The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-06-09

wafer stOOu DeSlue ne iron; the ironer stopped his
face down into 1t, taking up mouthful of water
and by the action of the tongue against the teeth
eected it in fine spray like mist equally over the
article to be sprinkled. Two mouthsful thoroughly
| and uniformly dampened the piece, and then he.
| commenced to iron. Comment is Unnecessary.
we We're told that in San Francisco alone there
are nifty thousand Cinnamon. So far as we could
learn, they are among the quietest and most moral
OF cltlzenS: "Chlnatown' had great fascination
for us, and we roamed through its boundaries at
all hours OF the day and evening" eagerly interested
in observing these people, who will be, we feel as
surcd, power among the nations of the earth of
no slight or mean force. Their educated men are
scholars Of great attainment two or three of the
leading merchants, with whom we conversed, told
they could converse in French, Spanish and Ger
man. These we must remember, are businessmen
not students.
One popularity we noticed was the lack of chill
dren in Chinatown. We only saw two in all our
wanderings; one mite of Chinaman, looking like
his father viewed through the wrong end of an
operagass, with shaven front and pigtail complete,
save that the short braid OF hair was eked out by
strands OF red silk, was very amusing. He ap-
Piled to one Of the gentlemen who was entcing
him into conversation for "bit." You are not a
good boy-I can't give you 'bit!" was the teas
ing reoinder. "Ch'.a boy velly good Mellican
boy no good Mclean man no good-got no pig
tail China boy got pigtail," was his instantaneous
"bit"
On Sundays this portion of the city is alive: the
barber-shOps are crowded with customers waiting
their turn to be freshly shayen and to have their
queues rebraided. The gambng-house whose
name is legion, overflow the dreary squeak OF the
so-called music rasounds on every side In many
shops anu workrooms labor is going on; shoe-
making, cgar-rolling and similar avocations
being pursued. 1t is Il busy, bustling scene, and
more than ever makes one feel that he is away
from home. Ringing necessarily in our ears dur
ing our walks among this people was Il Verse wen
known in childhood, but scarcely thought of since
II think the goodness and the grace
Which on my birth have smiled
And made me in this blessed land
happy Christian child"
We could not but feel, as we wandered and look
ed and listened, that here to our very doors is be-
ing brought solution Of the veXed problem of
cheap labor that here is to be found relief for our
0yerourden hOusekeeperS that here is one way 10
help ChristianZa that mass of idOl-w Orshipping
humanity a nation of four hundred millions OF peo-
pie bowling down to gods of wood and stone.
As for the servant question, what we most want
is Reliability. In the Chinese character this is IL
very marked feature; we were told that as nurses,
they were admirable, faithful, atectiOnate and care
full, and thoroughly trustworthy. They learn with
great qulckness, and once shown how to do thing,
repeat 1t an lnhattum with complete eXactneSS. o
long-enduring, much-put-upon housekeeper, in
these days of incompetent help, does not this sound
with infinite sweetness in your weary ears?
But although Of absorbing interest, Chinatown
aud lis inhabitants could not occupy all our time,
and AS Memory glances backward the many
bright remembrances of California gala-days, none
stand out in more vivid brightness than the one
cupeu in an excursion by rail round the BAY of
San Francisco.
A wise has sad 1T is better to born lucky
than rch.' Surely all came under the head OF
lucky who We're invited guests upon the grand
curslOn given to the Grand Lodge OF Odd Fellows.
1t was one OF the usual magnificent mornings that
those fortunate Cafornians can always count ON
during the dry seasons, when bOatlOad of us
emptied into the special train awaiting lis at Aia-
media. Over three hundred good-humored, good
natured people were carried OFT, bound on getting
all the delights possible out of the day. Though
countless vineyards, beside innumerabe orchards,
past enormous whcat-teds, all betokening plentiful
prosperity, merrily joIted the tram until it drew up
at san Jose. Here carriages in profusion denoted
eXpectan hosts and a transfer from cars to coaches
was quickly made. A short drive through this
quaint Old Spanish town brought the party to the
theatre into which all We're escorted, and found
beautiful! and gorgeous collation. spread before
them. In addition TO all needtul substantias and
solid pieces de eSiStdRce at short distances were
huge trays heaped and piled with fruits. Immense
apples (Of the kind that requires two apple pies 10
exhaust the capabilities Of one apple), pears Of
hOicestvarletles and most enormous growth plums
green-gaSeS, apricotS. nectarnes, ripe and dried
ieS. and crOwning and exceeding ALL the grapes
white and black, golden brown and faint yellow;
Black Hamburg. Pale Tokay, Rose of Peru, and
best of all in our judgment, the queen of the vines,
the translucent, pure, delicious White Mu>cat 1t
reminded one of the ancient days when the God-
dess of Plenty in person visited the earth, and we
felt sure Ceres horn itself could have brought
plentiful. But the day was heeting, and word
camf to fall in again, and many minutes the
train of carriages was whirling up the valley to
Santa Clara. Along under q double row of trees,
interlaced and interwined till complete canopy
was formed over the road, past old Spanish man
sions, by new ranches" and beautiful country
seats, for four miles OF fresh beauty and constant
novelty we drove, and came to the little town OF
Santa Clara where the train was patiently waiting.
Another ride Of twenty-five miles through the val
ley, with new prospect andtresh delights to Menlo
Park Station, where more carriages invite another
change.
This time we found ourselves driven into the
park OF private gentleman, past the herd OF ante
lopes, up the approach 10 the hall door, which
stands invitingly open. The three hundred guests
scatter around the lawn and peaSure-groundS, or
walk into the drawing-rooms, parlor and billiard
room, where all are most welcome. The ladies are
urged to ascend and see for themselves the arrange
ments above stairs. They find on the first floor
eleven eXq>ltely decorated and furnished bed-
rooms, all entirely different. In room down
stairs large mantle mirror presents Il sad appear-
ance, for is cracked and scanned from top 10 bot
tom Inquiry elictS that this is the result of last
years earthquake, and some of the fearful souls
congratulate themselves that they live in colder.
calmer climes, where earthquakes are unknown.
This gorgeous mansion belongs, we regret to have
to say it, to a-bdchelOf, who also possesses q
house in town.
Once more, however, the carriages are filled up
and couple of miles Of riding brings to another
elegant place, through whose gates whiSked,
and lind on alighting benevolent, handsome gem
teman, who says, Ladies and gentleman, you are
welcome. Walk into the orchard and help your
selves; eat all you can and carry away all you can
too" With which all-embracing invitation we do
walk in, and stand wengh bewildcred with an
"embdruSses deS richeSSeS." Beside the main walk
stand boxes heaped with picked apples and pears,
while on every side trees loaded down with
fruits innumerable-tons and tons and tons, appar-
entity. Apples, peaches, pears, ounces, punls,
apricots, nectarines. grapes, abundant ami name
less: almonds, English and black walnuts ground
nuts, figs, squashes, pumpkins and melons meet
the eye Oh every side.
Mr.. Atherton'S generous ana hoSpitable invita-
ton was literally carried out. Everybody was
eating fruit, and filling pockets and hats and hand
kerchefs geefully-picking up an enormous pear,
only to drop 1t for still huger specimen. 1t was
a scene to be remembered. But there We're more
pleasures yet in store, and again the cavalcade
set in motion, this time proceeding to the country
house of Mr.. Seby, mayor elect of San Francisco
Here was another open orchard and more fruit
here also our own immediate party encountered a
friend who insisted upon taking to the house
and introducing us to the ladies' We found fine
table spread with fruit and cake and California
wnes as well as French liqueurS, and were all
made charmingly welcome by the hostess and the
three unusually pretty girls who were guests. 4
little later and were once more on the train,
which stopped for the last time about twenty miles
from San Francsco-at Mr.. Hayward'S fine estab-
shment. Here the great attraction lay in the
flowers, which abounded in endless profusiOn and
glory beyond our capacity to describe. All manner