Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-03-25
The Great change in California.

Old CahfOruians love TO talk Of the days of 40
but we doubt whether San Francisco At its apo
gee Of vice. pleasure, dissipation &C. before or af.
ter the years 81 ard 80 The strange population
# the city-its gamblers, gentlemen, muers, mer-
chants and Migrants, drawn from all nations; he
m5ngling of the habits Of ell climes the streets
where a specialize marked every sloP--as for iu-
stance Pacific street, distinguished for its Jews aud
old clothes those about The plaza where were the
bar-rooms " shoulder strikers" resorts and
other establishments, among them The RESTAURANT
kept by Frenchmen and patronizsd only by men Of
m ans who c0u ID afford half dollar a soft boil
cd egg for breakfast. Tae day OF '5l-2 knew no
earth quskes, aud previous terrible canhagratious
were forgotten. Business atis lveliest poin'; =
these were the days of the " Flour Kings when
Friedaadsr held the sceptre by reason of that ex-
raoidinary rise which pat -four up fifty dollars
barrel making fortunes for q few ana ruin and
misery for many. Tue days when gambling was
recognized by law were haleyOn times for adven.
lures from every part Of the globe; every known
game OF ch snee-fsro, monte, iansquenet, baccarat
roulette oeeIa, was played; French women, Span
ish damsels and Chilliennss we're the deeoys to
many a palace called Polka" ''Dians," . FL Dora>
do" anu so on. There we're streets ia IN Francisco
which were really musical with The clink Of money ;
the orchestral music, the SQUAD Of decanters and
glasses the noise of Oahs and obs eniy rose and fell
sometimes ceasinZ for few moments; but tie coin
ratified monotouousy and equally from ! P. NJ uutil
four, FIVE, and Elk IN the morning. SuCh gambling
probably never was known in any city, ancient CT
modern. The gambling hells were the louugiug
places for business Hen-staid, sober citizens VINO
now attend to buying aud selling, Law m liking aud
church going, with proper honesty and regularity.
The memorable poker games, where $50 O00
the ante; when " slugs" of fifty dollars worth of
gold The counters and pack of cards, changed
every deal, cost q mnt>dr0p Of ten dolaEs vslael
The city was gayer than Paris; balls, th ricals,
aud " house warmth gs were ffequeht; murders
there were In plenty ard politics Sere fraught with
bloody strife, but public opinion was lenien, morsli
we're lax add 50 lorg as nobody desired TO borrow,
SO long he considered respectable and even
trustwOrEy. The days Of 81 and 90 were kindly
to fortuLe hunters Real estate in the metropolis
was better than the ricaCst claim up country; one
merchant, and q Boston one toe, if we remember
right, rented a liIle corner store for S 500 per
month aud cent the whole to his wife fer pa~moDey
The clubs were not organized then, here was but
little good female society, although plenty that was
not good, aud bachelors life Ia California was
hardly beyond Teprosch. Washing bills we're fabU
lous. stsrehed shirt collar required outlay of
dollar aud hal, and clean pocket haOdkerehiefs
were proporuonstely expensive The Vigilance
Committee was tranquil az that period; the whole
Safe seemed Prosp ~rous, emigration was large, gold
poured down from the mines, there was brisk trad
ing with the Pacific islands and with China Build
ings we're erected VIII CHI would vie with the Broad~
way marble architecture; everybody seemed 20 hare
work and everybody made money. Tee -four spe-
had superior claims for enterprsing souls: the
Cinnamon caught the spirit, and their particular
street The name of il at this moment dose not &C.
cur TO u.s. was animated hong where the quanti-
~ Of the vege able to arrive, probability Of rise,
Sc. were freely discussed. Certainly those we're
blessed days! Even dried apples proved lucrative
to a lucky shipper! Things have changed IN Calls
forDia since then The artificial has gwen place TO
,he natural quiet sober prosperity distinguishes
the stare IL is progressing in everything: 1t IS
drawing now upon its own resourees-a sure source
Of weslth. Il has order, churches and newspapers,
aud IS altogether quite a reformed rake les Wild
oats haveyielded of experience at least,
and everey moaih it improves in decorum acd we'll
doing All Of which observations ufgested by
looking over fle Of the Aha California brought
lay or Two siuce by TIE Star Of the West and fEd
'pg in one number strong editorial against leg l
islstive " Dhl 10 Ltc' nse Gambling. '-B0sf0R Post
The Atlanta (Ga Iai Aye0esr gives the partieu-
ars ef ARRAY betwtea JOscpa Bo0d, Of Macon, /
one Of The ssllty planters 10 that State, aud