Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-03-03
s. The Sunset Land..,

The lecture by Rev. DR.. A. [. Stone OF
California, at the Opera House last even
ing, upon the subject Of the "Sunset
Land" was largely attended, and by an
intelligent and enthusiastic audience,
who fully appreciated the learned and
truthful description of the Empire OF
California to which they were listening.
At the hour announced for the lecture the
orator of the evening and Col. Merrill oc-
cupied the platform, when Col. Merrill
stepped forward and said:
Ladies and Gentlemen The sixth and
last lecture before the Young Mems
Christian Association will be delivered on
Tuesday evening, March 1st, at this
place, by Rev. E. Fl. Chaplin of New York.
Subject: Columbus. I now have the
pleasing duty of introducing to you, Rev.
DR.. A. l.. Stone of San Francisco, former
ly of Boston.
DR.. Stone commenced his lecture by
saying: The romance of travel and adj
venture is fast becoming thing of the
past; our earth is getting to be very small
and very commonplace. The shadows
are lifting from all seas and continents,
the sources of our mysterious rivers, and
the homes of all our tribes. Mr.. Stone
then briefly referred to the Pacific Rail-
road, and the increased facilities for cross
ing the continent, after which he proceed
ed to discuss the subject of his lecture,
" The Sunset Land" He first spoke of
its great magnitude, saying that if it was
laid down on our eastern coast it would
stretch from Boston on the north to
Charleston on the south, and its eastern
border would rest upon the Allegheny
Mountains. The first thing which an
eastern man noticed on approaching the
shores of California, he said, was the alb
sence of trees, the scrub-oak, mere bush,
about ten feet high, being nearly the only
one in sight. But though the hills which
border along the water are treeless, their
softly beautiful sides are futed with deep
gorges, and on them the shadows vary
with the passing hour. They are covered
with grass to the very summit. In mid
winter they are mantled with an exquis-
lite green, which, as spring advances, gives
way to a scene of floral magnifcence, and
when this has faded they are covered
with soft pale-velvety drab, which is not
but has beauty of its own.
A few miles back from the coast are the
grand old primeval forests, which stretch
landward no one knows how far. These
forests Mr.. Stone described, giving an &C.
count of the immense size of some of the
trees, and telling such stories as he said
1--WE Californians" love to tell, but which
he didn't expect any one to believe until
he had seen proof. Place Bunker Hill
he said, in the midst of these
trees, and lift over it flagstaff seventy
feet high, from which fling the stars and
stripes to the breeze, and the evergreen
flag of the forest column would wave over
that.
The lecturer next gave q graphic de-
of the city of San Francisco,
first speaking of the peninsula upon which
It is situated, and then of the manner in
which it was built of its streets, promen-
AIDES and dwellings. He must confess,
be said, that he liked the city, for many
Many of its principal avenues
were now very beautiful, and they were
improving as the city expanded.
Its hotels were fully equal to those of
eastern cities in architectural beauty and
in accommodations. The conveniences
for loading II life of single blessedness
were 30 great in the city that it amounted
to premium on Dictatorship, and post
poned in some instances family reunions.
On the streets of San Francisco people of
all nationalities were to be met, among
whom the nervous, sharp-faced, universal
Yankee predominated. Next came per-
aaps the German, and the jews were a
numerous class, including among their
lumber many of the most wealthy and
merchants of the city. The
was recognized by his clean
him, well-developed side-whiskers, regu-
alton stove-pipe hat, and the straight
orwardness of his walk, as though expect |
ng all creation to turn aside for him, but
hey didn't do it out there. The Celtic
element was large, and was especially
hostile to every biped with cue at his
pack. California has been the paradise of
Biddies, but latterly their sceptre was
shaken, as many preferred Chinese SER
rants. Cinnamon, Frenchmen, Swedes,
Italian, Portuguese, Norwegians, with
lere and there an Indian, made up the
,esidue of the population. If the coming
nan was to be an amalgam of all races,
California had the materials for construct |
ng this slow paced gentleman at the
shortest notice. Mr.. Stone devoted con-
siderable time to the Chinese question.
He liked the Chinese, he said, for they
we're prudent, courteous, dignifed and
They were Industrious, quiet
md peaceable, and after a little training
made admirable servants. They were
coming in upon us at the rate of about
me thousand per month; while about
1alf of that number returned to their ma
i've country during the same period of
line. There was a demand for their labor,
md they were better rewarded here than
n any other spot on the face of the earth.
We must welcome and absorb them, for
IS the country grows it will need their
services. 1t was said they were heather !;
le thought they were better Christians
han the men who pelted them with brick
pats aud abuse. Their golden rule was
,lder than our New Testament; and what
vas our Christianity worth if in hand
o hand grapple with heathenism under
,ur own sky it could not hold its own
Their labor WIS cheap; of this neither
he capitalist nor consumer should COM
,lain, and civilization would not suffer
hereby. The Chinese were temperate,