The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-02-01
California Sketches.

OOtl1AVA sAAtJ INV ONAtS1s
San Francisco, the commercial capital
of California and Of the Pacific coast, is
much more attractive city than We ex-
pected to fud in a community not yet
thirty years old. 1t has had most re.
malkablc development, and is iu many
respects The most desirable place of resi-.
dence for people who like city life upon
the continent. Its rapid growth in
wealth and population is mainly owing to
its location upon the magnificent bay,
which offers the only deep aud capacious
barbor upon the coast, and upon its com.
inanding the entrance to the great valley
which is the heart of California. Al the
wealth OF the mountains in silver, gold
and lumber, aud the riches Of the valleys
in horses, cattle. grain, fruits aud vege
tables flow naturally into its BOSOM as
well as the abundance OF the sea, which
the wings Of commotce watt TO its shores.
Its climate is remarkable for the uniform.
ity of its temperature, and in this respect
it is unlike that Of any other great city
in the world. 1t is never cold enough TO
frecze-never so hot as 10 require light
summer clothing. 1t Iavors the highest
degree OF physical and mental activity the
year round There is no need Of change
Of clothing, Or change Of residence, for
physical comfort. The range OF the
thermometer in summer is from sixty to
seventy degrees, and in winter from fifty
to sixty degrees. The average tcmpera-
turc Of January, the coldest month is
forty ninc degrees and of September, the
warmest mouth, fifty eight degrees
showing a difference Of only nine degrees
between summer aud winter. The differ.
ence between January and July in New
York is forty two degrees; in London,
twcniy.fvo degrees, aud in Naples thirty
degrees Fires are comfortable in win
ter, but not in hobitual use The atmos.
phere is always mild, and walking and
riding are highly enjoyable at all Seaaons
Of the year. The morning togs are disa.
greeable, but these pass with the morn.
ing, aud the midday is almost invariably
brilliant. This popularity of the climate
has impressed itself upon the style Of
building aud planting iu the city. Houses
are built on sunny exposures, aud with
bay windows to invite the sun inside, and
the streets have few shade trees. The
orpomcutation is with dwarf trees, shrubs
ard flowers. OF these there is profu-
sioD in almost every yard in front of the
dwelling, Frost never comes, and tho
gardens blaze with wealth Of floral dis.
play such as is realized only in summer
or in our Conservatives at the east.
The eastern visitor is astonished at the
wonderful growth of his old acIuainiances
-geraniums higher than his head ,fuchsias
covering the whole side OF garden fence,
roses quadrupled in size, and Of intcnsest
coloring. The rare plants of the green
house here flourish in perpetual summer.
The English ivy grows everywhere in the
greatest luxuriance, and the passion flow.
er aud climbing roses and vines Of vari.
GUS sorts adorn every doorway and trellis
wherc they are planted. The beauty OF
the tropics and of the temperate zone
meet mere IN iond alliance.
The peninsula on which the city is
built has poor soil, and some parts of it
toward the ocean are little else than
blowing sand yet the evergreen oak
maintains stuuied growth, and other
shrubs flourish. In the winter the sur.
rounding hills are covered with green
grass. but in summer the suburbs look
parched and desolate Yet there must
be elements Of fertility in the sandy soil,
for it only needs water to bring luxuri-
ant vegetation.
The city is more cosmopolitan in the
character of its people than New York.
The majority Of the people are of Amcri.
can birth, and this element has more in
tluence in moulding society than any
other la addition to all the European
elemeDts which are found IN New York,
the metropolis Of the Pacific has a large
native Californian element Of mixed Mex.
lean and Spanish blood, larger Chinese
population than can be found in any city
out of China, and nondescript class from
the Mississippi valley. Every one Of the
older states has its representatives here,
bringing with them home memories and
peculiarities, lending their influence to
mould society here,
Almost every type of religion is here,
and is as much at home as under its ma
tive skies. The Catholics have the ad.
vantage Of hundred years of possession,
and have filled the whole land with the
aroma of sanity names from San Diego
in the south to Marysville in the north,
The footsteps Of saints and angels are
everywhere visible, and poor indeed is the
river, valley, mountain, town or city tb at
has not had some angel visitant to give it
name. The Catholics have ten church.
es in San Francisco, the Protcstants TWEEN.
ty.eight, the Jews two synagogues, and the
"heathen Chinee" six buildings in which
Buddhist ceremonies are performed. The
people are remarkably tolerant of re.
ligious differences of opinion and Of prac.
tice. Church members trained in the
East probably hold their religious con.
vlctions as firmly as ever, but the great
mass of the people do not attend church,
and feel very little of sanctuary ipflu.