The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-11-17
San Francisco.

If but the early San Franciscans had
thought of Boston, and followed the COW
paths, what unique, nice town they
would have made of this Only l feal
there never was an estray cow on thest
virgin sand hills, as innocent of verdur,
as babe, of sorrow or vice. The mod
ern American straight line style was the
order. no matter what was IN front; and
the result is that going about San Fran
cisco is all collar and breeching work fol
man and beast. The CONSEQUENCE is there
are only two Or three streets that you can
think OF driving out of town on. The
Only way to get up and down the other:
with 4 horse, is to GO zig-zag from one
side to the other. Some of the principal
residence streets are after this fashion,
however; found our friend, Rev. Hora-
ito Stebbins. of the Unitarian church
here, holding on by main strength to a
side hill that runs up at an angle OF al
least forty-iive degrees. And 50 they run
up and down, and the city is struggling
loosely over these hills for several miles III
all directions Some of the highest of the
knobs are being cut down, and this leaves
the early houSes-that is those built fouI
or five years ago-away up one hundred
feet or more in the air, and reached by
long flights of steep stairs.
Wherever the hill sides and tops are
fastened with houses or pavementS, or
twice daily reduced with water, there the
foundations are meaSureably secure; and
the deed Of the purchaser means some
thing but all elsewhere, all the open lot,
and unpaved paths are still undergoing the
changing and cereative process. The dai-
ly winds Swoop up the soil in one plac,
and deposit in another in great masses
like drifts of snow. You will often lind ::
suburban street blocked up with fresh sand
and the owner of vacant lots must certain
lv pay them daily visit in order 10 swear
10 title and the chance IL anyway that.
between one noon and another. he and hl-
ncighbor will have changed properties tc
an indefinite depth
Incidental TO all this. of course. ar,
clouds OF sand and dust through all thC
residences and open parts of the city, max
ilig large market Tor soap and clothes
brushes, and putting neat houSekeeper>
quite in despair for their furniture. Nat
ur:ll!v enough there Is loOSenc-s OH th.
subject of cleanliness. that would Shocl
your olI-i;,-iioncl New England house
wives
But then. Is compcnSations. the wind:
give healtll-kecp;mE the town fresh an,
clcan-and the hills offer wide Visions o
bay anl river and Islands and sister hills
WAY ont ;ind on with varying life of ship
pm" and manufactures and agriculture
ana li!n.in@ over ii! = SKY of azure will
broad horizons. Oceanward Is Lon
Mountain cemetery. covering one of TN
hills with lis >rranny. running live Oal
shrub tree. and Its white monuments. con
>picunu> among which are the creciions t,
those MARTYRS 10 both western and eastern
civilization and progreSs-Brolerick TN
mechanic and senator. James King of VII
liam the editor. and Baker, the soldier
Here Is the old Mission quarter, there The
soldiers camp, vondcr 10y the wafer tn,
bri~tlin@ fort, again the conspicous IN,
generous orphan asylum. monument of tn
tenderness and devotion of the women o
the city. and to the left of that still. tn,
two Jewish cemeteries, each with lis appro
PIRATE and tasteful burial chapel. NJ
other American city holds in IFS very cen
IT, such sweeping Views of itself and it
ncighhorhood.
Then the little yards around the dwell
ings Of the prosperous, even of those @
moderate means, are made rich with nj
the veriure of a greenhouse, with onl,
the cost of daily watering. The most del
icatc of evergrcenS roses of every grad
AMI hue fiISciia> Y igorouS and high a
lilac bushes nasturtiums sweeping owe
fences and up house walls towering vine
of delicate quality, unknown in the east
geraniums and Salvia>, pan>ies and dal
sizes. and all the kindred summer flower
of New York and New England, grow an'
blossom under these skies, throughout tn
ycar-thc same in December and Januar,
a. in June and AuguSt-with richne>
and proliuSion. that are rarely attained b,
any out door culture in the east. Til,
public aqueducts furnish water, though a
considerable expense, and pipes convey i
and spread ii in fine spray all over yar'
and garden. The result is, every man
door yard in the city, is like an caster
conservatory 3; and even humble cottage
smile out of this city OF sand hills an
dust, as green as yellow and as grand a
purple, as gayest of garden can max
them.
There is no aristocracy of flowers here
they greet you everywhere i'll greatest pro
fusion. are tender Solace to home>ick hear
and tonic TO weary brain.-.ur. BO,rIe;
Letter to the Springfield Republican.