The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-03-13
A Little Truth .
AN UNFLArTERING ACCOUNT OF
LIFE IN CALIFORNIA.
BAD Weather, Bad People and Kna-
wish Enterprises Gambling Brawl-
ing and Opium Eeat;ng,
Correspondence Brooklyn N. y Eagle.
SAN FRANCISCO, Cal, Jan. %.

with California, Italy was second rate i'll
point Of sunny skies, the equatorial re
rions we're thrust quite into the back
ground in the matter of luxuriant tropi-
cal fruits; France and the Rhine coun-
try, soon TO encounter destructive COM
petition in grape juice, and everywhere
else at serious discount in respect to in
telligence, iberality and enterprise of
the people. This overloaded country is
a nursery OF despair for many D weary
fortune seeker from the East, enticed
hither by the rose-colored description of
newspaper writers. Correspondents Wis
iting us have not as a rule paid their
railroad fare. Failure 10 do so enslaves
them NJ the outset Beside, in most
cases they are waylaid at Virginia City
and dropitiated with wines and dinners,
and the shoddy attention of the mining
Superintendent and his illiterate family,
and perchance utilized in the further
ance of wicked stock schemes. When
stated with Virginia City they are passed
gently over on bed of roses to The famed
city by the Golden Gate, there to be met
with further sensual ministrations, to be
whirled about in q round Of intoxication
and sent homeward rejoicing, and packed
full Of exaggerated notions, destined to
appear in fervid descriptions of The Slo-
ries and magnifcence Of California ard
its people Such has been the rule. But
two years ago there was notable excep-
ton to this run Of correspondents. 4
gentleman writing for the New York
Times described without fear or favor
what he saw. He saw the shoddyism
and vulgarity of some OF or mushroom
millionaires. think he said that Lucky
Baldwin had the manners of hog-a
somewhat violent style Of expression,
for which a ruffian struck him on the
head, and the blow strongly corobora-
ted the testimony of the criticism. In
this country, if your conduct is II dis
cord with your neighbours taste, he wants
10 pound you with his fists or let you
know that he travels ''heeled"
yACABoNDs.
On, yes; all manner of evil disposed
people are here in abundance. If we re-
fleet, it will not seem long ago when Cal
ifornia was regarded as far Off retreat
for fugitives from justice. How common
it has been, when the constable or sheriff
had returned from vain pursuit OF some
felon, TO hear the remark, 81 guess he's
struck out for California" we may read
lily recall by appealing to our memory of
twenty years ago. There is no doubt
that many people here of wealth and
high grade in society We're offenders
against the criminal code, who sought re-
tirement and oblivion in the rush and fu-
rore Of the distant gold hunt. Someof our
neighbors wear the disguise of strange
names; and one Of them, more brilliant
than the average, achieved high Office
under the State. He came from South
Carolina, ] think, leaving there with
desperate dispatch between two days,
owing to little affair Of forgery and
robbery. An old fellow townsman of
his, visiting California, met him on a
railroad train, and recognized, saluted
him by his true name. A good many
years had elapsed since his flight from
home, but the memory Of his face had
not faded. He seemed not to be startled
at hearing his true name, manifested no
surprise, declaring that the gentleman
was mistaken in the person. "Oh,
come now" returned his acquaintance OF
early years, don't play that on me. jim
we know each other too we'll" That
night Jim called ON his old townsman at
the hotel and the affair was amicaby
settled. This particular skeleton has
not been uncloseted 20 the public.
There are no doubt many good people
here, but | believe large portion of
them came recently, and, it may be
added, many of these have been fieeced
As compared with Eastern cities, San
Francisco is irreligious, immoral, fever
ish, speculative, dishonest Drinking
saloons, Grocery 'ani other stores are
open and transact business on Sunday
The solemnity of your homeward march
from church is violated by the crack Of
billiard balls on the Lords day. Even
mechanics are at work on that day, and
in the evening the theatres and variety
shows are in full blast. On a large
house being erected near me, heard the
halnrnering Of carpenters on Sunday
morning last, and a stable in the rear OF
my l,Iginr place was being remodeled