The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-11-08
For TIE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
SAN FRANCISCO.
SAN Francis

montgomery OF, tne broadway OF San francisco.
We were told that this hotel had the finest dining
room in the United States and this decided us, as
our appetites had wonderfully improved on the
journey. The building is of greyish stone and
covers large area, but is not so handsome or i'm
posing as the fine hotels in the eastern cities. 1t
is only three stories high. The buildings are gen.
orally lower than in the eastern cities on account of
the earthquakes which endanger those that are
very high. These earthquakes, which are little
more than slight tremor of the earth. usually
occur in the fall Just about the time of the autumn
nal rains. People dread them not more than we
do our thunder storms, and they are actually not
as destructive. have now had five days lone
Sabbath) in the city, and have surveyed it in its
length and breadth. 1t is not on the Pacific, nor
is it on low and level site like most seaport towns
1t is on high and bold peninsula, which is more
than FIVE miles across westward to the ocean,
There are two peninsulas, one stretching towards
the north, and the other south. Between them,
not more than mile wide, is the Golden Gate
the entrance to the Bay San Francisco is on the
northeast point of the southern peninsula. These
pennsulas which separate the waters of the ocean
from the Bay contain lofty hills and part of the
city is built on hills as steep as any in one of our
inland towns. Except that the Bay is too large,
so that when strong winds blow from the south it
becomes quite rough, the city would have one of
the finest harbors in the world. When you see
how this Bay is shut in by these high peniusulas
with only narrow gate to enter and that guarded
by islands, it seems that this was intended to be
the site OF great city. There are no fine parks
or public squares. The Plaza and Washington
Square are the principal, and they are both smal
and unattractive. Many of the citizens go to Oak.
land across the Bay for recreation. This is much
more beautiful place than San Francisco, situated
In natural grove of live oaks (hence its name)
and may become quite as important place.
Nothing here interested me more than the
markets. visited two, both of which were very
fine and quite Dovel to an Eastern man. The
fruits, the vegetables, the fish and the game were
all different from what we see in our cities The
oysters are brought from Oregon, and are small
and Indifferent There are quails answering to
our cartridges, except that they are of darker
plumage and have tuft of feathers on the top of
the head like the peacock. But the fruits are the
pride of the California markets. Grapes, pears,
peaches, apples, Strawberries, lin September
melons of all kinds and plums make an exhibit not
to be surpassed [ doubt whether any other coun-
try can grow such grapes and pears. The peculiar
climate and soil of the country seem perfectly
adapted to produce these fruits. California grapes
and pears are retailed on the road all the way from
Omaha, and even from Chicago | am almost
afraid to tell you how large and how good they are,
lest you should think there was some exageration.
1t is an easy matter to pick up cluster of grapes
in the market that will weigh from two to three
pounds, and they are as much superior in appear
ance and [ think, in favor, to our Isabellas, Con-
cords and Delawares, as there are to the common
wild grapes
Early in the morning after our arrival, went to
broker, and exchanged our greenbacks for gold,
and then hurried down to the office of the Pacific
Mail Steamship Company to purchase ticket to
China, select stateroom, aud make other neces-
sary arrangements for Es passage. had letter
to the agent from the Vice President of the Com
pany in New York. and that was an advantage
both pecuniarily, and in other respects 1t saved
me thirty dollars, enabling me to get the ticket for
$270 (gold) instead of $500 the usual price. The
ship Great Republic, was lying at her wharf near
the Office, and all hands were busy in putting her
in complete order for the voyage, for which she
was to be ready by noon Saturday. The steward
showed me everything about the vessel, and was
very proud as he had reason to be- of his fine ship
1t will carry l,220 passengers of all sorts, of whom
$50 are cabin or first class One of these steamers
goes on the first day of every month to Japan and
China, reaching Japan in twenty weight days, and
China q few days later Notwithstanding the great
dangers of the sea, they make their trips with won.
derful regularity. The Great Republic left on the
30th las October lst was Snnday.) Seldom has
any vessel carried out so many missionaries as this
did on this voyage. The agent seemed surprised
at the number, aud asked me what had turned up
that the Church was sending so many. When
men, and women too, go for gain and pleasure as
mutitudes do, it seems natural enough, but there
is establishment when whole dozen go, as in this
instance. to preach the gospel Of salvation.
Even more than the missionaries, the Chinese
mandariHs, who had been to France on an embas.
sage, on account Of the Tiensin outrage, and were
returning home on the Great Republic, attracted
attention. A great many Of the Chinese from the
city, both male and female came to do them honor
They needed sympathy, as the French government
notwithstanding all its reverses would not even lis
ten to any proposal to abrdge the privileges of its
citizens in China. This turn ont of the Chinese
gave us good opportunity to see them, and espe-
cialy the women in their gay attire. The women
are all ugly, 1.-THE Chinese [ mean,l and their Dress
especially the head gear and shoes, gives them a
stiff and awkward appearance. On their little
round bottom shoes, which most of them wear slip
shod, they shuttle along in most ungraceful man.
ner. These shoes are positively worse than our
high heels. The men are better looking, (you
know it is not with u.s. and their dress is very
becoming except only the shoes and caps, which
many of them have put aside for boots and felt
hats like ours. None of them wear the stove pipes
Their sacks, frocks, and easy fitting pantaoons,
which are not bags as the pictures make them, are
graceful, and must be comfortable. When made,
as is often the case here of black broad CLOTH it is
a handsome dress. There are some prosperous
Chinese merchants in San Francisco. They occu-
by large part of Sacramento street, and give it
quite heathenish aspect, and not an enviable
reputation. Invent into several Of their stores, and
bought some pictures and few toys from Chy
Lung & Co., $40 Sacramento street, who gave me
their card and asked me to send my friends to
them, who might want embroidered silk sbawls,
grass cloth, satin aprons, or any kinds of Chinese
goods and hereby recommend them to you and
all friends who may visit this city, as very polite,
and apparently honest trndesmen.
Messrs Wing, Wo, Sang & Co., 72O, are whole
sale tea merchants, and do a large business.
went into their house and found two men seated in
the middle of the floor counting Mexican dollars.
There was almost bushel of coin and they counted