Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-04-28
Notes of II EravcIler---Oricnt to OccI-
dent.


The Indian villages are worth seeing, one es-
pocially, "Washakie, y mainly famous for a,
species of small crsbi7 which digs hole fun
known depth in the middle Of the street, and
comes up occasionally to the surface, where he
sits aud makes fun Of the natives, They. would
eaf him if. they COULD catch him. but they
haven't sense enough to stop up the hole when
be is out visiting Zach generation has to learn
for itself that it CAM take these crabs and so
YOU NAV see at; any time half ahupdredf yelling
bows engaged in the hopeless pursuit. WhGn-
ever the art Of printing shall have been invent
ed among them tthey-Will never adopt it from
other people) we may hope that the experience
OF the father may be Impaired to the son. SO
wrctched a Lot of vagabondswe havo never seen;
they toll not, neither do they spin. One really
cannot blame them for not dressing eSpeoslYely,.
as they have no other income than that derived
from the sale Of pretty cut arrows to the pas
sepgers, and SO many are obtained at tile first
wigwam, the others average only one arrow
per day :. But they might wear bark. Now
that the Pacific railroad will soon run a road
may be compelled to, at least, attire themselves
ia a coat of paint; they did formerly wear some
thing of this kind, but the composition they
employed had salt Us one of,its ingredients, and
the COWS used to lick it off; as they were too
lazy to drive away the cows. they just left off
painting But we wander from our subject.
It is scarcely necessary to mention the overland
route from New York to the Golden Lake The
trip is not so tedious as might be imagined, for
this most wonderful of modern inveutions-the
Pacific RIlway-the finest. piece of engineering
10 the world-contribute in every way to the
comfort of passengers, and the scenery diverts
all feeling Of ennui. From the moment tof
leaving Omaha the general face Of the country
changes. The mountains over which, only the
strength Of two engines can rush the train, the
great chasms columns of rock, huge forests,
waterfalls, rounding Cape Horn, 1.-THE finest
view of alp the antelopes, prairie-dogs, Indians,
mines, &c, all fillyou with wonder and delight.
On the summit, where snow is found the whole
year, and sDow sheds arc built to protect the
trains, one feels dreary, and wants to get away;
something seems 10 whisper a more coDgenial
cline is not far off, and indeed in less than a
day after starting to descend on every side,
blooming flowers, ripe fruits, green fields and
fertile villages greet you: Forty miles per
hour; the rate at which the train goes (from
necessity is speed just sufficient for the travel
ler's convenience, allowing tine to take in all
objects Of interest on the road. Here and there
vast turrcts of earth are left standing by the ca
PRECIOUS miner, as tito commemorate some i'm
portaut mining event. Some of these monu-
ments have been washed away hundred feet
to their base, and with their bare sandy sides,
stand in majestic individuality, with only now
and then tuft of vegetation left upon the top
soil to prove their kinship to neighboring hills,
II they had been visited by earthquakes, rent
with avaauchcs, and quilted with mountain tor
rents, they could not look more destitute; We
fancy them the graves Of the creation gods,
where they have lain down to rest after some
very fa,iguing labors With their heads pointing
heavcnward, and have forgotten to rise again.
and became part OF the everlasting hills, to-
share alike in their misty breakfast caps, their
purple mau:ics, and their beautiful dresses of
green, and autumn brown. Switzerland may
have her glaciers, England her velvet green and
Italy her sunny skies, but the novel grandeur
of scenery greeting you on every side as you
cross the Rocky and Sierra Nevada Mountains
cannot be surpassed anywhere in'the world. One
word oflifc in California: We have been impress
ed with the energy and ndoinitable ,pcrscver-
auce Of her people who have won SUCCESS iu spite
Of evcry obstacle The material predolrinates
over the spiritual. and we see the need OF more
stability. of character (which, Of course, will
come in timc):' Life here has not become fully
refined and elevated, but We feel a glorious tu-
,ture awaits this untirlng, determined people:
Climate, soil and the great mineral resources Of
the State, all give promise OF what they can
and will be. High aims, holy purposes, TRUE,
earnest manhood must. ensure success, and
power that will be felt and ackuowl edged
throughout ebristendom. 1t is only within
few yearsthe idea occurred Of settling here per-
mancntly. The majority came only with the
thought Of this beiBg the FL Dorado Of the
world, where fortunes could be had for the ask
Joe, aud then they would return to their old
homes to enjoy their wealth. But fair, tickle
California wins her way to the heart, and the
charm deepens as time steals onl This is, not
Quaint and digniGed old and wise Virginia,
or precise New England, but California,
young in years, giving promise Of a. rich
and rare maturity. The soul thrills and
dcepens with, newer life, before the gran.
deur Of her mountains, the matchfess beaaty:of
her skies, the repose of her peaceful valleys,
aud the fragrance of her Sieiliau groves, grand
old ocean chanting softly the ''fe Deum," the
falling cataract laundering forth Its anthem;the
musical ripping Yo-Semite's silver. streams, are
golden memories charming ever the old ,plo7
'1eer, and the sturdy youth We are leaving
with regret the honest people, who have given
us a cordial Welcome, who, in spite OF. the hur-.
ry and hustle ;of- their daily life, yet found
time to greet us with smile as genial as the
sunshine of their sunny land. :. K. ERRATle. -.
80.
), LoUDoUN County ITEMS = From the Lees
burg Washingtonian Acting under the au-
shorty, of the Mavor and (IOuncjl Mr. l,emuel
Norris,.sa young gentleman of this place, a
practical engineer, and graduate Of the Viz
GINA Military Institute, is now engaged IN
making survey Of the meets and bounds Of
The Corporation of :Leesbnrg-the character OF
the man is guarantee Of the faithful manner.
in which his work will be accomplished a.'..> =.
We have the report that the surveys upon
the Piedmont and Potomac. Improvement will
COMMENCE this Spring, and with i the intimae
ton that an attempt will be made to divert it,
from the route defined in the character of the
company. We advise those in Leudoun, IN
terested 10 this Improvement to watch their
interest :. .r- ....,. .',.-' w.. -. -