New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-12-17
CALIFoRNIA's GOLDEN AGE.
BRET HARTEs LECTURE AT sTEINWlT
HALL.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PIONEERS AND GOLD
HUNTERS OF 40.

With Steinway Hall well ana buIiI'huy
filed In spite of the rain and siush, with platform
erowaed with tho notable people Of the city, MT Bret
uarto last night made his first appearance before
New-York audience and achieved most gratifying and
genuine success. His subject was "Ihe Argohauts Z"
1e and was handled other man living could have
done IT, Such delicate humor, such fine airy fancy sueh
close aud conscientious painting OF character Is rare 10
,hc lecture platforms. and yceums are TO be con
graduated on this last and most welcome addition 10
their stars. The lecture Of last plight was not only
good writing, hut good talking also. IL was not
precisely the style OF Mr. Hartes prose sketches ihc''
vas far less elaboration and moro breadth ana ease OF
treatment The descriptive passages were strohS ana
nervous and were finely relieved by selections rom
that nexhausbe treasury Of stories and epigFamS IN
which Mr. Harto rivals the great master VINO wfo'e
Pickwick. It was prominently popular lecture, W.
while everybody enjoyed It, those who cared could see
how perfectly il embodied the poetry ana sgnihcance
M the wonderful era It portrayed. Mr.. Hfte's manner
IL easy and colOqual and his voice, While not very
strong, is clear and well managed
He regarded the story Of the Argonauts OF 20 he said rs
Al episode American life quaint rs chat III the Greek
adventurerS kind OF SADIE without cross; aneNoaus
without prophet IL not pretty storyi PERHAPS
e was not even instructive; twas Of life OF when
perhaps the best that cOuld be said that 1t existed
no longer For than years California was OF all
Christian countries the least known IL was SET ooWh
on old English maps az very strange locah'y' an"
the history OF its discovery wrapped in Spanish ira
etton One Spanish discoverer reported that he found
on voyage tho Pacific TO Lake SUPERIOR where
ne found a Yankee vessel from Boston, whose captain
Informed him that lie had there from the Atanuc
only few days before Along the long line OF centu
RES the old rcebooer had erused along Its shores and
captured their booty aud plumber and only within ten
years band of goll-dggeTs came upon large piece OF
wax In the brokon ribs OF rotten ship California heard
and was al once dTcd with the discovery and IN Re"
wcets they searching the ruins for the lost treasure
Of the Philippine gaeon, aud at last they found Few
tho Hrfrfs
which ouly showed that the entCrprsne and gallant sr
Franci, Drake had been there before them.
Tese were peaceful pastoral days for California when
the Angeus bells rang ont peacefully and summoned the
ood people prayers aud sleep before o'clock every
night. They WeTo happy, tranquil days. But pohtt
cal and social earhaulke more powerful than any phys
teal convu shook the foundation OF the
hand and disrupted strata OF the land the favorlte
treasure suddenly glttercd before their eyes Ihen
change came upon them suddenly, which had beer
strengthened by q chain of circumstances. IL was no
tho finding OF few grains of gold but for years III
way had lceu slowly opening and the doors uniocke
for the people who 20 profit by the discovery III
Areoaauts we're a awless, irrehgious oand OF mel
They we're given superstltious rites, enthused
no high ambition, and skeptca even OF the existence
the golden fields until they them. Embarked in a
adventure they accepted, in kind OF calm philosophy
whatever it might bring. II there is no gold, what an
yoa aoing 10 do with those sluce boxes" said newly
arrived forune-seeker to his friend. They will max
FIRST class coius." was the reply OF mau who bad cal
cuatcd "a his chances II they did not burn their YES
scis behind them, they at least left the good ship Arg
10 lie ide IL the wharf Tho sailors were shipped ony
for the ou ward VOYAGE. Nobody expected 10 return
even ne anticipated failure. An Argonau thought III
recognized in tho who pulled him ashore anC
charged him the modest Of $50 for the favor
brother cassmato o. oxford We're you not" he asked
senior vrlurer in the class or 1913" Yes" said the
other Significantly but also stroke oar In tho
regatta"
1T =
restaurant 10 san Francisco, saw man whom had
looked the perfection OF poiIeness talking win
tie guests. The waiter remarked Res mighty handy
and can talk elegantly 10 customer as Is waiting toI
asked him IL il would be possible 10 nh his pace
an afraid no. $40 the nF9pretor' l[h ! tb ~ SG
would slit" IauehcII lC was this wonderful adap.
IN td, tris clement OF success Much OF this
allptiiitv due TO the character OF the people:
io M 20 say at least Should prefer defer criticism
Ghl hul arrived at safe distance IRON the historian
friends. an1 officers Of Justice perplexe
aud beNccrcd There were husbands who had deserted
their Wives and, in some extreme cases, the wives
Of otl'rs. Nor was 1t possible TO- tel rom
tneir superficial exterior whether they We're or
were rot named IN this general Indictment:
Scum tho best men had Ihe worst p record ana
~Ihc bows teem 10 have taken fresh deal all round
man Will turn up Jack or king It may be said OF
John O4kaurt himself that he came Of a family WHO
REGARDED Caes chance sinful. and who had never
believed could be successful by them. TO think,
Ls made S. &c To tnnk FOLKS believe that keerds is a
Nase of time 70 lIaughter.I such the character
lui such The understanding OF the men who gave a
dominant tone the life OF that period. Butt would
t uIcrred that there was 10 fespectably IN
Inrrais among tie people time but their charac
aud The strong, ST Was not always the best LEI
bring tLcm nearer 20 You Gnd skctch Tor you Two
IIcures-oue in their city by the and in their
ltte cdnius N he camps OF the SerIas. s.. T., W.,
Mr. HaTe skotChei the san Francisco OF 1891, In VIM
ter time, wnsn hour was worth $50 barrel and =
EImpse OF womaus face was ore OF the comforts for
which the handy adyenturers sighed Inc gambling
tho History OF the ATesuauts III was approached
ms rioIs passage or guarded entrance, aud ire
queuily opened upon Tie street, with every Invitation OF
gliding lights aud music. AMI ttthesealo the queJest
halls 81 san FImc7CO; there Il no drunkenness, 10
anarroas scarcely any eXditat0n, OF disappointment
Business mcn who have gambled all day IN
other enterprises, find nothing hero 70 unduy
excite them and in the intervals OF music "a
beautifu calm pcrytdes the room. People move
atOand EOselossly from table 20 table as fortune
were nervous wei. as NCkl6. cane falling upon the
door causes ~ % look NJ and loud laugh eX-
ellcs guatOn Tbcre was western man. Who having
riSS ' /" take sceacr home oh the night before be
Nas 10 sail, lie cuCred the Argo saloon, seated himself
the table sheer stessIess, ana staked SZOand won
Hc again Ia Two hours ho won fortune. An
hour liteT he from tho table ruined man. The
knowing huc Of the vord ard the sudden winning and
losing a fortune eIazed him. He went again TO his
work, aud regularly oJk his seat AT inc table and speit
the earnings which he had saved. 30 year passed II
he had forgotten waiting wife size had not forgotten
him. ana Que evening she landed, with her child.
upOu tne Bier at San Francisco, penuiess ana
alone She tod her story TO John oaknurst who quietly
provided Tor her wdute Two OF thiee evenings hil"l,
lie western some trthc, ana then gained other
plays iu secClou ana ~ re ~ elea as tno!eh loI,
sid: ." vii give $500 Tor your ne Al DEAL He
lcstitcd Yoar vie at the door, viii you take il -
Tue acCcpted; bat the eiifit OF the gambler vas
strUng witbu him. and, Mf. Okhurst fily expected,
he waited 90 TIE result VI TIC play We'll JOhn OAK
hurst lO; ami with look OF gratitude the man taIhed
echast, * Zed the money! and hurried away as II hg
fcased that be might still Dc enchanted by the spell
which bound bin. "Ieat was bad spirit Of yOurn,
Jark" raid mis- friend " Yes" said JACK " but got
Iired OF seeing fellow II putGp game
between the dealer aud lt - the first time" ie
adti,d. oath which think the recording ana cl