Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1868-01-18
SATURDAY, ::::: JANUARY Is, 1868


evening last, by Messrs. Smith & Walker,
the blind violinists, was not largely attended.
Those who were present, however, made up
for lack of numbers with mirthfulness and
hilarity. 1t was small party, but an emf
nently jolly one. Dancing was kept up I'M
til twelve o'clock. 1t is unnecessary for us
to praise the music nearly all of our cltl-
zens have listened to the performances OF
Smith Walker, and know that as ball
room musicians they are seldom surpassed
While the condition of the streets probably
prevented the attendance of some, we are
sorry to notice that spirit of jealousy ana
prejudice, destructive to the social RELATIONS
of neighborhood, is manifesting itself In
this community. People seem inclined 10
encase themselves in a shell of cynical unso-
ciability and selfshness; to regard every
thing of which they are not the sum anu
substance, with suspicious dstrust they
misinterpret the intentions of Others ana
view their actions with an eye jaundced with
narrow-minded bigotry; caste rears 1t un-
slightly form. barrier to that genial inter-
course which is the keystone of the arch of
society; gossip, and his inseparable COM
panion, backbiting, fends which are con-
tinually promoting strife and dissension,
stalk spectre-like abroad. Then there is
class OF people in this world who seem to
think that they are infallible. 1t makes no
difference what the subject is-whether it be
of a political, social or religious nature-their
views are correct and those who do not sub
scribe to them are either stupidity ignorant
or wilfully obstinate. Argument is thrown
away upon such people; it is simply ''cast-
ing pearls before swine" They express their
opinions with an imperiousness that would
be creditable to an atkase promulgated by the
Autocrat of all the Russlas, and confidently
expect that their sentiments will meet with
universal acquiescence. If person has the
hardihood to express views not in conson-
ance with theirs, he Immediately becomes a
proper subject for ridicule and a mark at
which to aim all the shafts their malignity
can invent. Born, nursed and reared in
bisotry, and educated in the school of intol-
erance, there is none of the milk of human
kindness" in their composition. The prompt
ings of mercy and the pleadings of the spirit
of forbearance, have no more effect upon
their frigid natures, than moonlight does
upon an Alpine glacier. Forgiveness, and a
consideration for the feelings of others, are
obsolete terms with them. They look at a
PERSONS good deeds through reversed tel
escope. but magnify his errors with the pow
erful lens of exaggeration. Considering
themselves to be unerriEg, they make no al
lowance for the frailties, faults and follies of
human nature. Cold. calculating and self
ish by nature ignorant, through an over
wetning self esteem and obstinacy; locked
in the icy letters of cynicism vain, naughty
and arrogant, they look upon the balance OF
man ind with scnrnful disdain, embittering
their own existence as well as that of those
who surround them. But what has this to
do with the dance: We have "sandwlched"
homly between O couple of quadrilles.
The next dance will be a-weck from Tues
day-the 2Sth. Those who attend can count
on having good time.
SNow.-Sunday morning last, the cold
drizzling rain was suddenly changed, as
though by the hand of some skillful necro-
mancer, into beautiful snow" The gilt
tering flakes came down whirling and twist
ing about as if they were glad to have escaped
confinement. Soon the inequalities and
deformities of the face of mother earth were
covered with mantle as pure and bright as
the silver veil which concealed the features
of the Prophet of Khorassan-sin clothed
with the deceptive garb of hypocrisy. As
soon as snow enough to make a moderately
sized ball could be scraped up from square
yard of surface. snowballing commenced In
good earnest. A crowd of boys assembled
on Main Street, and all who passed had to
run the gantlet. Cinnamon were pelted I'M
mereifully, and as they did not appear to
comprehend the situation in several in
stances they got their celestial "backs up
and pursued the boys with sticks and um-
brellas; their efforts in that direction, how
ever, only served to bring down upon their
devoted heads more condign punishment.
Snow balls fell upon them as thick as the
"leaves of Vallambrosa,' and they were
Obliged to retreat and leave the boys in
peaceful possession of the field. Show fell
to the depth of two inches. 1t was too pure
and chaste to long endure the communicating
influence of the mud with which it was
brought in contact, and melted away like
mists before the sun.