The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1856-06-27
LETTER PROM RET. DAVIS.

10 learn that he and his family in the enjoyment
Of good health:
Los Axorlos, California, May I, 1876.
GTa. c. W. BOwnan:
My Dear Sir .-lt is pleasant thought
10 me, that in fulfilling my promise 10 write TO you,
may, The time, be writing ''eplstle gen
eFal 10 my friends in Bedford County. ifrote 10
you in the month Of August from San francisco,
which place left on the ist OF September. Since
the 1if ni September have been IN Los Angeies-
nis place nearly 500 miles south OF San Francis
60, and is noted the Pacific coast Tor its fine eli
mate and lis beautiful vineyards. Il has net been
much distinguished Tor religion and morality, so that
upon coming here, 1 did not find any Protestant
building, regularly organized congregation. We
using one of lhe Pubc-sehool rooms place OF
worship. The attendance Is gradually increasing,
aad for this country II IS encouraging, although III
The East would be considered very slim. We Ie-
Gently enjoyed our first Communion season on which
occasion fourteen persons participated in the sacred
ordinance. Three our ioar others, who pQTposed
nitglng with were provdentlally prevented from
attending. We Gnd number OF very Intelligent
and agreeable families here. We have com4ofta-
bic hofne, a niid ard genial climate. aid many
things reconcile TO remote aad Isolated sit
uatioR. While you We're experiencing the rigors OF
Arctic winter. we were lanned 5y the oainIy
zephyrs ot tha South, and regaied with the perfume
oi flowers. Aud yet, such is the influence OF early
association, that / was tempted TO envy my Bedford
friends, tie deep SHOWS and line slelghing, aHd tTac
ing airs OF their cold cold winter. As for sno.9
had 20 be tished with distant view OF the white
sammts Of the Slerras. 1t never SHOWS upon our
plains
Such is the earelessness with which the Z. S.
Mal-bags tossed about, mscarred, and lost sight
of, ON this coast that 90 not receive more than
half the numbers OF the Gazette, which | doubt not
are regularly inaited my address. tso happened,
however, that one WHICH lreceived three weeks ago
contained the very pleasant information that the
congregation left vacant by my departure, have OBJ
tained the services Of another minister 1t tru
ly gratifying 10 learn that the people had received
Mr. Sample With much cordiatity and uuaniutfy.
The thought OF the silent Sabbaths and vacant pulpit
in the old church had been painful to me, and was
greatly relieved by this intelligence. My hearts
desire and prayer 10 God will continually be that
pastor and people may enjoy the gracious visits and
FaEivns indnence of the Holy Spirit. | trust that
sha people, III this happy change of circumstance,
\ VIII no forget N their prayers 10 remember their
former pastor in his loneliness on this outpost OF
I Zion.
We had BIT Of experience the other evening,
Hhch 10 US was altogether novel. ''sna9t shock
OF an earth quake teok by surprise. No damage
done, bot Ike tie who fell lnlo tie sea,
and was picked up again, we ''gct good srare.@ A
man ueyer feels 80 perfectly helpless, suppose. IS
when the foundations OF the earth are moving be-
hjH. Nothing IS more ayViH than the thqHip
asaflFs a our dwelling, which always >peaa, ~
eeig aNbouneing to all that God, and rot man,
ertitfs His power II is melancholy IN the extreme
HiSke ali your arrangements before retiring to bed.
ior a sadGen rush OF the house il Sneken oar OF
your sleep in the night. There Is part OF the
world without IFS advantages and disadvantages, its
comfort and its dscomiorts Some people IN the
East imagine, presume, that there must be the
NEST uHalioyed enjoyment OF life. the fertile and
genial coast oi the Pacific. We who here have
Learned that the people OF the older States have
comforts aud enjoyment than they think they have
part moTe perhaps. than las envied tweers Ill this
land ot promise. ftho,e persons in the East, whe
complain when Jack Frost bites them, had right
q. ts. - g., t.. t,.I
on the 18th OF February they would probably keep
quiet in the future.
You will have seen in the papers before this reach
yen an account OF d most shocking affair Pana-
Having $ recently come by Il al route, and
board the same steamer which was deIalued for
day Panama by the bloody riot, ] can ina CINE a.
YOU perhaps cannot all the horrors attending such
an occurrence. It's dreadful to think @; a thousand
or unarned and innocent passengers, many oil
them ladies and children, shHt up IL Railway Sia-
ton, and fired in upon by bowling mob ct blood
thirsty niscreamis. Our government ought certain
IL take steps al TO the punishment OF
the guilty, and provlde for lie safety OF the thoU-
sands OF our couutI ymen who pass monthly across
the t>thmus. And the government ought as soon
possible, commence, authorize the construction
ol a Railway or Stageroad across the plains. Han
dreds Of thousands OF Americans ln California, and
adjoining territories, cry out lUPorHgiv Tor such
road; and the friends OF civilization tbIoU-houI the
world are impatient or the road. AId yet tins
great work OF the age posi- ponri rom year TO year
while men discuss The comparatively trihlng qres
tous, by y bat particular route, and according 10
what Darticular scheme shall the road be made -
Many practicable plans have been proposed. Sever
al desirable route, have been surveyed. Where is
the hoasted wisdom and energy ot the government
that Inc work Is not commenced! Perhaps divine
Providence has peruittcd this terrible OUTRAGE and
slaughter Panama TO occur, and has suffered Walk
er toolishy 10 stop the luun,ng Of the Nicaragua
steamers at iae tine, the purpose OF aygak-
eEng The att eutioG Of the whole country he ia
~ q u nd c1Fr
nuaicatoG between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.
We have had, in this part OF California, remark
ably dry winter in your sense OF fhe term, there is
40 winter here udt Is called tae winter, or RAINY
season, that part Of the year which ram some
times falls. But during the past winter scarcely
any rain fell. until last month. The prospect for
hard times was rather darker than any ever knew
the East. Rain enough fell, however, in pTII TO
bring the grass upon the plains, ami 10 the
pershing fields Of grain. The plains now array
e in their beautiful garments of grass and flowers
ana the heart OF the ranchero has been cheered
The promise OF fruit is very hne In two months
our busy season will commence Our people de-
pendent chiefly on the fruit o. the vines. Large
quantities Of grapes shipped to San Francisco
every week from the ifst OF July TO the first De-
ccmber And persons are beginning 10 resort 10 Los
Angeios, in Strut season. TOR the sake OF eating
grapes, quite as they resort tc Bedford in Sprjag
season. for the sake OF drinking water. And be-
leve that the delicious clusters Of the vine
conducive 10 heaih than the wafer OF the mineral
spring, besides having the advantage OF OeIn2 de-
lighttully easy 10 take. large part OF popula-
tion, the Indians more especially, sub5ist for the
most part, grapes and MELONS, for about half
the year. The other half OF the year, the poor poor
Indians are badly oil. saw family, BOT long since,
roasting dog tor their supper.
You would find this part of the country Paradise,
Gen, respect, am inclined think. There
seems to be only political party in Southern
California, and that the Democratic see, BY the
Gazette, that your opponents IN the East are rot all
Yanitnished vet. Here there is NOT The Last icr