Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-05-17
CALIFORNIA LETTER.
SAN FRANCISCO, MAY 4th, 1870.
MAY DAY.

L
MAY DAY.
May Day came on Sunday, but Sunday
did not prevent it from being celebrated
in the usual manner by picnics and an
excursion through the Golden Gate to the
Farallone Islands, 25 miles out to sea.
The Fenians were out in full force, several
companies marching through the streets
before taking the cars for the picnic in the
country. On Monday the few colored
people here celebrated by military parade,
making very good appearance.
unday in this city is the gayest day of
the week 1t used to be Il few years ago
the worst day. when fandangos, Spanish
dances). theatres, bull fights, etc. were
in full blast, and open RIGHTEOUSNESS ran
riot. One who is so disposed can now
find a great deal of not altogether puritan
amusement here on Il Sabbath day; but
with the advancement of the city has
come higher moral tone, though probably
there is yet more 'fastness" in San Fran
cisco than in any other city in the Union.
On Sunday the road to the Cliff House is
lined with gay t,lrn-outs, and not few
courtesans are on the road, some in bug
gies or rockaways, driving asthorses, and
others cantering along at rapid gait on
horseback.
THE SEA LIONS,
of which good view can be obtained at
any time from the Cliff House. are a
wonderful sight. The Cliff House is
elevated above the surf below, and over
hangs the sea. Less than a quarter of a
mile from it, below, are three rocky crags
coming precipitously from the water.
| The largest of these small islands is
pierced through the center, forming
natural arch, which can be distinctly seen
in the narrows of the Golden Gate. These
are the famous seal rocks, and the favorite
resort of hundreds of enormous Sea Lions.
The ride of about miles from the city is
over IA very fine macadamized toll road;
after an hours "breezing" over this, the
brighton road" of San Francisco, we
alght in front of the Cliff" man
stands ready to hold the horses. We en-
ter and pass through to the balcony over
hanging the rocks, far below; the broad
Pacific is before us with its mighty waves
''surging over from the Celestial Empire"
eight thousand miles away. But the abb
sorbing object is the seal rocks below us
on whose steep sides we see large num-
bers of yellowish brown objects, which
are the Lions" We can hardly believe
our eyes that right here so near us, within
cannon range of the city limits, and at
easy rifle range from the windows of the
Cliff House, we see such wonderful
sight. The question involuntarily arises
what prevents their being frightened
away? The answer is that no one is al
lowed to disturb them day or night. They
lie for hours perfectly quiet on the rocks,
unless disturbed by their companions.
when they often bite at, and fight each
other fiercely, barking or roaring with
powerful voice, which is very distinctly
heard from our lookout. If the small ones
get quarrelling their parents separate
them. The males are called "bulls," the
females "cows" and the young ones
pups" The bulls are of great size,
some of them weighing nearly or quite
two tons and not unfrequently 5000 pounds.
| They are seen on these rocks every day in
the year, and are one of the wonders of
San Francisco, which all newcomers
must go and see At low tide there is a
good ride along the hard sandy beach
from the Cliff House to the Ocean House,
a distance of perhaps three miles. The
ocean view from either of these houses is
very fine The headlands of the Golden
Gate at this season present most beauti-
full sight. Point Bonita, opposite, is
clothed with the most delicately shaded
hues of wild flowers, grass and stone. Its
face is PERCEPTIONS rock, as if the Coast
Range Mountains had suddenly been cleft
by some natural CONFUSION and the sea
came pouring in. Many suppose that San
Francisco Bay was formerly fresh water
lake, but that none OF the lnhapltants OF
this city can swear to, as they have none
of them been inhabitants long enough.
SAN Francisco
this year has reached her majority. She
is now entitled to be voter, her first year
being lSi9-and great are the Forty
Miners" They have "Pioneer Associa-
ton" here, composed entirely of this class
of citizens, and there appears to be
goodly number of people who claim the
distinction. There are very few old men
here, the large majority being under for
ty. Males are largely in excess of fe-
males.
THE CHINESE
are very large and important element
throughout the State. 1t is estimated that
there are 10000 Cinnamon on the Pacific.