
the immonsity Of the standing collars. a
great many OF the fair daughters Of Placer
were in attendance. ! noticed in the assem-
bled crowd, two young ladies recently from
Oregon, who, for intelligence, beauty and
graceful manners cannot be cXcelled. And
in fact all the ladies present on the occasion,
were intelligent and refined.
We have at the present, a plentiful supply
of water for mining purposes from the G. IL.
d b. r. Co.'S ditch, and times are improving.
Many Of the mountain ramblers have re
turned, satisfied to remain here. This is
considered by some, poor place but those
who have left here, so often return, that am
of opinion Virginia is the best place after all
The dgglngs pay, on average, wages, but
HcihO VI Viz lllOlc III ludLO are llltklDE lDclI
ounce per day.
A few days ago Mcssrs. Wright & Abbot,
believing there was rich lead Of gold some
where in Quartz Flat, "a few hundred wards
north of this place., determined to sink a
shaft and ascertain if their opinion was cor
rect Accordingly they commenced their
work about week ago, and after sinking
the shaft some fifteen or twenty feet they
struck the granite and were agreeably sur
prised upon washing pan of dirt to find the
snug little prospect of four dollars and some
cents. The pay dirt is about eighteen inches
or two feet in depth, and am informed by
Mr. Wright Zone Of the discoverers), will pay
from one to four dollars to the pan. You
may imagine, that after this discovery was
made known, the, whole country around was
staked off in less tllan no time, and you may
expect to hear Of some big strikes being
made here, and Virginia may yet become