The union Democrat., 1869-02-06
LETTER FROM SAN FRANCISCO.
SAN FRAScIsco, Feb. lst, 1860

we nave endured the storm OF the season
Thursday last, was the dreariest, bleakest
muddiest and coldess day only miserable
disagreeable people were in the streets. tht
butterflies were all at home, pining al
their tiresides, and longing for fine weath
er. But the poor devils were in as full force
rs ever about the Old Corner; a slatternly
ard mud spattered petticoat occasionally
whisked along drendfully blotched white
stockings, at times appeared at the streer
crossings dollar umbrellas. were shot by
corner blasts into inverted wrecks: the
unfortunate cab horses about the Plaza
stood with dripping skins and downcast heads
making one think what a dreadful thing il
must be to hire a hack-horese in wet weather;
the hotel sitting rooms wero full of damp ard
weary strangers asking each other, - how
long 1t would rain, and in the saloons. men
deliberately got drunk. because it was dull,
rainy day. The clouds played fast and loose.
breaking away occasionally and letting in a
trihe of the upper light, then closing up
thicker and heavier than ever. From win
dow sill and cornIce, from awning and UNI
-brclla, it was one steady drip, drip. drip.
And this has gone on for DAYS We are a
dripping people. In yonder corner bow win
dow, with its great clear squares of plate glass
its light straw-coored blinds, negligently
opened, revealing dimly the parlor stands list
Iessly looking out upon the street, a young
woman, girl, young wife. | hazard this
assertion from the locality and its surround
1ngs. She wears one Of those neat notify
greyish black dresses, doing full justice to the
shape from the waist upward, a striped linen
collar, and ber short bair is eurled aud parted
a Ia Menken. That alone attracts much of
fha hah Lars 1ooI of T..
nation in these carelessly curled heads. But
this young wife is dreadfully tired of the end
less storm. Don't know what to do with
myself" is written in every attitude she as
sumes. She has read she has played she
has walked the room, no acquaintance lives
within mile her husband is out and will
not be in for hours; there are no household
cares to occupy her mind; furnished rooms,
and meals at the restaurant yoa know; she is
situated as nine young ladies out of ter wish
to be; husband, man of money; dress,
Jewelry, the theatre. the opera as desired
yet, all these things will not save her from
the terrible weariness of rainy day. 1t
would be relief to go out and breast the tenn
pest. She cannes Mr.. Blank would scold
at such 4 needless, su4 an unladvlike expos
ure. Nothing to do is worse than "nothing
to wear The stupidest of all experiences
must be most honeymoons, judge by obser-
walton, never having seen a honeymoon But
1t seems better TO SIP honey than to swallow
n full cup. The great want Of our age is, f.
male occupations and female professions. So
says an old woman whom | visit
But while | have been moralizinr. the
young lady has struck temporary vein Of
recreation. She has stepped down in the
Drug Store below for brief shopping be-
bold her entering the room. She wears one
OF those launty, little, glazed sailor bats.
perched with a womanly rowdyish inclination
the forehead with the rake as decided
AS the masts of revenue schooner. She laws
her purchases on the marble topped table. I
see. An investment Of fancy ware at the
druggists faeoas long neeked china bottle,
glldcd and east in fancifui forms. little paeka-
ges OF unknown nice things for the toilet, such
you may see in the druggists shaw case,
nice to hook Mt, depicting to heavy purse.
1t is well. If the "old man" Won't let her
do what she wishes, she can spend his mon
ey. lie is making plenty down town" lie
is cleaning up rich'' on some country mer-
chant | am revenged. IF you will have
mere pretty bird. you must have pretty cage
20 keep il in. Sail in unknown fair one of
of the goldeo frizzcs Keep the old mans \
rocks in circulation. | embrace vou from
afar. You are nay sister. In Adams fall.
we sinued all. Peace 10 the old mans ashes.
and we may all he hanpy yet. when you re a
gay widow, and Johnny comes marching
home.
The ISN.
DR.. Benton gave pschycological enter
tainment ut the Alhambra theatre, last Sun
day night. Some of the papers intimated
humbug. Whereupon, the Doctor scClds fr-
riously in card. lie should not loose pa
tience. Ii Is very strange how these rschv-
coiogical phenomNna from time 10 time, come
10 the surface. and at every recurrence are re-
garded 10y so many people as an entire new
thing.
Twenty years ago, | witnessed a series Of
experiments, showing in the clearest manner
the power of the operator over some minds
brought before him. People seem very fear
tul OF accepting these things. The fear of be-
log regarded as dupe is great bug-bear.
We don't seem disposed TO accept or reject
ideas Tor ourselves, relying en- the light of our
own reason and Judgment. We must wait
uuta we hear the popular bray, before adding
our own, hee-naw of assent to the swelling
chorus. There is what is termed Spiritual
ism also. People sometimes ask me. "Are
you as much ot q Sp!rltualist as ever?S It's
trying ordeal to answer yes" Ia such n
q1estion. For then this wise world, which
would have burned Galileo, which termed
Fulton lunatic, and Morse visionary and
worshipped them when they demonstrated
their visions, this wise world thinks you a
trife cracked, deems you full of visionary
ideas, stamps You as loug-haired propaga-
tor OF tree-leveism, a compatrot of women
m breeches, first class blasphemer and a
defender OF all manner of new and mischiev-
Gus doctrines. Now these spirtualistie phe-
nomona are nothing new to US. We have
witnessed them from time To tima far wears.
They have IN manner, lest their novelty.
we have seen them in private families where
.esai9sansea,ion with spirits, was deemed as
common matter as eating or drinking We
shave been psesent at surprising demonstra-
'soss in the company of gentlemen intelli-
gent, keen and not given to the premature
acceptance of anything coming under their
observation. They believed then and there,
in the presence of invisible inteihgences
They secuted at the idea of imposition Or Jug.
ylery, the usual argument of smart renorters