White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1866-03-22
Correspondence.
(For the Chiefly
Letter from California.
JASEsvILLE, CAL, Jan. 90, 1861

1Leuler kEOhA OaAAAAVA AAssAs
JANEsvILLE, CAL, Jan. %, 1866.
DEAR CHrEr:-Last night, greeted your
genial face for the first time in three years;
and as YOU are q stranger, will give you
peep of nv home-the fair Valley of Honey
Lake, As you come suddenly in sight of the
Valley, one feels it to be one of the most nm
pressive views ever had of valley scenery. Far
as the eye can resch, stretching away off into
the distance, is the Valley of Honey Lake,
with its we'll cultivated ranches and thriving
villages. Away to the south, is the long range
of the Sierra Nevada mountains, with here and
there bald snow peak, lifting itself proudly
above its fellows. just wait until a storm
sweeps over those lofty hills, and you hear the
grand and solemn music Of the pines; and
tell you, such music has a charm and novelty |
in it, to which you of timberless Kansas are not
accustomed. At the head Of the Valley is
Susanville, and this maidenly named place is
the County Seat of Lassen County. 1t is yet
new, but its importance is Of no minor c6nsid-
Grafton. 1t is the principal Quitting point for
the great mines of Idaho and Montana. The
place takes its name from the daughter of one
of the pioneers of the Valley. Hon. l. N Roop.
The Lake is a fine sheet Of water, about forty
miles long. 1t takes its name from sweet
substance called "Honey Dew" with which the
grass on its shores is often thickly covered.
The Lake is situated at the lower end Of the
Valley; and near it, Nature has placed one Of
the most interesting objects of curiosity. in the
shape of group of boiling springs. They are
very remarkable-more so than the ordinary
hot springs found in nearly all countries. Their
situation is peculiar and marked, and to the
curiosity hunter, they are an important object
of study. In this Valley is the grave of Peter
Las,en, one of the pioneer Masons Of this
country. and known all over California as
Uncle Peter" Alone he is sleeping quietly
under the spreading bou CHS of a lofty pine; and
the beautiful monument which the Masons have
placed over his grave, is no.so great remind
er of him, as the lofty peak with its crown ot
everlasting snow, AMI which is seen far and
, wide, and known "a Lasse, 5 Peak. The stone
over his grave will crumble into st; but that
towering mount,in, with its cod white brow
will be faithful reminder of Uncle Peter. u
as long as earth holds its orbit, and one eye
; survives to see it.
As to the people of this Valley, and, in fact
D all California, ). they are "mi1edi' for nearly
every country on the face Of the earth has {
repres entative here But Of all foreign coun
/ tries here represented, China is the most con
} spicuous; for "J,.hn Chinaman" is everywhere
with his yellow skin, his moon eyes, and hi
everlasting cue. "Juhn" washes your clothes
"John" cooks the vcluals you eat; and 'John'
tends the baby, after his own Celestial fashion
! He pays enormous taxes for the privilege
? stsymg here, and yet he con.rives to live 80 ne
how, and saves more money than most o
"white men," and every cent he saves goes :
China. Where "J0hn' got his moihsrly in
? stinct for tending babies, cannot contrire,
, he is seldom q married man; and althoug
Chinese women are plenty, an infant Celestis
is rarely met with, and doubt if there are fit
in all California.
u There is prevailing weakness manifesto
= by all classes here, and that is for juleps,
d drink which they mix with dexterity seldsr
eoualled, and certainly never e1celled, an
which they drink with the unconscious air {
10 one doing good by stealth, and blushing to fin
1t it fame. A wineloving people they are, toe
~ and well they may be, foe their wine come
from their own vineyards and wine presses, an
might we'll be recommended for anybody
"stomach's sake"
y The latest imported novelty is steame
D. load of women, sent out under the patronag
of Gov. Andrew, of Massachusetts,. Now,
Madam Rumor tells the truth, (Which is alway
D. doubtful,) Gov. Andrew had better invest b
spare cash in oil lands. or 60 to boring for sal
at for It is hnted here, that most, If not all,
1e this imported breed are of that class "who to
% not, neither do they spin, yet Solomon in q
his glory was not arrayed like one of these I"
suppose the contractors Of this job must be ce
{. tain of ''big thing" else they would never u
At dertake to supply the foriorn bachelors of tn
!, coast with the zone thing nsedful." OF cours
the bachelors (and their name is legion) VI
as welcome with open arms. anything that is cor
ar posed of hoops and dry goods; but the fema
portion of the population don't "see it," or
they do, it is not at all popular with them; Al
VI woe to the unlucky wight who incurs the di
C. pleasure of the Female Supreme Court. VIII,
On rules this coast with power at once absolu
K, and despotic.
"Yours Truly" will watch for "comi
events" and keep you posted. There a
OF many things of which would like to tell 70
ne but this letter is sufficiently ng already.
in OLIVE, OF HoNEY LAKE