The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-11-29
PIONEERS ACROSS THE PLAINS.

PIONEERS ACROSS THE PLAINS.
There is more than romance 10 the
statement Of early emigrations to Cali
fornia, across the Plains.
There are many Of those still living,
who spent from six months to year and
q half in crossing these fearful plains
women, who learned to walk twenty miles
q day. and to follow it day by day. Men
who came down from the Sieras not only
sunbrowned in features but with their
ragged and worn out garments saturated,
we may say, with the alkali of the plains
through and through, with eyes indamed
and often with indications of fever mani.
fest in all the body. The tolls of this
fearful pilgrimage could neither be mti.
gated nor escaped. Some of them found
q resting place 10 Salt Lake City for
time, perhaps for the winter, but the WIS.,
ion Of gold was not there. The shining
cloud still hung high and brilliant in the
far western sky. And they did not wait
for the spring flowers, before the wagon
and mules or oxen started again on their
weary journey. Some detected their
route north to the borders of Oregon and
some pressed on in the trail that has
marked the route for the Central Pacific
Railway; past Donnsr Lake, that mark
ed the fearful experience of Capt. Don.
nor and his party, some Of whom perished
here in the mountain SHOWS, in one Of
those bygone years. The route by New
Mexico also had its trails. By all these
roads the transient graves tell Of hopes
and light and darkness. and the shadows
OF Death in a fearful land. When the
sea gives up its dead, this great plain al
50 shall be illumined, and the lost graves
shall be found, and the memories Of a
weary pilgrimage shall be the living
chronicles Of risen generation. How
the sun shone most brightly on the way
path Of the wilderness, and yet the weary
to fade and die, so night came, and a
deep sleep from which there was no wax.
ening until the resurrection morning.
From these shadows OF death the living
emigrant emerged to "the promised
land" after long and weary months.
But how tame was the beginning Of
life in this adopted home One found
whose first location was in the midst OF
the Sacramento river, where gold could
be panned out after the primitive process
A rude tent was his only home for mon.
this, while many slept in blankets spread
under the open sky. But, even when he
arrived, the emigrant soon found that the
precious harvest could only be gathered
by toll such as few men had ever befor.
practiced. But they toiled on, and thos<
who did not fall into evil habits are monu
ments still Of what sober and industriou
life may accomplish.
Among those l met who had made thi
overland journey, was the eminent DIR
Clark, Physician of the State Lunati,
Asylum at Stockton, whose reputation il
80 we'll recognised, that though Repub
lican, the State authorities, which ar,
Democratic. have continued him in hi
responsible trust.
Mrs. Clark came also overland, will
her parents before her marriage, l thinl
in 1852, and derived through this jour
ney physical culture, and force of char
acter, that are well recognized in her ex
; isting relations. 1t does one good to NEE
these old pioneer Californians and liste
to their stories, as Of battles fought witt
nature and victory won. But it is sad
they have won the victory, and the
through prevailing vices found a dishon
orable life and end.
Life in California is subject to tn
, highest pressure of any place on earth
A majority of those that come intend t
{ make their pile" and then 90 back t
count it over and over among their Easter
j kindred. A life is too short, to complet
their mighty task. Hence, they stop nc
in all their paths. A hearty shake c
> the hand and q cordial good.Jye is all th
attention they can afford to spare to friend
), !, in this hurried life. They are hearty
congenial and grandly hospitable. The
: marked, but brief attentions, must be az
preciated as wrought in telegraphic fir
: must convince their friends Of their kline
. ness to you while the pressure of lif's care
hurry them on their way.
v California women are influenced an
= moulded by this matter of fact life. Th
l muscles Of features and form are not onl
. developed with some severity Of tension
T. but the feeling and sentiment seem
i yield to the pressure Of a hurried lif
Care and toll does not discourage or bo
them down; they stand up in all their r,
o cognized duties with an independent viii
II The day has not come in Californ
. when fine arts, and fashionable societ
IS and charms of poetry are a controllin
II influence in society. This is illustrate
Is by the face that Bayard Taylor was q,
l. vertised for lecture at Stockton, an
= only about dozen attended; and othe
have made similar attempts with like di
It appointment. In fact, the calm and ca
II y habit Of mind, characteristic of refine
f and elegant civilization is entirely incon
Ir patible with the pressure and forces thl
p hurry forward the industries, that be,
10 the material interests of life.
s. When the idea of making permauel
'e houses in California, for citizens and the
y children after them, shall be more genera
rs ly cherished, and mere adrenturers shu
y cease to control the public mind, thu
Is this great state will be elevated al
is characterised for every virtue.
D. JOHN NJ. SrEARNs,
Is REVERENCE OF THE PARsEEs FOR An
ct MALs.-Although the COW is the snly s
I 81 Al