Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1872-12-28

In approaching San Frencisco by wa
ter, one can form an idea OF its CONNER
cial Importance. Ships from all nations
are dischargiug their cargoes at the
wharves, while others are anchored in
the bay waiting for dockage room. Fer.
ry boats are plying between the city and
points of interest on the bay; while
steamers and sail vessels are constantly
arriving aud departing, from aud 10
places on the rivers and coast. Once in
the city found the same busy place of
six months ago. There was the hurrying
to and fro of pedestrians, all on business,
no one knew what; the click, clack, of
wagons, the jingle of street cars, min
| gled with an occasional oath of the driv-
er as he gets INTO a blockade; commo-
tlon and confusion-this is San Fran
cisco.
was in the city on Sunday, and had l
not known the day of the week, should
have thougbt 1t gala day." instead of
the Sabbath. Excursion parties were
leaving the city bands of music were
playing, aud places of amusement were
open with unusual attractions to "draw
the crowd" | voluntarily followed un-
/
dens." This man Woodard, is the Bar
mum of the Pacific Coast" lie has
quite extensive grounds well laid out in
walks, leading TO cozy arbors, with rustic
aeats, and interspersed with the choicest
shrubs and most beautiful flowers. There
are tropical fruits and plants OF every
description, dates, oranges and lemons
growing in profusion. Here are n choice
collection Of cnriositics from all parts OF
the world also many species of the ami
NAL kingdom; all making a museum and
menagerie OF no small dimensions. In
| the audience room were seated some
5000 persons to see q burly African
| drink hot alchohOl, and handle red hot
iron and cannon balls" The Negro did
his part well, and the contact Of the hot
iron with his feet and hands, gave to-
the room very much the smell of a
blacksmith shop when soaring
horses hoJG a fair damsel danced the
Highland Fling and an Irish Jig"
and the programme was ended. Thus Ispent
the Sabbath; but was in " Rome and l did
as The Romans did" Still there are many
church going people in San Francisco, but
there are very few churches. The Jewish
Synagogue is building of vast proportions;
| so are some of the Catholic churches; but the
orthodox ones are few and small.
The following Tuesday was election day,
| and the city was very quiet polling only
! little over half its registered votes In the eve
| ming hundreds gathered around the newspaper
| offices, anxious tOl returns. The Chronicle ex-
hlbted transparency, and as the various tel
egrams were received, they were reproduced
on caLYass by the gleam of calcium lights.
During the interval between dispatches, comic
| cl, lime E.u,N
ing up the mirth and interest of the crowd
but IL was poor reading for the Democrats, and
at midnight retired, hoping that the morrow
would bring news more consuling; but the
mOrrow's news buried us deeper and deeper
with defeat and said, Defeated but not con.
qNered. The city was too much agitacd with
its own affairs, to be excited over The election.
Two noted torgers had just escaped from its
JAIL through the treachery of officers, and
reward OF 81 OO5 wus offered for their recapture;
| also vast frauds were being unearthed in the
| llarbor Department. When found that these
officers and office holders were all Republicans
acting under Republican instructions, thought
to myself"There must be some mistake in this,
Ed, you have been led to believe that ONLY
Democrats are corrupt" but with sober sec.
ond thought, knew you could not circum-
scribe mems morality by party lines.
met Lieut.. Il. b. Hubbard and spent the
part of two days very pleasantly with him.
His brigade were under marching orders for
the cast, and he left the Pacific coast with
many regrets he expects TO spend next 4th. of
July with friends in Ashtabula. | envied him
his an,cipaions; and while he was hurried
on toward sunrise, was jogging up to my
mountain home.
The middle of December, and such glorious
weather! can Imagine you in Ashtabula
| are shyering with the cold Perhaps to-day
II is cold and clustering, and the snow is being
| driven III great drifts before your doors; or the
| ground may be covered with snow which,
squcnking under your sleigh runners, shows
that the air is keen and frosty, and rs the Gus
toners Mt your stores come in, mufiled in great
coats and warm clothing, they exclaim as they
draw near the fire, 1t is very cold" Here It
is very different. l have not seen n flake OF
snow since left the Sierra Nevada mountains,
last May. We have had only four rainy days,
the sun shines each day, and the air Is clear
and warm the doors Of our houses are open
and we have no flies during the day; men
work with their coats and jackets off, and they
| have TO stop occasionally to wipe the sweat
| from their brows the grass is green, flowers
are in blossom, and farmers are busy sowing
their oats; everything looks 10 me like an
Ohio spring; | cannot realize this to be win
ter. But winter brings to you rest, for nature
as well as man; il is the season in which you
give way 10 enjoyment. Here we can and
must work all the year round as for enjoyment
the inhabitants of these mountains amuse
themselves these long evenings with four pegs,
| little board full of holes and fitly-two oblong
paste-hoard cards upon which are curious
hirroglyphics. / believe they call the game
| c.ibbnge." ED,