Daily national Democrat., 1858-12-28
Our San Francisco Correspondence.
SAN FRANc1soo. Dec. 25th, 1858.

SAN Francisco, Dec. 25th, 1858.
The aspect of the town indicates the ad
vent of the great Festival of the Christian
/ year. We can't walk the streets, enter O
saloon, pick up newspaper-mueh less TAKE
a stroll through the market-without being
reminded of it. Mammoth posters, with
gigantic letters in brilliant uniforms OF al
the colors of the rainbow, announce special
entertainments, and unprecedented attrac
tons at the various places Of amusement, in
honor Of the day. The confectioners' win
dows are gorgeous with toys, bon-bons, and
cakes, so ingeniously disguised by fantastic
ornaments, rs to deceive the inexperienced
and simple minded spectator, as to their true
character. The stationers and booksellers
bewildering array of illustrated gift books
resplendent in gilt, and Turkey
All this, one would think, is sufficiently
heart breaking to those Of us unfortunates
whose purses are not plethoric enough, tC
permit us to dream for moment Of appro
priating any of these treasures; but it is moi
the worst-O, no The fruiterers, and the
restaurant men, are perhaps the hardest o
all upon us. They are too much for our poor
philosophy. We can sand the confectione
ry, the toys, and even the books; but the
windows of the restaurants, with their dis
play of edibles-fsh, flesh and fowl, and
every sort of game-all so artfully arranged
to seduce and captivate the unwary; and
the fruit shops with their tempting variety
of good things. cunningly disposed in oddly
shaped boxes, and pot-bellied baskets-thesC
overcome our fortitude, and we are obliged
to avoid their contemplation, to turn away
our head, and pass by on the other side, for
fear of being driven to desperation.
The preparations for the great Pollock
Testimonial" are now nearly complete. All
the dramatic and musical talent of San Fran
cisco has volunteered for the occasion in the
noblest manner and it will be an event of
really unprecedented attraction. There will
probably be two performances on the same
night, one at Maguire's and one at the Ly-
ceum the Testimonial tickets emitting the
bearer to admission to either place. Mrs.
Wood the Gougenheims, Mr.. and Mrs. Stark,
Mr.. Booth and Others, will appear in the
dramatic part of the entertainment; the
Bianchis, Mrs. Shattuck, Mrs. Leach and Mrs.
Wells, in the musical part, and Mr.. Conner
will recite one of poor Pollock's best poems
e The Chaudos Picture"
The Almaden war flags somewhat of late
from having become too much one-sided.
The Bulletin and National appear to have
quit the field for the present. The latter
paper, after having said land in pretty effec
tive style too, be it acknowledged about all
that can be said in defence Of the interven-
ton of the Government, seems to have ar
rived at the conclusion that the best policy is
to stop the further agitation cf the subject.
1t is the general opinion here, also, that ably
as the controversy has been conducted by
the National, it found an overmatch in the
"Alien" (whoever he may be) whom it at
tackled SO ferociously, and who has replied to
said attack in series of articles in the Her.
aid, which display rare controversial abili-
ty and which are characterized by much
spirit, vigor, and sarcastic power.
Two more of those singular cases of alleg-
ed insanity, which puzzle the doctors, came
under my observation this morning. The
first was that Of an old Frenchman, named
Louis Charl, who admitted that he had "some
trouble in his head" which he attributed to
the effects of fall some years since. lie
showed a scar at the top of his forehead
which had been left, he said, by the fall in
question. lie seemed depressed and feeble,
but talked coherently and nationally so far
as could Judge from the little l saw of him
seen more of the case and understood it bet
ter, pronounced the man insane. The case
was one of such nature, as not to make its
details proper for publication. The mans
mind was enfeebled rather than deranged
and he was sent to the Hospital instead o
the Lunatic Asylum.
The recent coup de main of Chief Burke
against the gamblers, is the subject of mucl
discussion, in which his action in the premi
ses is warmly applauded by some, and VIC
lently denounced by others, who condemn
the means resorted to, and characterize thu
mode of gaining access to the house, as al
invasion of private rights which would hav,
justified the proprietor of the house in re
sisting and if necessary in shooting, th'
officers SPEIGLEBIRD.