Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1875-11-28
= II q r. II
Or, Experiences OF Life In Cali.
fornia by q Female Pioneer Of
1850.
BY CYNTHIA ANN.

lHc teHlptduoho w "hASh " A""S
woman, in San Francisco, was ex-
posed in those early years, can only
be understood sbyvsurh 'as passed
through them. A lawIess band OF
men, unprincipled in everything, were
not so much to be dreaded as the
smooth-tongued gentlemen who never
threw off their disguise till their
nurpose was accomplished. To be a
gentleman, seemingly, was easy, as
society prescribed good clothes and
oood manners as the criterion; but to
he a decent man was almost impos-
sible, for the reason that all restraint
was removed, and everybody was left
to their own device to get on as best
they could. Gambling carried on
publicly, with every allowance led
on some to ruin. Homes were want
ing, and the bright fire of the weil-lit
gambling hells, allured too many to
listen to the music and watch the
gambling, till one by one they were
all attracted to try their fortunes,
and men who would have scorned to
play in the East, were among the
victims. Houses of refuge during
the inclement season, they seemed to
many, who spend their nights rolled
in blankets upon counters, and when
"A little additional warmth would he
obtained only through the stimulus
of liquor, could any one wonder to
see 50 many falling, So many led to
ruin, and 50 many curse the day that
first started them to California,
Hetty would have made home,
if she could, for many Of the young
men she knew who were fiendless,
aud feeling that the road to wealth
alone could he the road to charity
also, she set about finding 1t, went
into clear starching and became
laundrcss. sit was easy t. make
money in them days, said Ia Ola
Irishwoman, who sparkled with dia-
nonds, some years after. 81 could
have bought the whole town tor what
/ could earn in a month at the wash
tuo," said she, and Hetty's expert
cnce proved washing lucrative she
could have married at once, had she
been divorced, to half dozen men,
who proiessed to love her, and did
mot want her to work hard either;
but the divorce law was not passed
till the latter part of the year 1850,
and meantime she struggled on.
Not long after she had established
herself she made the acquaintance OF
woman older than herself, who
proposed partnership. She could
count or sort the clothes, she said,
mend them, and take them home.
She was trying to be virtuous, under
great difficulties. She was an edu-
Gated, accomplished woman, and had
there been any children to teach,
could undoubtedly have succeeded in
making a living; but as it was twas
impossible to do anything, and hav-
ing been sent for TO live with a hus-
band, who had gone to his rest before
she reached him, she was in great
trouble. Hetty did not need part
ner; but she took her home, made
her comfortable, and trusted in the
end there would be some help for
her, but the woman did not like
the position. She felt as if nothing
was left for her, became unhappy,
and finally made one or two efforts
to commit suicide. When Hetty felt
she could no longer take charge OF
her, she confided her trouble to IA
friend, who said she had no need to
be miserable one moment. There
are plenty of men, said he, who
would provide for her, if she would
do as others do who have come to
this country. You are to blame in
encouraging her to play lady by
living off you in this manner.
Ii You mean that Mrs. Marston is
10 sell herself to his Satanic MaiestY,
'to be taken off my hands, Mr.. Cum
smines, his lordship and l will have
'tussel. | will give fifty dollars to-
wards her passage money. Can you
find any one to help me2"
"Of course not; we want women
too badly here to send them away so
quickly. l do not know what the
harm is Of her taking protector.
The French women have more sense.
"If Mr.. Cummings has forgotten
the respect that was taught him for
female virtue in his Eastern home, it
lis time he turned his face away from
this place also. A man with wife
and children to speak in that way!
II l were you, would look little
to my own reputation when made