The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-02-03
Los Angeles, CAL" Jan. 1877

my pen TO describe my impressions Of
California, for fear shall disgree
with others who have been here before
me But as | came here to inquire after
fact, rather than to see wonderful things,
| shall try to speak Of facts as | find
them. In many respects, l have been
disappointed, but have often found the
disappointment pleasant surprise. Per.
haps nothing pleascs or surprises one from
the cast, more than the beauty, size, aud
variety of the fruits grown here, and the
extent of orcharding. Apples are all
shipped to market in boxes, and so uni.
form are they in size, that they can be ,
packed like corn or spools of thread.
Pears and ounces grow to an enormous
size here, and specimens weighing from
one to two pounds are seen almost every.
where.
Ofcourse all the summer fruits are out
Of the markets now, except grapes, which
are so fine one can hardly believe they
have been grown in the open air. shall
have occasion to speak Of the semitropi.
cal fruits at another time.
The statement is often made at the
east, that the production of wine viii not
increase intemperanco. That if our race
could be cheaply supplied with this pure
beverage, it would DO longer use distilled
/ liquors, and drunkenness cease to exist
That in European countries where wines
are most used, drunkenness does not exist.
Now do not find the condition of socie-
ty here such as to warrant such state.
ments. In every town | have visited
here, find men who have lost their rca-
son from over much drink. Only last
night, at cur hotel, was a man relieved of
some Of his vaIuables, while in state OF
intoxcation Wine here is but eighteen
cents per gallon cheap enough, certainly
SO, thGt all may have pure drink. But
"Wine is mockcr.' 1t is stated by in.
tclligcnt persons living here, and by those
who use drinks more or less that the hab-
tual use Of California wine, will sooner
undermined the constitution than the
druggod liquors Of the Eastern States, In
conversation with j 5. Ilorbison of Sac.
ramonto, who i an intelligent man, ana
) is well acquainted with different parts Of
,hc state, he told NE that he had attended
the State Fair regularly for some ten or
twelve years, that Of a large number who
ten years ago were exhibiting grapes and
wine, and advocating vineyards for wine,
more than onc-halt .! the number are now
in their graves; th' victims Of their own
wines.
think no ona need be here lons. be-
) lore he will observe the preference OF in-
tcligent Caifornians for foreign wines,
. which contain less alcohol aud c3uscqucnt
ly less harmful than their own.
Bat it is pleasant to notice the fact,
. that many Of those row setting win yards
: are setting varieties that will make raj.
sins, and appearances Indicate that before
3 many years, r1i>iu- may be as abundant.
! u produced a- vine now i. have seen
= raisins grown aud cured h,rc,that could
q oct tell from the imported fruit;
California landscapes seem strange and
! novel, to eastern eyes, and at this season
5 certainly v.ry pretty We miss at once
! our forests tut the live oaks, with their
! evergreen foliage looking liitle distance
more Ike au obi aprietree, than any thing
.f.. .,,,,,rod l....' ,h,,, o..
-, L,,l of I.nl.a.', -.
b. rro.in.,l 81 fno cffe.t Tbo g,,ss has now
L,ar+a5 srei,;o,,Iy .o tbat o1cont ,,boro
j cultivated the earth is everywhere green,
I ani many fields OF barley are already up
b f.r bav Ear b,y in TaIie,rnio r.u,uy
# mems ,,h,gi or Err',. straw cnt .ooo az
y fer it head, out.
81 Few things are more striking pccially
l. ia ;be southern part of the state. than the
c cosmopolitan character Of the population
81 The Fl rst person YOU meet will doubles.
:. be native Californian or Spaniard, witt
!, his black hair and dark complexion, and
d somewhat stern visase. The next persor
Il may be an American. while the third i.
the native ludian, with his awkward gai
and clumsy form, his dark hair perchanc,
u h,n-inr bose upon his shonlders,or braid
:, ed and lied up with coarse scarlet cloth
d But your attention is attracted by one O
Aries sable sons who is discoursing will
some ouc upon some very unimported sub
u icct. bat is cnicayorinr to impress upol
II all within hearing of his voice, with tn
g extent of his wisdom and his very super
j. ior rolitcncss
e i ow 4 jew brushes by YOU. with til,
y thrifty way Of his race, and enters hi
lo store in the next block. but he is no curl
Is ositv for he is seen everywhere here an
os eyorvwbcre else is ENGAGED in trade an
, ris rich A. , lew"
~ ~ . 49,,
a. a. gu ,oqu'te your way 10 soine s''ee. ..
!! aua pelnaPs n ,Hc :, or'y teP'y iepiy Sou Z.
" no r'5n,'sn' lo' you nave in'eriosu'
u o' I r'ohcHmuh, 50 you turn away oni
II 10 ilS''n 10 Tue JarSon o. so'no unAuo"
= Ionsuc' It may " i'all"n l OF ot o~iss ,
u Herman or something elsei LOT lhey at