Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1873-01-25
The Argonauts of 40.

Dret Harte, in bis lecture describing
the early days OF California, tells many
interesting anecdotes. The laws against
dishonesty were so strict that dishonest
les were punished with death. A horse
thief was tried, and the jury, having rei
tired to deliberate upon their verdict,
were slow upon returning TO court
The Judge pushed his head through the
door of their room, and fonnd they had
not agreed. "Take yeur time, gentle.
men," he said. "but remember we are
waiting for this room to lay out the
corpse in" A gentleman replied once to
the query of parishionsr of Rev. Thom'
as King, that as preacher he won ey'
cry trick. An engineer on the Pacific
Railroad told Of a comrade who died
of consumption. "Poor Jim," be said,
"got a running slower and slower, until
one day he stopped on his center.".
What picture of the Helpless pitch Of
met surveyor and farmer angiily
discussing Siding with the surveyor. He
said, "lt were you, wonld just theod-
olite that fellow out of camp" Another
teatns,er was rebuked for his profanity
by young girl returning from camp
meeting. "Why Miss" said he, "you
don't call that swearing do you? Why
you ought to hear Bill Jones exhort the
impertinent mule" The names of plac.
es were expressive. A letter dated
from "Dead Broke" wasn't calculated
to induce credit and stranger would
hesitate to accept an invitation to "Mur.
der's Bar" A stage in California was run
from Happy Valley to Mount Dolores,
and from Blazes to Puriasima. Ad.
vertising to the recent Spanish colonists,
he minutely described how the Arge.
nauls at first pretended friendship and
afterwards completely robbed and de.
spoiled them. They joined the fandan'
goes and bull fights, but were decidedly
anxious to give the bill show. On
one or two occasions they substituted
grizzly bear, thai cleared the ring and
tffectually wiped out the first two rows
of benches. But with experience ths
Sraniard became wise and allied himself
with his oppressers. Being the earliest
inhabitant, his evidence on the question
of titles was SO valuable that he knew
everything that was wanted to supply .
deficiency on eilher side of a case. This
extended so far as eventually to destroy
all ownership OF property in California:
The advent of the Healhen Chimes inn
parted new lite, new conservatism TO
the character Of the Argonaut. He en-
: eendered cleanliness, attended to all do;
domestic necessities, and acted at the
table like man who, knowing his shpe;
riori,y, could never jeopardtc his posi-;
tion by condessendng to speak. He wor'
shipped the devil in your household with
trankness that shdmed your own II.
tempt in that direction. Oppressed by
a cruel statue, he had an innocent way
of detrauding the customs by conversiDg
with custom-oifcers, while seated on q
, chair stuffed with struggled opium. He
avoided the State tax taking the name and
e assuming the facial expression Of Some
other brother who had payed the taxes;
Knowing the character OF bis Christiah
brethren; be established doctor'a Offices
at every street cornet of San Francisco;
distributed medicines, the mention Of
+, which would bring on sea sickness, and
/, when finally discovered retired with dig
nifty to his native race, the happy poses
sor OF half million dollars
A funny man Tells how he has dis
r couraged a horse-car conductor. Ih'
!. latter asked him to snake little room
! sir ?" Says ], "You want me TO make
+ little room, do you 2'' Says he, "Yes,
do" SaysI, "What kind of roonI d
= YOU want, a bath room or billisft
4 room ?" Says he, "Sit, there is room
. for eleven OH this seat" Says !. ash
there isn't. Says he, "There are elets'
ON the other side" Says, l, T sss /
and there are ten on this side now an
II YOU tell me there is room eh1t. t.gh ID
n eleven more" Says he, 81 tO'eas tbeI
is room for one more" SAYS ], iVWel
3 why in thunder didn't you say seY On
s isn't eleven" He. smiled with such al
n expression Of entire woe, that fbs dive
shouted whoa to. bis horses.