Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-04-06

ry, Mercantile library, Mechanics Insti-
tute and "Y. NJ. c. A." each, l believe,
owning their respective buildings with
large balls or assembly rooms, and each
possessing libraries with volumes as num-
erous and well selected as can be found in
similar institutions in eastern cities. We
have a Grand Opera House, an elegant
Academy of Music, and our large Califor-
mia Theatre, besides numerous other fine
public halls and smaller theatres. Nevada
Bank Block, the new Safe Deposit build
ing, the Merchants Exchange, and many
other banks and business blocks that I
might mention are notably fiue buildings,
and would not look inferior in the midst
OF rebuilt Chicago or upon famous Broad
way. We have lour Stock Exchange asso-
Citations, each having two daily sessions of
its respective boards of brokers.
There is large class of people here who
who are inveterate stock gamblers. At
times an inordinate passion for dabblng In
mining stocks seems to seize upon the en-
tire community, from the hod carrier 10 the
merchant, and the scullery maid to the fine
lady. Thousands aud hundreds Of thous-
ands Of hard earned dollars have been lost
by these dupes. They invest their all, not
upon the merits of the mines, but upon the
expectation of some fictitious rise, upon
hint, a street rumor thin as air, indeed
may say that many a man, and through
him perhaps his family and friends, have
been beggared by a wink. The mine own
ers or officers and their hired mauipulators
are unscrupulous. Judas-lik they betray
the community, and Judas like they bag
their coin. The brokers reap rich har-
vest in commissions. So great are their
profits that fabulous prices have been paid
for a seat in the popular board. This pop
ular and excessive stock mania is a pecul-
iarity and a curse TO San francisco. The
sly foxes behind the scenes work the mines
In the mountains and the mines IN the
pockets of their dupes with equal assidui-
ty, aud which class of mines is the more
profitable is still an open question. Lest
you suspect from the force Of my re-
marks that may he a victim, will state
tina, have never tried my luck In stocks
of any description. If was in the habit
of playing cards for money, which am
not, I would not DO so with professional
gambler and with his cards If know they
bore bis private marks. Men and women
apparently sane and sensible about all else,
do that which is fully as absurd in the stock
market. 1t is true that many man has
made large fortune by lucky hits in
stocks. ! believe there Is more wealth,
more millionaires in this community than
in any other city Of the Union. have
hppp fFyinU in hasnrila ~ of L.
ways and shapes in which this wealth man
ifests itself and l have not quite finished.
We hear much about lucky Baldwin, fort
uuate Jones, wealthy Sharon and the opu-
lent Mossrs. Flood, O'Brien, Mackey and
Fair. The brilliant successes of these up
per- Ten have lured. like the will-o-the-
wisp, the lower hundreds to their ruin, but
we hear very little OF the unlucky Smith,
Jones, Brown and Robinson.
The old board is at this time pushing
towards completion their new Stock Ex-
change building. 1t is the latest attempt at
modern ornamental and substantial archi-
lecture. The material is finished and poll
ished granite for the walls, aud immense
wrought iron beams, girders, rafters and
joists for the interior. One firm has the
contract for the plate glass, which item
alone will cost nearly $4,000. They have
just successfully and safely imported some
of the largest single sheets of French plate
glass that were ever seen in the United
States. They are 100 by 1S6 inches. The
great cases in which they were packed con-
tain lumber enough to make a respectable
sized barn. In order to get them into the
snip at Havre, they were obliged TO cut
through the deck each side of the main
hatch, aud remove several of the ships
stanchions. We have full representations
of all the popular societies and associations
to be found in other large cities, among
which are Odd Fellows, Masons, Red Men,
Druids Knights of Pythias, Historical So
ciety, Fern-verin, Sangerbund, Handel
and Hsyden;Society, Hibernians, Father
Mathew T. A. b., and Longshore men.
We have a National Guard numerous
enough in well drilled and handsomely
uniformed infantry, cavalry and artillery,
to do credit 10 city of half a million in
habitants. l must not omit TO say that
when on parade they appear to carry the
flags of all nations, and no wonder, for this
is city of the cosmopolites. A distinctive
feature is the universally of John China
man. We meet him everywhere with his
peculiar dress and inevitable shaved head
and long-talled que. One portion of the
city of several blocks is almost exclusively
occupied by him, hut he breaks out in
spots all over the city, wherever he can get
a cheap tenement for "washee house."
His presence amongst us may be tempo
rary benefit and con venience TO the wealthy,
but is a great detriment to The white work
ing classes.
To conclude my chapter upon the
evidences of wealth, I might describe
the appearance of the numerous large jew
elry establishments of Kearny and Mont
gomery streets. They make the most mag
nticent display of diamonds, polished gold
quartz and other precious gems, set in rich
ly ornamentod solid gold and enamel. Cali
fornans travelling in the eastern States and
Europe have long been noted for the ele-
gance and profusion of their jewelry. l
have discovered the source OF their supply.
Massive and high priced furniture and the
most costly carpets, elaborately carved pic
tuTe and mirror frames and cornices en-
trely covered with pure gold leaf abound
in our furniture warehouses, and in the
residences of our citizens. The most mer-
itorious and high priced oil paintings by
native and eminent foreign artists have
here found their best market. The man
sions of Croeker, Stanford and Hopkins,
all three lately erected upon the summit of
"Nob-hill," as it is called, command most
extensive view of city, country aud bay,
and rival in proportions, cost and elegance
the palaces of Stewart, Jay Cooke and LIE
Grand Lockwood. The first mentioned
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