Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1869-11-18
E1nrRA, Oct. %, 1869.

letters read was the following:
ELMIRA, Oct %, 1869.
To the California Pioneers -
GENTLEMEN: Circumstances render it out
of my power to take advantage of the invita-
ton extended to me through Mr. Simonton.
and be present at yoUr dinner in New York
regret this very much, for there are several
among You whom would have right to join
hands with on the score Of old friendship, and
and siippose would have sublime general
right to shake hands with the rest of you on
thescoreof kiuship in California ups and downs
in search Of fortune. If | were to tell some Of
my experience, you would recognize California
blood in me, fancy. The old, old story world
seem familiat, no doubt. have the usual
stock of "reminiscences. For instance, went
to Esmeralda early. purchased largely in
the "Wide West and Winnemucca," and
other fine claims; and was rery wealthy. |
fired sunpttiously on bread when -four was
5000 barrel, and had beans on Sundays; when
none but boated ariStoctats could afford such
grandeur. But finished by feeding batteries
in auartz-mill at Sl5 week, and wishing ]
was battery myself and had somebody ia
feed me. My claims in Esmeralda are there
yet. suppose could be persuaded to sell
went to the Humbolt District when it was
new. became largely interested in " Alba
Nueva." and other claims with gorgeous
names, and was rich again-in prospect.
owneda vast mining property there would
not have sold ont for less than 100000, at
that time-but will no W. Finally walked
home-sotne 200 mies-partly for exercise and
partly because stage fares were expensive
Next entered upon an aflluent career in Vir.
ginia City, aud by a judicious investment o
labor and capital Of friends became the owner
of all the worthless wildcat mines there were
in that part Of the country. Assessments did
| the business for me there There were IL as
spssments to one dividend aud the proportion
of income to outlay was little against me. -
| Ny financial thermometer vent down TO 8.
! Fahrenheit, and the subscriber was fto-eu out
Itook up extension on the main lead-extension'
that reached to British America in one direction
and 10 the isthfnus of Panama in the other
| and verify believe | would have been a ricl
man if had ever found these Internal exten.
sions. But didn't ran tunnels till / tap
ped the Arctic Ocean, and sunk shafts till
broke through the roof Of perdition, but tbes
extensions turned up missing every time
am willing to sell all that property, and throw
in the improvements Perhaps you remembel
the celebrated North 0phir?" ] bought thai
mine. 1t was very rich in pure silver. Yor
could take it out in Jumps as large as fl
bert. But when it was discovered that thos,
Jumps were melted half dollars, and hardIy
melted at that painful case of "saltin wa
apparent, and the undersigned adjourned L
the poor-house again. ! had assessments OF
50 Hale & Norcross" till they sold me out. anC
| had to take in washing for living-and The
next month that Infamous stock went up t.
| 81 900 foot. own millions and millions o
feet of afiluent silver leads in Nevada--in fact
! I own the entire uudercrust Of that country
nearly, and if Congress would move that State
off my property, so that ! conld get at it,
would be wealthy yet But no, there she
squats-and here am /. Failing health per.
suadcs me to sell you know Of any one de-
string a permanent investment, can furnish
him one that will have the virtue of being ex-
tcrnal.
have been through the California mill, with
all its dips. spurs, and angles, variations, and
siunuosties" have worked there at all the
different trades and professions known to the
catalogue / have been everything from a
newspaper editor down to cow-catcher on a
locomotive, and am encouraged to believe
that If there had been few more occupations
to experiment on, might have made daz-
zling success at last, and found out what mys-
SERIOUS design Providence had in view in crea-
ting me.
But you perceive that although am not a
pioneer, have had sufficiently variegated
time Of it to enable me TO talk pioneer like a
native. and feel like a Forty-Niner Therefore,
| cordially welcome you to your old remem-
bercd homes ami your long deserted firesides,
and close this screen with the sincere hope that
your visit here will be happy one, and unem-
bittcred by the sorrowful surprises that ab-
sence and lapse Of years are wont 30 prepare
for wanderers surprises which cUme in form
Of old friends missed from their places silence
where familiar voices should be the young
grown old change and decay everywhere
home deluson and disappointment; stran-
gers ut the bearthstone; sorrow where glad
ness vas; tears for laughter; the melancholy
pomp of death where the graces Of life had
been
With all good wishes for the Returned
Prodigals, aud regrets that cannot partake
of small piece Of the fatted calf trare and no
gravyl, am, yOurs cordially,
MARX TWAIN.
At a market in Washington, a few days
since, lady tried to pass silver half-dime,
but was looked upon with such suspicion that
she fed for her home 10 despair.