Middletown transcript., 1869-10-23

ly, as they grow up among us, to become
different people, and the Christian chur-
ches are getting them into Sunday schools
and trying to teach them the language and
religion of this country and believe not
without success. The Catholics have
large number of them, and the Protestant
churches are all laboring in the same dircc-
ton. One gentleman told me they have
about 400 Chinese in the school in which
he was Superintendent. One thing is re-
markable, we never see any of their chill
dren ON the streets. The youngest Chi
nese have met could not have been less
than 18 years of age Their great per-
sonal similarity is also remarkable; yog
will probably meet in the course of Is min
utes' walk so or 60 of them and if they
were all PLACED in row, and you were
called to select or point out two or three
you had met before, you would be puzzled
to do it, | might say more about these
people, but I must forbear. This l must
say, however, there is some great problem
of government and civilization to be
wrought out in this connection. What it
is we cannot now see God in His Prov
idence has brought them here, and his
wisdom will over-rule it all for good,
doubt not. But there is a vast response
bility resting upon the christian churches
and christian people of this country, the
Protestants particularly, which they must
prepare to meet, for they cannot avoid it;
few years will bring thousands. perhaps
millions more among us. Since | have
reached California I have learned that there
are great doubts as to the practcability or
wisdom of attempting to make domestic
servants of them generally, for reasons l
cannot put on paper. A negro is almost
curiosity in California I don't think I
have seen five in the whole time 1 have
been in the city. In going down to the
city of Santa Clara, few days since,
saw several well dressed people that l at
first took to be Africans, but was told
they were Mexicans that belonged to the
Catholic Mission at that city.
The civilization of San Francisco is still
far behind our Eastern cities in its moral
ity. All the saloons, cigar stores, confcc-
tionery and many other stores open all day
Sunday. Museums and theatres, some
times. Races-almost every Sabbath The
billiard tables in all the hotels, and in the
various saloons of the city are going the
entire day, while fashionable VICES, in
guided costumes, meet you in many
forms. The country is young-the peo-
pie are young-wealth abundant, and the
means of expending it surround you on ev-
cry hand. There are numhcr of fine
churches and many earnest, energetic |
christian people. and in time the power of
the Gospel and christian civilization must |
prevail; but there is evidently before the !
church mighty work. Auxiliary to this,
however, is their system of public schools;
and this, l am glad to know, is one thing
that they take pride in. The PUBLIC school
houses are admirable buildings, and their
system must be well arranged. During
the day you rarely see any children on the !
street, unless accompanied by their parents.
The reason is they have truant officers, as
they are called, whose business is to take
up children, found in the streets, during
school hours, without their parents, and to
carry them to school, or to their homes,
if they cannot show q good reason for be-
ing out. Another thing is observable
the entire absence of those blackeuard.
noisy boys,-news boys and boot blacks,
that poster and annoy you and disgrace
the Eastern cities. Papers are to be had
at news stands. and.st the Offices. but you
never see boy carrying them through
the streets. Boot backing is sience in
California. At all the hotels, and at va
rioes places all along the streets, you will
ind cushioned seat some FIVE or six feet
long divided into seats or stalls, where
each customer takes his seat and places
mis- feet on raised pair of pedestals, and
the professor, who is always grown man,
will shine you up in few minutes, when
you pay your dime and go on your way
rejoicing. These little establishments, are
found on all the principal streets; not on
.he pavement, but in neat little room,
say 6 by 9 feet, fitted up expressly for the
purpose, and for which the occupant must
pay very respectable rent.
A CUEERFJrJ HEART-T onca baard n