Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1869-12-16

or give to God a ransom for his soul
And will you then pursue your work OF
death, Oh wretched men, can facts like
these not move your hearts OF stone?
SUBSCRIBER.
California Correspondence.
SAN NFRANCIsCo, CAL, Dec. 4, 1869.
DEAR CHRoNICLE:-From this sunset
land with all its lovely and attractive
scenery, its energetic people-fair wo-
men and brave men, our thoughts still
turn to the old places, and to the asso-
Citations of by-gone years, and feel an
almost irresistible desire to give you
some items from this country.
In many respects there have been
wondrous changes here since the well
remembered time-twenty years ago
when SO many of our friends went out
from among us and set their faces toward
the setting sun-the land of sunshine
and of gold. A beautiful city now stands
here, where then clustered a few tents
and miserable shanties among the Sand
hills. The sails of mauy lands now
whiten this beautiful bay, and the finest
Steamers in the world are busy plying
between this and Asiatfc Ports, empty
ing upon these shores thousands of a
heather people. The streets are thronged
with an active, energetic and intelligent
people, enjoying every luxury of life
which money can buy, or taste conceive.
But unchanged are the lofty noun
tain peaks we see across the bay. The
ocean still lashes with unwearied wash
the shores of the great sea, the broad
valleys still bask in the same warm sun
shine, and the generous soil yields up
its products with the same lavish hand.
One who has never visited this coast
cannot imagine the difference in every
respect which exists between the eli
mate here and that of home. | write
now by an open window into which the
warm sunlight floods the room as it only
does at home i'm Jnne. Across the street
is beautiful garden and lawn in which
are growing a countless variety of flow
ers in full bloom. An oleander grove
defies the climate. A hedge of lemon
geranium six feet high and so thick that
a bird could not fly through it screens
the back garden, and is covered with
flowers. A huge fuschia is trained over
the pillar of the veranda, and its sprigs
hang thickly studded with blossoms.
Down street yonder two blocks away
is fruit stand on the sidewalk where
you can find pears, apples, grapes. straw
berries, oranges, figs and lines, fresh,
large and JUICY. In the markets are new
potatoes, green peas, new radishes and
onions, lettice, and everything of early
spring. In fact it is their spring time
here. The grass is springing green
flowers enamel the meadows, the past
ure lands and the roadside, and fill the
air with richest perfume 1t is hard to
realize that you are shivering over fires
at home, but when we glance at Mt.
Diavolo's lofty peak across the bay and
see it covered with snow, We read of the
cosy firesidec of home, and know that
the people of this chosen land are de-
nied one precious boon-the winter fire.
side.
l had call the other day from Mr..
McElroy, formerly of st. Clairs.ille,
who was printer in the Chronicle of
fee years ago when the writer hereof
was "toddlin wee thing" and had only
learned the pie making part of the print
ing business at the office, and the pie
eating part of the business of life at the
house. Many of your old subscribers
will remember McElroy who used to
carry the papers through the country
on the traditional black pony of the
office, before cross mail lines were estab-
lisbed. He is now running to Panama
on the steam packets, and is in the Gus
toms department.
Another gentleman from st. Clairs-
Vile is here, Judge M. P. Deadly, of
Oregon. He is holding court in this city.
and enjoys splendid reputation on the
bench throughout all the Pacific States.
He still remembers his home of twenty
years ago, and talks of the old times
with great pleasure. He is favorably
mentioned for the new y. s. Circuit
Judgeship for this circuit, and sincere
ly trust he may get it, for he is in every
way qualified for the place. Then he is
also a worthy graduate of our dear old
village, and toward all such nv heart
goes out wherever they are scattered up
and down the world.
Iwould advise every body that wants
to take pleasure trip to come here
Take ride over the Pacific Railroad
see the boundless prairies it traverses,
and the dizzy heights it tclimbs-look up
at the peaks of the snow clad mountains,
crawl along their rocky sides and look
down into their awful gorges, end then
go to the verge and look off on the waste
of waters and see where the sun sets,
and you cannot help but go home with
broader ideas of our great country, her
resources and her future. Old fogies at
home hardly believe in the Pacific Rail-
road yet, and those who do, think it a
great risk of life to pass over it.
Hear my experience! We left Omaha
at noon on Thursday, and reached here
on Sunday evening in time for supper
76 hours. This we did without change
of cars, and it was the most comfortable
ride of my life. Our meals were served
on the train while in motion, and were
in every respect first class. In our sa-
loon car was every thing needed for
comfort. We had large rich toned
parlor organ, from which we had excel
| lent music, and from the summit of the
mountains we made the startled echoes
ring to the melody of the grand old
DoXology, sung with the spirit and
with the understanding
There is nothing insecure, and no
thing carelessly done on the road but
on the contrary it is the best railroad
ever travelled over, and you know |
have Travelled over many in the East
ern States.
To see California thoroughly one must
take two or three months, and even
then he will go home to learn that he
had left unseen many beautiful and in
teresting spots. If weather permits
shall try to see it in detail. and leave as
little of it unseen as possible. To do
this takes good deal of time. and L re-
gard it as time well spent. In some of
these wanderings | may scribble you
some notes of travel.
Do not think from the gushing man.
ner in which praise the Pacific Road
that 1 was a dead head over it, for L as
sure you paid my passage to the ut
termost farthing. B. r. C.