Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-02-18
Watchman Sc Journal.
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY Is, 1874.
For the Waterman.
Old California.
INTERESTING oLEASINGs FROM READING.

INTERESTING dLEAsINGs FROM READING.
The manners and customs Of the original
Spanish Californians, before the gold ex'
citemcnt changed everything, were singu.
larly patriarchal and pleasant and though
many things seem strange to us, of the
East, no doubt they led happy and pros
porous life.
When one Of those rich land and cattle
owners visited another, he was received at
the door, shown to his room, and water was
brought for his use by the master Of the
house, but with half dozen servants be.
hind him, to show that what be did was for
friendship, and not Of necessity.
On an old Spanish rancho lived Don
Tomas-an old man, with sons and daugh-
tiers, married, and living in the same house
with him. lie always breakiasted alone,
unless his eldest sou was specially invited
to breakfast with him. The women and
children breakfasted by themselves. When
he was ready for business, he went out into
the corridor, or piazza, and there found his
sons, his major-domo, and yaqueros, or
cattle herders, all hat in hand, waiting for
orders for the day. The saddled horses
we're waiting, and the eldest son held his
fathers stirrup while he mounted, and then
the rest followed. ln low voice and grave
manner the orders were given to each, and
then, at the word given by him, out into
the plain they rode, as If shot from bolt.
The old man galloped at the head, and thus
be inspected the operations on his vast
estate, seeing everything with his practiced
eye, till about four o'clock, when be returned
to his dinner, which his sons ate with him.
Then a lounge, and few cigarettes in the
corridor, and early to bed. On Sundays
and fast-days, the family all rode to church
on horseback, the women frequently being
as bold and graceful riders as the men
The priests had introduced various
branches of industry among them, and the
Ipdians we're employed on the old Spanish
ranches to milk COWS, make cheese, tan
hides, weave blankets, and they also made
wine, and raised wheat enough for bread.
When a festival occurred, families came
from fifty miles around, with all their re-
taners, and often staid a week or two
The padres, rich in cattle, entertained all
who came, and thus people kept up an ac.
quaintance.
lfs person Travelled, when night came be
put up at the nearest house. After supper
he was shown to bis room, and in the morn
ing clean shirt was at his bedside, for hi,
use, aud on the table sum Of money, per
haps one or two hundred dollars, from which
the traveller, if he needed, helped himself
When be was ready to depart, fresh horst
was brought out, and he went on his way.
| lfa man wanted horse at any time, b,
had only to catch one, and ride it, ant
when done with it turn it loose Each ami
NAL was branded with the owners mark
and once year the horses and cattle wer
all collected, counted, and the calves an,
colts branded Then, some really magnif
cent feats Of horsemanship were accom-
plished. Each yaquero WED with the othe
in this display, and several fresh horse
we're needed for each one during the day
The feats Of riding and throwing the riata
or lasso, seem like witchcraft, both in tn
skill and dexterity displayed by the rider
and the admirable training Of the horses
Half dozen horsemen suffice to keep
herd of twenty-five thousand cattle in com
pact mass for hours.
1t was a simple and happy life they le'
, those old Californians; but it has passe'
away. The gold discovery, and the comm
of the Americans, spoiled all this simple
happy life. The people became suddenl
rich, and then too proud and lazy to WORK
and all their simple industries persisted
The railroad will, in year or two, leave n
: vestige Of the old California life this sid
the Mexican border. :.