The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1870-02-24
Letter From California.
Correspondence Of the Lancaster Gazette.
SYCAMORE RANCHO,
SANTA CLARA Co. CAL.
Jan. 23d. 1870.
DEAR GAZETTE:


In one of my letters
written to Lancaster shortly aftor
my arrival In the Golden State"
| wrote that, if l was expected to
write q description Of my journey
here to every one with whom |
corresponded, I should instead send
a communication to the "Lancas-
ter Gazette" ~ g,.t.r
Weeks rolled on, and 1 had al
most forgotten my jesting words,
when in one Of the letters from the
"dear ones at bome,' it was asked:
"When may we expect the COM
muhication to the "Gazette2'' l
reeonsidered my wol DIS and con, /,
cluded to make them good. When
near those we love their wishes Of!
ten pass unnoticed, but when far
separate from them, their lightest
words become sacred to us. 5
Desiring TO crafty any wishes
of my friends, send you this the
first installment of "Reminlsccn-
ces Of trip TO California;" and if
they prove of any interest to your
good Republican readers, l shall
rot only be amply rewarded for
writing you a description OF my
journey, but, you SO wish it,
will at some future day send you
letters containing some observa.
tions on the climate and scenery
with stray waits Of California news
STARTING. rT
To every thing there must be 0
beginning; to every journey there
must be a commencement.
trust that your readers will moi
come to the conclusion that TO my
trip there will be no end. sI
With bowcver much pleasure
we look forward to visiting new
scenes, the last hours among famil,
iar spots are always fraught with
pain; it is like what the mariner
must feel, when he looses his bark
from safe moorings. and drifts into
an unknown sea; he knows not wha'
storms, what dead Gains avail
him, and thus l felt when, gather
cd with our many friends at tht
depot; We awaited the arrival o.
the train for Columbus, aud as We
started away / looked with strain
ing eyes, through gathering tears
on the last of sold Lancaster,
with it's church steeples shooting
upward in the October sunshine
at the old School house on the bill
at the familiar corners around
Broadway--and off to the belt o
rolling hilIs--lastly fixing my eye
lon Mount Pleasant, standing like
sentinel over my dear old Home
Mount Pleasant, guard it well2 LIE
no harm OF fire or food overtakt
tho old town in fertile Fairfield.
Arriving at Columbus in due
time, we took our sections in the
Sleeping Car bound for Chicago
that much abused, much talked o
City Of the West.
But before leaving Columbus vi
wero made glad by the prospect oil
having the pleasant society of two
young gentlemen that far on oul
Journey west. We remember then
with grateful pleasure, as also thosC
kind friends who left US at Carroll
thereby showing q reluctance L
part with US. There was but on,
other passenger beside our party
in the Car, 80 we took entire pos
session, eating cur supper gaily
and playing cards on tho ches
board which is attached TO every
section of the sleeping Car. Dark
ness was already falling on th'
city and the river as we sped away
on the track, our iron horse snort
ing and screaming wildly in th'
night air, and l heard it whiz
zing and putting and blowing
most of the night The mo
ton Of the car was thon new
to me, and at every station | woult
awaken with q start, peep through
the windows at the people gather
cd at the depots, then watch tn
country as we would glide agail
into il from the uninteresting out
skirts, of cities and towns on th'
route. That night, however, wa