The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-11-24
IN SEARCH OF A HouE-ix.

weather conmonplaces arc never beard,
for the elements are not unsettled. Hunt
ing and fishing excursions, made up to lass
for weeks,go oif to the mountains without
tents or other shelter than blankets. The
threshed grain lies yet in piles or sacks
in the fields. Houses are built and stor-
cd with their contents before roofing in
The usual plan is to lay the foundation
on top Of the ground, as there is no frost
to disturb it. Then the lower floors ore
; completed before the studding is raised.
A rain in the summer would cause more
astonishment than an earthquake. Though
pastures are dry and brown,the cattle and
sheep are fat, because the herbage is turn
ed to well cured hay. Until the Decem.
ber rains wash out its succulence, stock
will continue to thrive; then, for couple
Of months, while the new grass is starting
it is necessary to feed hay. Trees and
shrubs do not parch up. The foliage s
dark green, and they are making rapid
growths Of wood. One patch of alfalfa
here has been moved four times, and il
bids fair to grow several crops more. But
the fields do not carry such pasturage as
in the Atlantic States, where an acre or
two is sufficient for an OK, The dry blades
Of grass and the burr clover they forage
for in California arc thinly scattered over
moro surioce, requiring say thrice the
quantity Of land to support an OK.
Though in politics this State seems to be
neutral ground, where man Of all shades
OF opinion minglc freely and tolerate with
the utmost good nature the preiudices Of
each other, there seems to be sort ofa
istocracy composed Of early settlers. To
be forty miner, j., par excellence,
distinction. II is surprising how few old
Csliiornisns you meet who did not como
in 20, The emigration that year mast
have been immense, as it is still; statistics
show the influx going on at tho rate Of
more than 900 persons per month from
the older States alone.
The "fortv.nincrs" have recently had
reunions at San Francisco, and formed
pioneer societies. One of the Pacific
mail steamers took them on an excursion
around the bay, and the veterans had
high jink,." The city Of today with
palatia blocks and well paved streets, is
in great contrast TO the village Of % years
ago.whcn leir-frians waded the mud with
gum h"ot> on Montgomery street, then
the water 'rottf. roy half n mile back
from IL ~ince lSj6. when the writer
wa IL + h, rr. he change is wonderful.
Thr ri'N employment officers urc throug
ed witn ln,n hacking for work Servant
girls can readily obtain 500 to S2j Ter
month. The supply is not equal to ,he
demand In former years. there w4s y
good matrimonial market for them, t"o
Many Of them married leading business
and professional men and made good wges
and mothers Some OF the miners inter
married with native women; but coz
siderable portion OF the native population
remained isolated and ignorant and jeal-
ons of their corquerors. At Los Angeles
aud other southern points, where most nu-
merous, they seem as rnle,to be thrift.
less and vicious race.
There is reversal o. old world customs
here as to the legal rights Of married wo-
men. Here they are nearly stripped Of
their rights OF dover, and are ignored as
having no interest in the conveyance OF
real estate. ln early days, when advent
urers Ie., their families behind them. ii
would have been troublesome to acquire,
aud dispose of landed property with such
requirements as signing off by the wife
who might he thousands Of miles away.
In the formation of their political code
provisions were made for dispensing en-
tirely with the wiie's signature, except
where she holds homestead. For pro.
pcrty in the name Of the husband, her
name is no more necessary to the convey
ancc than it would be to his noto Of hand
But she may deed away her property to
whom she plcascs, even to her husband.
lie may decd to his wife-both being pro-
ccedipgs unheard OF in Vermont or any
other State the writer knows OF. The old
fashioned covenants Of warranty and other
vcrbiagc, in use by our loug-winded an
cestors in convcyancing, were scornlully
rejected by those roughand' noun
tainmcn, who could not sec why town
lot, or ranch, might not be conveyed a
plainly as one makes note oil hand.
Thus it happened that the law provided
a simple form to be construed as covering
the whole ground, reading as follows
|, A. b, Of, in consid.
Grafton of - dollars, do hereby grant
to C D. all tha. real property
situated in the --, described as follows,
---- Witness
my hand this day Of -, IS,
Signed T. = Signed
and executed in presence of
C. H lone witness Seal.
Attached is the customary certificate OF
the acknowledging officer, simply identi-
flying the signer to the deed.
At present, the price Of wheat is the
same in Chicago and San Francisco. 81
cents per bushel-one market being for
coin, but it is the best wheat. The Gran
gers are forwarding few cargoes, but
the majority Of farmers arc storing for
higher prices. In the meantime. the
harbor of San Francisco i, filling with
ships waiting for the crop to move
j. Il. ARNsTGONG
, JuRIEs IN RUssIA.-It is strange
characteristic Of Russian jurie, that ihry
consider themselves unboundri los any
law, and indeed by any evidence. direct
ly their feelings are touched. Late> ID
private teacher was shown to have stolen
to the amount of 100 roubles; the thiugs
were traced, and in short, the man did
not deny it. 1t appeared that be had been
driven to it by sheer want, aud the CIR
cumstances were certainly of a pitiful IA
, turo. The man was acquitted, and purs,
, made up for him by the jury and the pub
lie. Such verdicts constantly occur. A
| fraudulent bankrupt, as an excuse for nc;
keeping books in his business, as required