Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-04-26
Notes Of a TravelIer---Orient to Occt-
dent.


CORRESPONDENCE of the Alexandria Gazette.
CAIIsroGA SPRINGS, California, April 10
When the eastern tourist arrives upon these
golden shores, travels the length and breadth OF
this and adjoining States. and Territories with
their ever varying grand and imposing scenery
il can be no wonder if moment for reflection
Is INDUCED 10 the want OF appreciation IN
Americans, who prefer to 90 abroad without
even an intelligent idea Of the greatness OF our
own country True we find here no old land
marks of feudalism, before which to bow in OBJ
spouious reverence, no unworthy scion OF
soon be- forgotten race to-day, and latter no
me. whose hem we'd 60 journey to
touch, The halls of art and science not yet
omen their doors to the people Of this new field,
which West of the Rocky Mountains seems
q world to itself. But far beyond the highest
degree of human excellence, power, or lnven-
tion. is this heritage Of nature to the rich, the
moor. the lofty, and the lowly. The poor man
can neither freeze nor starve in this heaven
blessed region; the ever balmy climate prevents
the one and the ready fertile yield of the rich
soil obviatcs the other. We estimate fifty
Americans 90 to Europe for one who visits
California or the West. Apart from the mani,
Test Indifference, what vast wealth Is laVlsneo
abroad that might be spent IN developing THIS
country. The whole State OF California with
a population less than half OF that OF the city
of New York, might we'll be styled NEGLECTED
treasury. Fifty years hence London VIII DC
unable to support her rapidly increasing popu-
latiop. Already Germany is pouring her masses
Westward, but the monopoly by the first keeps
this State from the emigraut, whereas she
should, with her natural resources, rauk Sec
ond to none in her invitation. The oie great
evil we discover, as an obstacle IN the way oil
progress here, is the vast tracts OF land held by
single owners The original Spanish grants
covered immense Ranches, - and many OF
these are still undivided, extending tor leagues
along the coast Here III Nappa Valley we
have zone over twenty-five miles on the lands
Of an old settler His ranches extend all this
distance, and he has already sold $50, 900 worth
of cattle this year. Government lands can be
bought at SIPS per acre. but those owned by
SPECTATORS are held at such high figures, the
laborinp man can't touch them, and we need
not expect improvement until the currency OF
the country is adopted, and volcanic eruption
destroys the dividing lines Those OF our
Eastern people who pour their gold into the
already filled Golfers of Europe, would do we'll
to follow the index finger OF Greeley, and by
iudclous improvements otter to Europe most
substantial people home amongst us. We
must dvest ourselves of the idea OF California
being rough mining country. The PacIhc
Railroad is the great modernlzer, and has only
added to the prominent luxuriant characterls-
tics of the coast. Having travelled over most
of the State we find distinguishing features of
climate, soil production and people. One is
surprised, overwhelmed Here dwell in close
relation the very antipodes, and paradoxes are
harmonzed. The winters are berett OF cold;
summers without heat, and rivers run dry 1t
is great sport, and indeed very interesting, to
visit the towns along the coast-the shop PEG.
ple are lipguists, and you can be swlndlcd IN
the language to which you are accustomed. L
think. by the way, you can suffer a more com
plete and elaborate swindle in English than in
any other tongue One may be gracefully
cheated in French, politely detrauded in Span
ISL and humaney dome" in German, but for
downright fraud and hearty pillaging to be the
victim Of sweeping and remorscless plumber,
one must apply to shop where English, or at
wronged and ransacked in every language ofthe
globe A few weeks ago, as we were going on
board the steamer from one Of the settlements
on the lower coast, our arms full of plneapplcs,
upon the top Of which we were endeavoring to
steady multitude Of bananas, supporting an
in6nity of oranges, capped with sklfully ar
ranged pyramid Of strawberries, every one Of
which things we had purchased as favor of
the uucanny people with tropical dyspepsia for
sale at marveously low figure per single dis
tresss. We heard bell-like voice calling after
us as we stepped on the wharf, Come here,
swcety, aud buy monkey Il will just ask
you to fancy yourself walking down King
street and suddenly addressed in this manner!
Would ut you drop all your bananas, plneap-
pies and oranges and run to make the pur-
chase p But it was too late, the little brute
had changed hands before we reached the spot
Our fruit had been made away with by the
younger members of the population, to be sold
again, and we discovered the term Of endear.
ment had been studied, and was always used
to the ''Angish" traveller. 1t vii be percely-
ed from this veracious narrative that by judi
cious use of our blessed mother-tongue the de-
signing foreigner may overreach the most saga
sious of us. Such is the power of sentiment III
the human heart
To be continued.