, 1874-02-12


that the popular will could be much
more fairly expressed at the polls, after
peaceable aud free discussion of the
at issue; but our Hinglish neighbors,
who contend for responsible govern
. ment, seem to think differently.
California Correspondence.
COLUMBIA. CAL, Jan. 20, 1874.
Mr.. EDITOR: Here we are again in
the midst of another snow-storm, and
although not SO much of the f1akeY sle-
ment has as yet come down, the temper
of the storm is quite relentless and Sc
we're as the one mentioned in my last
letter. From the date of that letter to
nearly the present time the weather here
has not been rough, but rather of mild
and flattering character, affording fine
opportunity for putting the grain crops
in, and an almost unlimited breadth Of
ground has already been sown. While
up here the weather is too stormy and
severe for farm work, below the hills in
the level country it is the reverse and
farming Operations are vigorously pro-
secuted This is indicative of the fact,
that it is not always the best policy, at
least as far as material interest and prop.
erty are concerned, to get too high up in
the world. always like to be below
the snow altitude. I lave "natural
inherent and inalienable +" DISLIKE for
the article.
The man that wrote of the "beautiful snow"
OF course was fool and didn't know
That the awful stuff would freeze his toe.
Descending from the snowy heights to
a warmer level, I will next inform you
a fact of which you are no doubt already
aware-that our legislative mill is still
running at Sacramento, and for the first
time since the organization of the State
Government, it is sand to be run by wa
ter power. This may in considerable
part be true, but there is no doubt on
my part but there is come stronger stuff
mixed with it occasionally. At all events,
however, it is safe to affirm that our
present Legislature is whole head and
shoulders above any and all of its pre-
decessors, SO far as honesty and fair
dealing is concerned. The aim of the
entire body seems to be the promotion
of the best interests of the State. There
is vein of economy running through
it which is truly encouraging, and which
has not been detected in any Of our pre-
vious legislative bodies. Of course not
great deal of business has as yet been
finished up, but something has been
done, and with slight exceptions, well
done. The much talked-of Five per
ceat Law '" has been repealed, two Uni
ted States Senators ground out, and
some other better things introduced, if
not passed since last advices here from
the capital. Among these is the pro-
position to amend the U. S. Constitu-
ton SO as to provide for the election of
U. S. Senators by the people. Also an
amendment to the Constitution of the
State, to the effect that the Governor of |
the State shall not be eligible to the Of
fee of U. S. Senator durirg his guber-
material term of Office. The foregoing
are among the most prominent and inn
portant measures, while the general SEN
timent of the law-making body is strong
ly anti-monopoly, alti-subsidy, and,
with few exceptions, strenuously oppos-
ed to gobblers and grabbers of all sorts,
and will so shape its acts as 70 defeat all
schemes for gobbling and grabbing
Really, it is encouraging to think that,
in the government Of the State, honest
men have at length been sent to the front,
and rascals and whiskey repudiated.--
We have had enough of rogues, whiskey
and extravaganza in The past; let US have
honest men, temperance and economy
in the next watch.
So far as the ordinary workings of the
of civil society are concerned
here, there are no unusual deliberations
to note. Life Insurance Agents and
Sewing Machine Bores are held to be
nuisances. Tax Collectors are not so
popular as many other people. Matri>
mony has but a mushroom existence,
i'll nearly all newly formed
nuptial associations. Matrimony is a
bad egg, nowadays. Divorces are Of
frequent occurrence. and with all, of bet
ter omen. Wages for the laboring classes
are very low, and loafers and free-lunch-
ers are becoming numerous. At this al
titude. politics and bed-bugs are in a
torpid state in the winter season. Beef,
on the fiat of the foot, brings six cents
per pound. Potatoes, two and quar-
ter cents. Religion-none reported in
the market. Balls break out OCCASION
ally. Skating rinks have rinctum,"
now and then. Skaters fall and get |
hurt sometimes. The moon is running
on its first quarter, and the sun-well, |
think it is nearly froze over. (These
two last items belong to astronomy and
have nothing to do with civil society,
except to shine down upon it when it
isn't cloudy.) 70 generalize in regard
to the times in business way, il is no
depression from the facts of the case to
aver that they are emphatically dull.
In the language of Bryant I will close
by saying that The melancholy days
have come, the saddest of the year."
SLUICE FORK.
Col. BENToN's DAUGHrERs.-Pros
ity and good fortune are among uncer-
tain conditions of this world. Families