Nevada national., 1860-04-21

theater that evening. | found that the an
bad been made with more zeal
than modesty. When that gentleman asked
me. before starting on his Journey OF prelim-
lnarles What shall put on the posters in
addition to youi name =? earnestly charged
him to put nothing On at all. II the subject
OF the lecture will not attract auditors.
must do without them and | shall never
be guilty Of blowing my own trumpet l
leave the reader 10 imagine my feelings,
when, on entering Grass Valley, the colossal
wsrds-
'' THE woELD-RENowNRD TRAVELLER
AND
HISTORIAN ("
stared at me from every blank wall. And
so il was wherever | went. Ny agents in
discreet zeal made me appear to the public,
not only as q uonstrous self-glorifsr, but
also as arrogating to myself a title to which
| had no claim. The printers would have
il so.' was bis meek excuse. But you know,
Mr. E.. it was your own device to attract
and entrap an unwary public.
Grass Valley and Nevada being only four
miles apart. aud very nearly of the same
size and Importance. are. OF course deadly
rivals. Curiously enough, this fact was the
occasion OF some pecuniary detriment to
myself. The circumstance was ut the same
time, laugkable aud sexatious In the even
ing, shortly before the appointed hour, a
gentleman approached me with a my ysterious
air. aud. after some beating about an invis.
ible bush, finally asked. plumply : Are you
going to lecture tonight for the benefit OF
the Nevada people?' What do you mean 2
| exclaimed in great astonshment. Why,
said be. it is reported that the Society in
Nevada has engaged you TO come here, as If
on your own account. so that iDe will not
know any thing about 1t and they are to
have'the proiis.' What doyou take me for!'
asked. indignant at such mean suspicion !;
but even IL Iwere capable of it, the Ne
vnda people are above such trcksry.' WELL
said he, | will hurry out and correct the
impression as far "a possible. for il is going
to prevent scores OF people from coming to
hear you This absurd idea found. was
general but ] had no means Of ascertaining
how manv were kept away by reason of it.
Grass Valley is cheerful. fiourIshing
place, once famed for its rich surface wash
ings. (Which are now for the most part ex-
hausted) but with a more enduring basis of
in the veins of gold bearing
quartz in the neighboring hills. Only three
miles distant is the celebrated AisOn's
ranch vein. the richest quartz lead, in the
State. When first discovered it did not
promise much. and the claims sold Tor a
trfe. Ii fell into the hands OF six men OF
small means. who soon struck upon its rea
value. At the time of my visit an siier was
made To purchase their interest Tor the sum
OF sl.200,00 and refusued. from the con-
viction that their gain would be greater in
retaining and working the mines.
MOUNTAIN SCENERY.
On leaving Grass Valley, Mr.. Taylor
hired carriage and driver to take himself
and wife to Forest Hill, and speaks as fol-
lows Of the scenery along the road
ave took an eastward course on leaving
Grass Valley, crossing bleak. disforested
bill IL. where the dust was irightfully deep
and dry then. approaching Buena Vista
ranch, plunging by degrees into the woods.
where the air was cool and balsamic. and the
burnt ground was hidden under golden
plumage Of forms. The road at last dropped
into linked succession of dells, which en-
chanted us with their beauty. The giant
pillars OF the forest rose on all sides. but
here and there the pines fell back, leaving
grassy kneils dotted with clumps Of oak. or
green meadows fringed with laurel and
buckeye, or tangled masses OF shrubbery
and vines There were also cottage and
gardens, secluded in these happy valleys.
where. one sighed to think, care and pain.
and sorrow. comes as readily as to the
bleakest moor and the rudest seashore.
For four or five miles we drove merrily
onward through the Arcaiian realm. The
blue sky shone overhead. the pines sung in
The morning wind. the distant mountains
vailed themselves in the softer purple. and
The exquisite odors Of bay and pine. aud dry
aromatic herbs gave sweetness to the air.
Then the scene became wilder. a rugged
canon received us-a gulf opened in front
broken, wooded sleeps rose opposite. and we
commenced the descent to Bear creek, the
irst oi the valley to be crossed"
AN INCIDENT.
Mr.. Taylor gives the following account
IF an incident which occurred at the cross
ng of Bear River. Those who are acquainted
with the locality will notice that he bad
passed, few miles back, the hospitable res
dence of Nc. Benz. Taylor, the genial pro-
orietor Of Buena Vista Ranch. He has just
arrived at the tsp of the hill at the crossing
If Bear River:
AT the bottom was a bridge-u.eless in
me dry season-with toll OF dollar and
ialf at the further end. A ruddy. busting
woman. who kept the toll house and accom-.
'snying bar-room. received us with great
'ordiality. Hearing the driver address me
~ name, she exclaimed: Why. are you Nr.
Iaylor' Excuse me for not knowing you
And that IL your wife. suppose--how do
Fou do, Mrs. Taylor Won't you have
punch OF grapesr Into the house she popped
md out again. with a fine cluster Of black
danourgs. Now then, she continued,
since we know one another. yen mus Come
md see me often.' With pleasure said /;
and you must return the visit though it's
'ather long way Oh, | don't mind
hat she rejoined but you must ston