Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1876-07-29
OUR CALIFORNIA LETTER.
Correspondence of the Lexington Intelligencer.l
SAN FRANCISCO, July 18th, 1876.

OUR CALIFORNIA LETTER.
correspondence of the Lexington Intelligencer.l
SAN FRANCISCO, July 18th, 1876.
Ed. INTELL1GENcER.-T among
your readers who may never have an
to see San Francisco and
may enjoy the impressions
of one who looks upon these places for
the first time. Places--for they are dis
tinct from each other, although together,
paradoxical as this sounds. Consider
ing that San Francisco is but seven-and-
twenty years old, 1t is truly marvellous
city. The immense mineral wealth OF
California will alone support business;
and the crops are, generally speaking) |
good. The 25O,OOO people who inhabit
"Frisco' may we'll feel proud of the
place, and Californians be pardoned,
when.they assert that they believe it will
be the city OF the United States.
The writer thought itqueer when he
saw ladies wearing furs and men with
their ulsters buttoned closely about their
throats, in summer! The two seasons,
Git seems that there is neither spring nor
autumn in California; are reversed.
Heavy and unremitting rains set in
about Christmas, and when they finally
cease-about the middle of February
all nature seems rejoiced and shows its'l
beauty by the brilliant green which
adorns the towering mountains OF Cal
ifornia. One may have q variety OF
climates if he travels on the Pacific
coast, and it is very certain that the eli
mate of San Francisco is not to be favor
ably compared with that of the southern
part of the state. The high winds which
prevail in "Frisco" during the summer
season are exceedingly disagreeable;
the sand flies in all directions, cutting
ones clothes and obstructing the eye
sight. At nightfall the winds die out, to
be succeeded by dense fog, and the
dew seems to rain down. Those who
have the slightest predisposition for
bronchial troubles should never attempt
to remain in San Francisco. One scarce
ly knows whether to be amused or dis
gusted with old Californians when they
boastfully exclaim that "they have the
finest climate in the world"! Woe be
unto the man or woman who speaks in
favor of any eastern or southern state.
If any of those who peruse these lines
ever come to California they must be
pre- pared to go into ecstasies over this
state, snd TO disparage their own homes,
for Californians, particularly those who
glory in being "forty-niners. are rather
egotistical and inclined to think they
know it all yes, "every bit of it," But
there is a redecming trait about all old
Californians-they are undoubtedly gen:
erous, and if man be Ito use phrase
which Is quite common here) "down te
the bed reck," it is thought nothing OF
He will meet with fewer cold shrugs OF
the shoulder than if he were in the SAME
condition and were in the East. If 8
person be at all worthy of notice he will
at least receive hearty and cheering
word, which is frequently accompanied
by substantial recognition of his worth
In fact Californians are, as rule, sym
pathetic, albeit their sympathy may not
always be expressed in the most refined
language. There are so many "bilks''
migrating to this coast, that it is aston
ishing when one thinks Of the kinmess
they meet with. To be just, the writer
must say that strangers are we'll used
here, and that he has seen many kind
hearted Californians imposed upon by
worthless scamps from all parts If the
world.
If it were possible, the writer would
send you few California fieas, TO: they
are, indeed, wonderfully large, and oh
what appetites they have to be sure
They keep ones mind fully occupied a
all hours of the day and night. 1t ag
gravates the "forty miner" wher new
/ conner wriggles and squirms as he teels
!; full grown flea 'tleeing over his back.
, Is so pleasant to feel nip, when one il
in the society of ladies, and it looks st
: elegant to see one scratching! Whe1
one be religiously inclined, and is desir
Gus of paying particular attention to tn
: eloquence of the Rev. H. Spriggins, h
!, can Got course) give his whole mind te
: the sermon when he is being gtortured b.
1 California flea All otherfleas no mat
r ter where they may exist, sink into vi
s ter inslgniticance when compared wit
}. those which flourish on the Pacific coast
~ In "doing" the city of "Frisco," th
d markets are worthy of first notice, sine
J. we eat to live. That theya are numerou
II and beautifully clean is not to be gain
=, r. said. The meats-beef, mutton an
!, pork, look better than they taste; the
II are not to be pared with the mea
% of the East. Vegetables abound an
" are most attractive to the eye; but the,
,e too, are decidedly "off' in flavor. Th
10 climate is, or these climates are, again
as them. The pears and grapes are vel
~ ~ fine, but all other fruits, save the tror
is cal fruits. which are sold in large qua
e Titles here, have bitter taste; or
u- misses that rich flavor which our frui
~ at home have. Peaches nd apples are
a. dead failure, both in size and taste,
California. In speaking of vegetabl
awhile ago, we omltte to mention th
the only good potatoes we have eaten
this state were transported from S;
,ha ,Al Lake. The California potatoes are c
tremely coarse and bitter, and,as ru
de have dirty, yellowish hue.
lss Were you to come here with the id
of being domesticated, you would so
est become Il cosmopolitan. Nearly all t
us San Franciscoans live insfurnished apa
ments,' and eat anywhere and ever
& where. The restaurants, albeit tn
he ar e devoid of fine furniture, are so |
cd orally supplied with ediblcs, toothso
and well prepared, that one can not he
9l- u eating. Reasonable prices predomina
no and if it were not for the "long a